New Britain herald., 1928-09-12
COPYRIGHT e2b 81 NeA SERVICE INK
THIS HAS HAPPENED


confides the story Of her romance
with Craig Newhall. wealthy bach
elor. to her brother Tad.
Tad. an ex-solder. wounded and
decorated, ia rather shocked when
Sybil confesses that she likes to
oct Craig, but does not love him.
She says that she does not intend
ever to marry because she is stu
in love with John Lawrence. who
was sent to France from Camp Dew
ems on the eve of their marriage
and never returned.
Tad scolds her IN brotherly fash
ion, but seems to understand ner
unconventional code. He begs her
10 marry and settle down; and then
tells her that he has great piece
of news.
now GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER Ill
Shoot"
Sybil regarded her brother with
sisterly affection. Saw him flush
boyishly and shift his own em5ar-
tassed gaze.
Gosh Almighty Tad, what have
YOU done? Killed cop? Or done
a good girl wrong?"
mo kidding" he told her. And,
standing, ground his heel N the
sand like small boy torn between
impulses to talk and hold his
tongue. The truth is. Sib-hang It
all, | wish you didn't feel - well.
ANYHOW. Sis, I'm engaged"
"My Gawd." sybil threw herself
back on the sands. Everybody
GETS engaged, Tad. There's as much
difference between getting engaged
and married as there is between an
10. U. and a promissory note. You
don't mean you're thinking of get
ting married. darling?
Say. Cut that out will you?'
Tad surveyed his recumbent Sis
ter darkly. You're darn right
tootin' I'm thinking of getting mar
RED, And the sooner the quicker.
Valerie West was her name. In
June she was graduated from fin
ishing school. Tad met her shortly
afterward and their engagement
was announced the next month Two
weeks later her mother took her
to France. 1t was quite the thing
that season to sail on the heels of
the announcement to buy trOus-
seau in Paris, and be married in the
spring.
Valerie was flaxen haired little
creature with big violet eyes and
baby ways. Wide-eyed innocence
wasn't SO much a pose with her as
a fact.
Mrs. Thorne was delighted. 1t
was high time, she thought, at
Tad was settling down. The new
generation was too much for her
And Valerie was such sweet
little thing! Now, If Sybil w,Ad
only get nice young man"
Mrs. Thorne sighed deeply. Sybil
lad been. of late, source of much
,cxation to the family. She had
insisted. in the first place. upon
going to WORK.
Il don't see why not" she ar
sued. Il don't want to hang around
the house any more than Tad does.
how. II you don't let me do some
thing, I'll pull a breakdown. COM
plete collapse. Nervous prostration.
You wait and see."
There was good deal Of logic
in 1t. for SPILLS taut nerves were
stretched to the breaking point.
Il suppose" conceded her father
finally. Il could find place for you
in the office
But Sybil declined vigorously.
Nothing doing" she informed him
tartly. I'm make my own way"
Boosting youthfully. she took an
intensive course in shorthand md
typewriting. which fitted her in
three months for a stenogra piers
job in a publishing house on Beacon
Hill.
A passion for work. and real apti-
tude for the business. promoted her
10 q secretarial position. Then she
announced that she was going to
buy all her own clothes. With the
acquisition of what she termed
utter independence" her par nts
pronounced her altogether unman-
ageable" The difference of opinion
developed into family relations SO
strained that poor Mrs Thorne
spent most of ner time in tears
Tad became Reformed Rake.
and philosophical on the trend of
the times.
You know. Sis he used to say.
there's something wrong with the
kids today They've no sense of
values. Darn little appreciation Of
anything worth while. Pleasure is
their little tin god. And they
haven't any other. Thank the Lord
Valerie's different stuff. Now
there's girl for you.''
Sybil smiled indulgently. You
sure know how to pick EN-" she
conceded goojnaturedly. But ]
think you're sort of hard on the
rest of the kids. Tad. You see. they
never knew the world we lived in
before the war ] mean Customs.
manners. nventiens-everythn
changed since you and ] were u.s.
1t took only four years to make
America over.
why, Tad, Id been kissed just
vice when ! vas Is. The to-
me ! felt as if Id been desecrated.
I'd cried about it. The second
mo. ! thought was in love.
Il had an awful crush on Sam
dyes and let him kiss me one
;ht in the hammock on the ri
Il. And the very next day Mrs.
DIG : r;'me over and talked a lot
> mother about calf love- | was
listening to it all at the top OF