New Britain herald., 1928-09-11
THIS HAS HAPPENED


people said she was the prettiest
girl In Boston. Every day or two her
picture appeared in the social col
umns, and society editors heaped
praise and compliments upon her.
But Sybil was only Is when she
first got herself talked about - II
Vas after the war and she was try
ing so hard to forget.
John Lawrence, her sweetheart
was missin: in action-"presumaoly
dead" the telegram had said. Her
adored Observation-Disclosures home,
with the Croix de Guerre and TWO
wound stripes. And all the world
had gone quite crazy. But oe-
spite Sybil's indiscretions. Craig
Newhatl was an attentive suitor
and Craig was the most eiigipie
bachelor in Boston. Tad asks Sybll
why she doesn't marry him.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER II
Tad and Sybil were on the beach
at Craigville. lying side by side un-
der an orange umbrella that looked
like a sunflower blooming on we
oceans brink.
Sybil sifted sand thorugh the fun
nels of her palms, making niue
mounds like ant hills on the scar
let Jersey of her swimming SUIT
and meditated languidly on the
events of the summer.
From the beginning Craig New
hall had been in love with her. AL
first he had been bit hard TO
handle - particularly after she mad
let him kiss her
Tell me you love me. Sybll,
She remembered how fiercely
re had whispered ia hoarse COM
mand against the softness of her
hair.
But I don't" she had protested
breathless and a little frightent d.
mot really. only love to be
loved"
Now she turned toward Tad with
a sudden burst of confidence.
You see, Taddy," she announced.
II don't ever mean to be married
Craig understands. Ages ago told
him so. | said I'd play around all
he wanted, ii he'd always remember
il was only playing. No promises.
No demands. Romance as free as
the wind"
She shrugged her shoulders and
fluttered her fingers.
"Just like that" she murmured.
In her secret heart Sybil mad
made a vow. She would never, she
swore. tell another man she loved
him. Because that. she believed.
would be betraying John. After his
death she had tried to feel like
widow, but her mind pulled enc
way and her emotions announcer
Until in the end she had given her
self up to Craig's caresses.
ITS plain as A. B, c. she told
her brother. Emotions and love
are a. far apart as the poles. Be
cause / like to pet with Craig Is
no sign that l love him.
"Opce a girl wouldn't let a man
kiss her until he'd sworn undying
devotion and all that sort of thing
If she was sure he respected her,
she'd stand for little petting -
only, of course. they didn't call 1t
petting. II she got hollow feel
ing in the stomach, she'd think she
was in love. Then they'd get mar
ried.
Il let Craig kiss me because ]
like it, But I'm not kidding my
self a bit. love John as much as
7 ever did. 1t doesn't make any
difference that he's dead. 8.
Maybe there's no fidelity in me. ]
don't know. Only Johns got my
soul, and l don't believe lips count
very much"
"say!" Tad rose to skip a stone
over the waves. You don't spring
any of that stuff on Newhall, do
you?"
i've been absolutely honest with
him. Sybil defended herself stiffly.
And I've noticed" she observed,
that when a mans getting what he
wants, he's not particularly inter-
cstcd in its why or wherefor"
But she remembered night on
the shores of Lake Waban. all
eilvery and bewitching in the moon
light. The night Craig kissed her
for the first time. They had lriven
to the waters edge, and left the
car, and gone and sat on the trunk
of q fallen birch that lay like a
lanky tree-ghost. all white and
slender on the ground. That was
when she said. Don't ever get me
wrong. Craig. It's only playing"
And she put back her head for
his kiss on her lips. She remem-
bered how he had drawn away -
and how she had ciasped her arms
about his neck and whispered
Isn't half 4 loaf better than nc
bread?" Then he had crushed her
to him with smothered sort o,
groan. and his kisses were hot and
merciless.
She stirred reStleSsly. And then
rolling over or her side. looked Tad
coolly in the eyes.
Honestly" size repeated. Il don't
want to get married. ] may be ar
egg and all that. but I'm still in
love with the first boy ! ever kissed
And it seems to me il would be q
sort of rotten thing to love d dead
man and marry a living one"
'Hells bells" Tad sent half d
iozcn stones skipping. one after
The other. beyond the distant white
caps. You'd be darn sight bet.
DER off. Sip. You girls seem &c
hiHk you can get away with any
ling. But You can't dance unless
~ pay the piper. And you cam
. running around all your life
ct course YOU want to marry
ry WOMAN does"
1,j1 ~ It h.,,. nd