New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-26

est, at least. But all you rcspecta-
lie women, with your little lies
and evasons. And your sickening
delicacies.
You know how Mona de Mus
set got that jade? It's price YOU
wouldn't pay. :"
is that so?"
Ashtoreth turned her back to the
shining sea and faced him square,
ly.
You know perfectly we'll that l
didn't know anything about Mona
or her jade"
AND you didn't care." he taunt-
cd. TT wasn't policy to ask qucs-
tons"
We'll. you didn't think was 60
ing TO ask her If she'd come by
her things honestly"
Ashtoreth laughed. Maybe you
gave them to her?' she hazarded.
ooh, no.' he protested. I've
never given Mona anything"
You wouldn't" Ashtorcth told
him rudely And I don't care
what You think. Maybe it's the
truth. Maybe I do like her. be-
cause she's been so generous. I
don't know what difference It
makes why I like her. It's enough,
isn't it, that ] do? And You can
talk your head Off about her-and
every old cat on board can cut me
dead--Id rather be with her than
any of you,'
The Englishman bowed.
Perhaps" he suggested inso-
lentlv. cit Will be more profitable"
Ashtorcth turned on her heel.
you're the rudcet person l ever
knew" she told him.
And YOU he retorted, you're
a gold digger"
She left him standing there and
went TO Join Mona. But their
deck chairs were empty, and Mo-
mas book, with a box of choco-
lates. lay on her steamer rug. Ash
toreth threw herself down.
She was furiously angry with
Jack Smythe. He was the most
preposterous person, she assured
! herself, that She had ever known
| How could he think such utterly
unspeakable thiags of her.
She fondled Mona's Jade tender
~. II was cold as ice in her hands,
|. She knew that real Jade is always
cold, and she thought, fantastical-
ly, that if she had millions and
millions of dollars She would live
in the tropics. where it was always
warm. And she would have Jade
to keep her cool. A couch, like
| Cleopatra's. to sleep on. And Jade
things all about, to put her warm
| hands on. Medallions to wear on
her breast. And bracelets to reach
from her wrists to her shoulders.
r. Oh, wouldn't IT he wonderful
10 he rich. And have just every
thing you wanted,
The thought of Sadie. Trivial.
| inconsequontial little Sadie. sa-
die had everything she wanted
or almost everything. Sadie was
aWfully generous, too. She had,
for instance. given Ashtoreth a
perfectly marvellous negligee. and
a nightgown, and those darling lit
tie mules. And then she had
loaned her that stunning camers
hair coat, and the suede hat to
match.
Ashtoreth's face grew suddenly
hot. She held Mona's jade to her
. checks TO cool them.
And all the time shc was think
ing, lack smythe told the truth,
I'm like the woman he said. I sell
my friendship. Sadie. And
Mona. I've taken everything
they've given me - both of them.
I've given nothing in return. =.
And in my heart ] despise them
both. Why, I'm just as bad as he
said"
Retrospection may be salutary.
/ But Ashtoreth seldom found il
pleasant. Dismissing the hateful
notion, she picked up Nona's book.
There was something on the fly
leaf in Nona's writing. She wrote
broad. untidy hand. and Ashto-
reth recognized it Immediately. A
bit of doggerel A whimsical lit,
tie thing. It sounded exactly like
Mona.
This was it:
Talk 10 inc tcndarlv tcU mo lies.