New Britain herald., 1928-09-15
THIS HAS HAPPENED

Wlth Ctalk NeWhall 10 I4uu ludt heT father has died during her absence. In order to please her father, whom she adored, Sybil had just consented to marry Craig. the most eligible bachelor in town. His death is fearful shock to Sybil and her frail little mother. But they rally bravely for Tad's approaching mar riage.
 Tad, Sybils handsome brother. is engaged to Valerie West, an empty headed little debutante. The wedding is three weeks off: and Sy- bil. fearfully apprehensive, specu- lates srimly.
 Anything" she reasons, can happen in three weeks. Maybe Val will elope with a count
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER VII
 Mrs. Thorne, engrossed in prep aration for the marriage, was buster than the brides mother. She mono grammed Tad's handkerchiefs and pajamas, and debated endlessly on the problem of a real nice wedding gift"
 Almost every day she made the weary round of shops and stores, pricing silver and glass. rugs and china - comparing values all the way from Copley Square to Scollay.
 Finally. in an antique shop on Charles street. she compromised on an ancient secretary and high boy with a bulging front.
 But, Mother remonstrated sybil, "Valerie doesn't like old things"
 Mrs. Thorne bristled defensively. "They're extraordinarily fine pieces' she said, and there's noth- ing could be in better taste than antiques.
 Craig had chosen 3 silver cock tail set: a tray, and mammoth shaker and maly eoblets. Poor Craig - he tried so hard to be one of the family. Sybils heart went out to him. when he discussed with Valerie the advantages of a we'd ding breakfast as against a buffet luncheon, very solemnly, like wise old uncle.
 He listened patiently to Mrs. Thorne, who vas hemming curtains for Valerie's kitchen. Did he think yellow checked gingham would be cute, or would he like plain white, banded with delft blue? The blue would match any ordinary linoleum hest, of course, but then, wouldn't the yellow afford a pleasing con- trast?
 Craig was confidant and lackey for the lot of them. He ran er- rands for Valerie. made reserva- tions and bough. tickets for Tad. Mrs. Thorne, when she took to weeping, found his shoulder always accessible. Even Mrs. West sought his advice.
 Craig was to be Tad's best man, and Valerie's cousin, Bertha Onts was to be maid of honor. She was dark, and rather florida little greasy looking. Sybil thought. witt straight, oily hair and small eyes An admirable contrast for Nalerie't blond beauty.
 Bertha was 50 dull she made Valerie positively radiant, and more exquisite than ever. Sybil had heard that beautiful girls some- times chose ugly friends, in order to seem more beautiful themselves but never before had she lent any credence to the notion
 It was to be very simple cere- mony at St. Marsaret's-by- the Sea the little stone chapel where Valerie's grandmother had been married 50 years before. Not that there was anything sentimental about the Vests, but only that St Margaret's afforded such an ad- mirable solution. It was much smarter than it had been in the days of Valerie's grandmother, and the rector was very High Church.
 It was quite the thing to be churchy about marriage. Jazz weddings were distinctly passe. Dig. nifty had become a sacramental thing. and Valerie. Who six months before had contemplated carrying . swaIger stick to the altar, itched now for sublimity.
 St. Margaret's was austere. Ii was. indeed. the very place for a little family wedding" There seemed to be nothing even faintly disrespectful to the memory of Mir Thorne about getting married a, St. Marsaret's. A city church. of course. would have been different.
 Tad was beginning to wonder ii he had ever really known Valerie before. Her conversation was en- tirely exclamatory. She was either simply furious" or thrilled to death." She "despised' things oi ''adored" them, knowing no half way emotions.
 "You'll be a wreck by the time get you" he told her gently, when she came to him one evening fro1 the dressmaker's. exhausted and ir tears
 "Caveman." she retorted. and he knew she had misunderstood.
 Valerie was not as innocent as Tad had thought She discussed their married life with a great dea of modern frankness.
 "I don't propose to have any chil. dren for at least five years" sh, told him.
 And If I should ever stop caring for you, wouldn't live with yo, for single minute' she went on That wouldn't be anything shor' of legalized-"
 "Nalerie."
 He stopped her sternls. "I dont like to hear you talking like that baby. You're my little girl. ant I'm crazy about you. l guess tha doesn't leave you anything 10 worr, about. does it"''