New Britain herald., 1928-10-18

Until now she had always taken it more or less for granted that she should wear Marianna's caSt-off clothes. She had been wearing them all her life and thinking nothing of it.
 She had taken it for granted, too. that they should live in the little yellow house and pay the rent whenever they could. She was quite used to having the gas or the elec- tric light in 1t turned off every now and then because the bills had not been paid.
 She had taken 1t for granted that they should keep very quiet and pretend that nobody was at home when the bill collectors came. And she never had doubted her mother when she said her father had "the neuralgia" on those nights when he came home white and shaky and went stumbling upstairs to bed. But now, with her grandmother'a words still ringing in her ears. Emmy began to see things in g new light.
 What was it that grandmother had said to her mother about her father?-"A gratter! -. Living on my brothers bounty! Letting everyone and anyone look after you and the children while he skipa around"
 Emmy's eyes were thoughtful as she went on buttoning her straight. slender body into Marianna's cast off gingham. They were very beau- tiful eyes. Between thick. black lashes they were luminously gray. like the sea at twilight. There was a dewy look in them that question: ed life and welcomed 1t. 4 you: g. shy, eager look.
 Emmy's hair. the color of raw gold, was braided and bound close ly around her head. Her rose-white skin had the bloom of . floVer. and her mouth was velvety red. She never had used rouge. lip-stick, or eyebrow-lsncil in her life. Mrs. Mill burn said that makeup was 'com- mon."
 She was standing with Grand mother Pentland in the shadowy lower hall when Emmy, candle in hand, reached the bottom of the stairs.
 Well. Emmy Milburn. you're get ting to look more like your mother every day of your life!" Grand mother Pentland said. half-angrily. as if she were accusing her of something shameful. T certainly hope YOU won't set yourself down in the middle of q trash heap the way she did."
 While Emmy stood gazing at her. wondering if her grandmother agreed with her that Flower street vas trash heap. the front door was pushed open unceremoniously and Robb Hollis stepped into the hall. Robb was only twenty-four. but already he was a foreman at the woolen mill. He often dropped in at the Milburns' on his way up the street to Mrs. Brainard's house. where he had . room.
 How do you do, Mrs. Pentland?" he asked. holding out his hand to Emmy's grandmother. In the dim light his dark eyes and his teeth flashed as he grinned at her in his friendly. engaging way.
 But Grandmother Pentland did not see the outstretched hand. She had a way of seeing only the things that she wanted to see.
 How are you. Hollis?" she asked. with the air of a great lady speak, ing to a peasant.
 She turned her broad. flat back upon him and laid one hand on Emmy's shoulder.
 Take me out to my car. Emma line." she said. briskly. T left it in the backyard where all the brats in the neighborhood wouldn't find it and crawl all over it. the way they did last time was here. We'll, goodnight. Rosy. and happy birth day!"
 Emmy saw her press something into her mothers hand as she kissed her good bye. It was small and flat, and Emmy knew that 1t was the fifty-dollar bill.
 This time Mrs. Milburn kept 1t.
 ITO RE CONTINIIEDl