The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-21

| | neuvered the roadster out. The youth had the well meaning but mistaken impression that his aid was needed. Another took a dirty rag and added g. superflu- ous bit of polish to the already | glea ming nickel work. Both were rewarded by dazzling smiles. Both were already little dizzy with the mingled scents of rose ger anium, Jasmine and mimosa, the last being the scene of Muriefs face powder. She was a walking garden that morning. Her slim rounded legs flexed as she put her small shoe on the starter, conscious of her beauty, her skill as a driv- CT, her invincibility as & woman. Thanks so much,' she cried, skidding out of the driveway, nar- rowly missing two Italian children and a man with & nurdy gurdy. Her heart did not skip & beat. The world was hers that morning. She sailed down Third avenue, joined the stream of midday traffic at Queensboro Bridge. This bored her the stopping and starting. but she varied the monotony by giving taxi drivers heart failure every few sec onds by attempting to pass them | on the right. She was rewarded by curses and screams. It all de- lighted Muriel. The oily smell of the river, the hot sun beating down, the rank odor of motor ex- haust, the purring and chugging and rattling of g. hundred engines the scream of sirens. the hoarse bray of horns.
 She was in her element. Not a nerve in her splendid, vigorous young body. Her musles were tensed as If for battle. Her Fuch- shia coIored lips continued to part in d satisfied smile. She felt as if nothing could daunt her.
 It was well past the luncheon hour when she drove into Willow Stream. On Main street she caught sight of two familiar figures and drew up to the curb, hallooing to them casually. Liane, startled turned a white, scared face at her. why, it's you!' she faltered. Elsie waved coldly and went on. "Got to pick up some things at the nve and and dime" she said to Liane' "See you later.'
 "Why Muriel, we thought Well. we didn't know what to think" Liane gasped.
 The other girl laughed scorn- fully. "Mother spilled 1t all,' she ] said. "Chasing all over the country looking for me in roadhouses. II that isn't the outside limit! I'd gone into town to dance. It's wonder they didn't send out the marines
 "She was worried" Liane said grayeIy. Her plain white dress fresh and cool looking In the heat her soft tumbling hair curing about her flushed face, gave the girl a look at once betwiching and subtly mature.
 different today, Liane, said NUT, iel "so solemn! What's up? Did anything happen after ] blew las' night?" ,, o.
 Happen? What could? ~ creo lIiane defensively. "Your mother was half out of her head. wal worried, naturally"
 "Well, you didn't need to lose any sleep over me" snapped Mur, iei "I was with Chuck and stayed at the hotel Grandmother olways chooses when she's Tn town and if 1t was my respectable itv mother was stewing about. Lord knows I'd have stayed all Chuck's place if he'd let me. He wouldn't, more's the pity Sne giggled. ,. not n ssv such things" said LianS' shornsa; u;
 "Oh, don't be goor MuIae' said. "I've got several scenes com ing when 1 get home. Motner doesn't often get such chance to blow up and will she enjoy IL m looking forward to it. Don't expect me at the theater tonight TOT ceI- tain. I'll probably come on crutch- es if I do get there. When mother gets through with me!' She threw up her hands, put the car into gear and shot off. laughing al Liane's worried face. ,.. The young girl walked s!oWiy down the street In pursuit or Fl, s,e Her heart felt heavy ana sick She could hardly bear to thinlx of last night. Everything .as,ned soiled and terrible to-day TbaY Muriel could joke about the thinps she did seemed one more ioathsome touch. These people al, took love so casually, so lightly. It meant nothing to them. It was something to be laughed at, sneer- ed about. |.
 Liane told herself she was 1 fool to believe a mans Words Just hacause his eyes were dark ana set because his voice had & pleas ant ring. And yet his words had saemed sincere. "A rose you nad thrown away-a glove you once had worn," That was beautiful. IL was poetic but on his lips 1t prob- ably didn't mean anything.
 she was an idiot even to think of him for a moment. A silly, TO- mantle little folo. No wonder Ei- sic laughed at her, affectionatey called her dumb. | If was better for her not to tnlnK of him any more. never to see nm again. Besides. her mother wished t to he so. Like a flashback in cinema her mothers white startled face appeared to her. How terrified she had looked when first Van Robard's name had been men, toned. You must not have any thing to do with him." she mad said. ,
 Liane walked in a daze, stepping heedlessly among the vacation throng, the pretty girls in scarves and white linen, the chattering family groups coming from the stores. milling around the Decent store. Yesterday she had been a part of all this. She had hkeo the smell and sound of this bright