New Britain herald., 1929-01-02

in order to pay her daughters en-
penses Oh no - nothing of the
kind! Only that mother ''couldn.
possibly get away" - social obliga>
lions, or something like that. At
least, that was what Ashtore,n
hoped Mr.. Hart would think.
after you went she continued.
Il had a sort OF a breakdown. anu
mother simply insisted that take
a sea trip. Mother has such faith in
the ocean-my goodness. I believe
she thinks it cures just abou.
everything" Chat was calcu-
lated to make Mr.. Hart think tina.
Maize was quite casual abou.
transatlantic voyages, and al that
sort OF thing-Maizie who'd never
been any further on d boat than
NantasketD
and as l said, she simply
couldn't get away. So she dug up
a chaperoa for me. And the very
last minute the woman came down
with scarlet fever, or diphtheria. y.
reservations and everything. Web.
then mother wasn't going to lie.
me go but l teased and teaseu.
And finally she consented. Cl
course it was dreadfully unconve,..
tional, and my mothers such TEL
ribly formal creature"
Ashtoreth's cheeks were burning.
1t was probably the most elaborate
lie she had ever told. But she sinil
ly couldn't let Mr.. Hart think the.
didn't know how to do things. AL.
most all moneyed people had sue,
a respect for the conventions.
Mr.. Hart looked very sym
pathetic.
why, I'm awfully sorry yoS
We're ill.," he told her. You're look
ing perfectly radiant now"
"Oh, I'm not" she protested. I'm
a perfect wreck. It's been the moss
dreadful VOYAGE"
Dreadful" he exclaimed. I'D
have thought you'd find it delight
full"
''Oh, the weather was lovely" she
admitted. "And it was a nice boat,
and everything like that. But / had
the most terrible experiences. Hon.
estly. l feel just like I'd lived a
regular novel;"
She played with her ice cream.
Coconut ice cream. with coconut
grated over it. and the milk of the
fruit for a sauce.
IFS perfectly delicious - this
tropical sundae," she remarked. po-
litely.
Don't change the subject ne
begged. won't you tell me about
those terrible experiences?"
why" she hesitated. Peo-
pie from the boat were coming
down the street. She could Sec
them through the open door. The
Simpson sisters. and Mrs. Hatci,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Dunks. They had
all disapproved Of her highly. What
il they came in the shop, and Mr..
Hart. who would surely knew them
for passengers off the boat, noticeu
that they did not speak to her?
"All right" she said. "Tll ten
you. / hardly know how to begin
things moves SO fast and fur,-
GUS"
They always do on a boat" he
remarked. ITS remarkable
events that, In the ordinary courn
CT things, would transpire over =.
period of years all get crammei
into single voyage. Romance.
blossom over night. And the most
phlegmatic people do the most tenn.
pestuous things. l suppose it's the
moon, and the stars-and the long,
lazy days. They certainly have i.
way Of undoing lis - but / didn't
mean to interrupt. Please tell me.
well" she said. ito begin with
there was an Englishman named
Jack Smythe. And there was the
loveliest girl you ever saw nameu
Mona de Musset. Mona roomeu
with me. And it seems this MIR.
Smythe had met her somewhere
before, and made love to her and
everything. He told me he Wa.
studying law at Harvard - but l..
seems he writes. Probably he goes
to law school too - don't know
Anyhow he published this boon.
and it was all about Mona. And. OF
course, she was perfectly furious.
"They had the most awful fign.
And Mona had a hemorrhage."
Ashtoreth dropped her face n.
her hands, and shivered.
oh" she cried. 'it was dread
full, Poor Mona had tuberculosis.
She'd had it for years and year.
and knew all about it. But you SEE.
she was so brave. she wasn't bi,
afraid to die. -
There were tears in Ashtoretn $
eyes.
Ashtoreth raised the Jade orna-
ment about her neck.
she gave me this" she salo
And all these darling little brace.
let's. . . Oh, she was gorgeous, Mr.
Hart"
Again Ashtoreth choked back the
tears. at was so sad" sn,
whispered.
But Mr.. Hart thought otherwis,.
II think he said it was rathce
glorious. Not the quarrel with NJ
Smythe - that was sordd, ! sup
pose. One docsa't like 10 think -
woman quarroling. What
meant was the way your gallant
lady died ] suppose you know
that little verso of Edna st. VIM
cent Millays almost overyboa,
does"
Ashtoreth shook her head
ooh yAE va, do a.. iDcistn,