New Britain herald., 1930-12-12
BEAU I Y
 by MATTEL HOWE FARNHAM

Mrs. Oliver at her door. She was in blue green evening dress and a little trilled white apron, flushed and excited.
 "Oh. Mrs Frost, will you do me a great tavor?" she asked
 "Why, ot course, if l Can.'
 It isn't very hard, 1 hope, But I'm giving q dinner for my eX- Ben sherman, and his tJancee, Ada Atwood. 1 have the George Feltons tshe named an illustrator whose cIoWn-lihc drawings were enjoying tremendous voguc). We've been waiting au hour for Ada but her roommate .Hsl called mp and said she was sick. The party will by Hop unless you come down and take Alas place. Won't you, pIcaso?'
 IL was windy winters night; raunys room was cold. AppeJizng olors of steak and onion. mingled with fhe aroma of coffee. had dog ard Mrs. Divers footsteps up the stairway. Fanny hesltated. allowed herself 10 he persuaded. dressed hastily and went down.
 The Divers apartment toasted a small bedroom. in which Ellsworth had been put 10 bed, kitchenette. and a combination studio dining and living room.
 The famous creator Of Felton clowns was a little lat man with an tncongruous bullet head and out standing ,ars. Fanny had read that na made S7uo.otu a year. and that this wife nas his second. 10 whom ns had rcreutIy returned. Umaglue uavsl's ~.oru anI coutrjul'l
 + WAS d thoroughly successful party, Between courses Dick Oliver played a ievS-barp. George Felton sang. iu nasal r.uor. lggubrious cowboy songs. which for some req son We're cNcrucjaungIy funny.
 That evening long remained a r0yo1s memory 10 Fanny. But as she climbed the stairs 10 her room an oId aeha came back. She had got over missing David. recovered entire ly she thought from 4tabhjng lone lluass when she WAS tired or fright an,d or nakeurd n inc night. Now -nl found Itr-elt jona}HG persistent Iy 70 share the inn Of The oE gnIag uilh him.
 David. however, womb never have approved Of inc OUlcrs. H. would have b,au di-gusr.4 at the tangled status quo
 Fanny was a little shocked her 4cIf. but she liked the OIiyers and Ben Sherman. Yrt hrr heart achcd for tLe little boy. some way, she could not have explained just why she felt vaguely sorry for them all.
 Later Fanny asked herself what child. roar4d in such q casual at- mosrh.r.. %o1fd rI1nk Of mmrlaEe when nc grew un. r. Mrs. Oliver teli our of love agam and married q third time. would -h, love Mr. Oliver next best 10 her new husband? And where would Ellsworth and Ben sherman come in2 f one took mar riaga lght'y-got divorced without any real aauSe-f0lloWeI every beck onirg taucy-why shouldn't wom- an have half d dozen husbands, and 8 man dozen sucrossive WiVes2 And II tIl~y au remained friends, and all went 10 parties together and had rhudron ny this marriage and that. where would It all eni2
 That night Fanny made up her mind 0 fight no further for Sheiia. Whether she liked the Brownbects or not they were not cheap. They had pernar@uoa. One could build on the foundations they had laId-Shaila must SO build.
 There had been no dignity in her flight. 10 real excuse for smashing her marriage. She could ze" if now. r was right thai David should have Sneila.
 The paug Of that decision was as f if rent apart soul and body hut an upIift 100 came with fl. Her spiritual arqu4sceuce went deep and entitled her to sense of spirit nal regeneration that brought in time certain peace of is own.
 Tho divorce went forward OH well greased wheels, There was no con- test and David was granted his free dom on the ground Of abandonment, with the custody Of his minor child. Fanny had taken hack her maiden namr. There was TO longer q Fanny Frost.
 p@Ud's uncle, Judson Bro"nbeck, died thrr" days after the granting Of the divorce.