New Britain herald., 1929-07-12

answering an unanswerable ques- tion.
 Gosh! What a cake." Curtis shouted, beating his hands together in a frenzy of delight. What kind of cake is that, Estelle? I never saw such funny. pretty cake" Estelle laughed. as she set the tall, white cake, surmounted by tiny bride and groom. before her new mistress. That's wedding cake, Curtis. Maude made it her self, Miss-I mean ma 'am."
 "Oh-that was dear of her" Nan faltered. You've both been so kind"
 "Can I have the man and lady dolls. Nan? Can ?" Curtis clam ored, and her husband. at the foot of the table. seized the excuse to laugh. The tension was broken.
 Nan laughed, too, and the mag nificent cake was cut. So that Maude might not have her feelings hurt, Nan forced herself to eat all of the thin slice she had taken upon her own plate, but Maude might have favored it with ouinine in- stead of almond; the bride would not have known the difference.
 The second incident occurred i'm mediately after dinner. Nan Carroll l Morgan was destined that night to be spared nothing, If innocent, blun- dering little Curtis had been a grad uate of the Inquisition, he could not have devised more exquisite tortures for the girl who had. in all humility, agreed to become a mother to him
 Quite as matter of course John Curtis Morgan led the way into the drawing room. Culr1s dragging al his hand and chattering blithely Nan forced her reluctant feet tc follow them into the room domi- mated by Iris Morgan's beautiful almost life-size portrait She had not long to wonder what revenge Iris would exact of the interloper.
 Her husband paused at table 10 fill his pipe, but Curtis impa,
 tently and automatically dragged
 him to the center of the room. SC
 that they faced the fireplace and
 the portrait.
 Listen, Father. Listen.' Cur.
 tis commanded shrilly. pointing tt
 the portrait Of his mother. "Dt } you think Nan is as pretty as m.
 other mother9 Do you, Father?
 think she almost is, don't you
 Father?"
 Mans heart stood still for a sec } ond. then lunged sickeningly. Sh'
 was glad she stood behind them ) that she could not see Morgan face. Glad too, that he could no see hers.
 Before her husband had time L answer, Mans clear, friendly littl laugh rang out. T know what : think, young Curtis, my lad!" sh , cried. her voice convincingly ga and firm. T think it's time fo r you to go to bed. or you'll get , black mark on your health char - tomorrow"
 s It was a potent threat Tn child released his fathers hand an
 came toward his new mother, obe l diently. if reluctantly. You 7 come upstairs with me for just 2 teeny while, won5t you. Nano Goo l night, Father"
 9 When Nan returned to the draw l ing room 10 minutes later, the fe, Q of Curtis kisses still upon her lip l she found her husband half-sittn, half-lying in his own particula f armchair beside the fireplace, hi : head thrown back, his narrnwe
 eyes fixed upon the portrait of tn
 wife who had deserted him.
 Nan was about to turn and fe
 unable to endure more. when he husband caught the faint rustic (
 her taffeta skirt. He was instant upon his feet, smile of welcom routing the breeding melanchol from his distinguished, auster face.
 If he says, Alone - at last.' r
 scream Nan said to herself a ' she waited for him to reach he For We aren't alone, We'll neve :, be alone as long as she sits ther . mocking us, smiling. gloating be cause she knows he'll always t E hers"
 II Well, Nan?" Morgan put a arm about the girls bare shoulder and pressed her close against h side. For a breathless moment Ma
 thought he was going to kiss he '' But he drew her gently along wit him to small Empire sofa, { placed that Iris portrait was n, = visible from it. Was that why + chose it? Nan wondered. but W; l. Grateful.
 'e When they were seated. Nan tai ing exaggerated pains with the a '' ranging of her long. poppy-splashe , skirt, Morgan again put his risl ..' arm about her shoulders and wit | his left hand gathered up both h, d cold little hands lifted then r. brushed his lips against the TO. D flnger-tips
 Glad you're here, Nan?" l
 asked at last. huskily. n Yes She could not mana,
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