New Britain herald., 1930-07-05
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put a large pat of butter between the two halves Funny how love in- terfered with the appetite. She was glad she was too old 10 be in love.
 Natalie now-she looked starved. Ii would be d good thing for her to go home and cook for man, Per haps she would eat decent meal herself once in while.
 I'll miss you.' she said, with ap- other sigh. and bit into her biscuit.
 Natalie shook her head. I'm not going back, Aunt En-" she said quietly.
 "Hey?" the old lady shouted. Not going back?'
 Natalie touched the newspaper. This" she said, doesn't make any difference. Alan still believes tha' made that change in the letter. Hes mentioned there," again she touched the paper; they were friends; he hadn't found out. l can never prove it to him now" Aunt Emma finished her biscui. and wiped the butter off her fingers. She would honestly like to have Natalie stay on with her but sh" guessed Alan would bo wanting her back. and the sooner the better, for Natalie was plainly eating her heart our for him.
 Lands sake, don't he silly" she said matter-of The poor man just got himself dazzIed, that's all. It happens to the best of 'em, l hear my friends say. Irs your duty. Natalie, to go and help him now"
 Calmly she reached> for another biscuit and carefully avoided look ing at Natalie.
 CHAPTER NIIN
 Natalie got mp early one bright and shining morning and stood med. Hating al her window. Across th' stleet a woman was cleaning th' white steps. She cleaned them every morning, excepting sunday. Natalie nN ondored if it made her unhappy tC let them 90 uncleaned for a single day.
 The hold Of habit and custom St,ps-or husbands. Was there s, much difference in the weight O responsibility they placed upon th' enc supposed 10 care for them?
 Didn't her faps worry this woman a7 much aS her neglect or Alan vor ried Naraiia3 Natalie wondero, about it. and wondered too If sh. We're losing her sense Of values.
 She hadn't been able. since read ing of Beruadine Lamonts death to shake of a feeling hat she ough to do as her Aunt Emma advised and go 10 Alan. Blessed Aunt Elm
 Sh. ar least wasn't all clutterod uI with human equations. When aske' tp weigh this or hat problem. q I:kely aS not she would answer: "l'n
 not fish. l ain't carrying scale around with me- Then. probably shed laugh and add: T got to 2
 look al my biscuits
 Had Alan been merely fascinato,
 with Bernadine, or had he reall : loved her? This was the question Natalie weighed almost every mo ment Of h'r waking hours. Aunt Emma said seriously on day: You know. honey. l suspcc
 man can love any number c 5 times. but I'll bet my biscuit recip against Dora Lanes that he love ouo woman best Of the lot just th
 same. whether he loves hcr first, O last"
 Sha had said no more: Natalie ha ] understood. And she asked herscl this too as she stood watching th scruhb.ng going or across the street ,Whar woman had Alan love
 most2'
 And there was still another qucs - tiou.
 Someonc mus havs come 10 wis q at inc house across thc street. Q chubby little haby face was to | 7 seen at inc windows occasional.
 Natalie grew ID watch for jc and !
 wait for the march down rhc in v rascsIata steps for inc morning an D afternoon walks, The sight Of in ut'Ir round figure holding to 1t hand of rha pretty young woma
 beside 1.-the mother, Natalie wj :. csrtain-had first brought this que! :, ton 10 Natahes mind, and there II remained.
 ' Bernadin- Lamont had had q Ii = tlo son. What would become {