New Britain herald., 1928-10-09
her on with her wrap.


That nAht at dinner. against her
own best judgment. she preached
the subject to Sybil.
Mr.. Crandon is SO anxious to
meet you. dear" she said, and tried
to sound very casual about 1t. HE
feels sure he could be of great help
to you in all your perplexities and
-er-emotionai upsets."
Mrs. Thorne hesitated delicately.
Mr.. Crandon?" Sybil crushed
her napkin. and rose Indignantly
to her feet. "Now. mother. that's
rather the last straw! It's not
enough that everyone in Boston's
talking about me but my own
mother
Mrs. Thorne flushed. ITS part
of the course, Sybil." She defended
herself Iamely. Il tell MIR. Crandon
everything that disturbs me. Nat
nrally would discuss YOU with
him"
We'll. of all the idiocies! Tad.
can't you make mother see what
a perfect fool she's making OF her.
self?"
Sybil turned wrathfully to her
brother. "E'or goodness sake she
begged, don't let Crandon in on
this. He's utterly INSCRIPTIONS.
He'll he selling a story about my
ego TO the papers first thirg We
know. oh, Val. why did you ever
bring mother to that man."
Mrs. Thorne pushed her roast beef
plaintively away. and began to cry
softly.
Sybil flung from the room. and
upstairs. They heard the door of
her room slam. and then the whole
large house seemed strangely quiet.
Go up up, VAL" suggested Tad.
Mother and ] will have our coffee
in the awing-room. See If yon
can't persuade Sib to come down."
Valerie brushed the top Of Mrs.
Thornc's head with her lips.
Don't feel badly. Mother Thorne"
she consoled. ''Sybil is fearfully
I,
she's saying Just wait till tell her
we're having strawberry shortcake
for desert"
Valerie ran blithely up stairs, and
opened SYPHILIS door quietly. She lay
across her bed. with her face buried
in the pillows. and the taffeta bed
spread dragged to the floor.
"Sybil.' Valerie touched her
lightly on the shoulder. I'm awfully
sorry about Mr.. Crandon. Maybe it
was a misunderstanding your mother
to him. But, honestly. Sib. ! think
he's done more good than harm. He
may be a fraud and all that don't
know-but he's saved Mother Thorne
from neurosis.
''She was simply rining away. sy-
bill, and right on the verge OF a
nervous breakdown. when Mr.. Gran
don began feeding her egos and
things. She perked up on inhibi-
lions. and took a fancy to complex
es Nov she absolutely eats up psy-
chic. though of course she hasn't the
vaguest notion of what it's all about.
But it's been awfully good for her,
Sib. And think you ought to give
her little fling with poor. decrepit
old Crandon. AS for selling a story
to the papers-why. Sybil, he
wouldn't dare"
Sybil raised a tcar-stained face.
''Oh, suppose he wouldn't she
admitted. It's only that Mother
drives mo simply crazy
Valerie laughed. your mothers
put up with a lot from you. Sib.
she said And ! guess it's your turn
now. Things work out that way
sometimes. But. listen, Sybil-
here's the thing l really want to talk
to you about put on some
powder. and sit up. want to
talk about Richard"
Valerie pressed her crimson lips
firmly together and all the soft pink
faded from her cheeks, leaving them
white as the frock she wore.
THAT contemplate cad is holding
his affair with me over your head"
she said. I know he is. 1t would
be SO exactly like him. And had
rather make clean breast Of the
whole business. than let Richard
blackmail you. I'm going to tell
Tad everything. Then We can tell
Richard to go to the devil"
Sybil raised herself on one elbow
from the rumpled nest of lace and
taffeta pillows.
"Yes?" she said. and raised her
eyebrows. And what would Tad