The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-08

A4tck kWaEQ tnCy udu UNAVSh dlOuB country roads in 8 car Bob had borrowed.
 What would Bob be doing to- morrow? she wondered. How lit- tie she had thought of him lately and how much he had occupied her thoughts a few months ago!
 Norma reached the apartment and immediately stray fancies van- ished. There was work to be done and the girl settled down to it im- mediately. The whole apartment must be made immaculate. She was in the midst of the. sweeping when there was a ring at the door. It was the boy from the store who waited outside. Norma set the groceries on the kitchen table and returned the basket. Then she put the duck in the ice box and went on with her sweeping.
 Dinner that evening was late Mark did not arrive home until after six. He threw down his hat and coat and told Norma it had been a tiresome day. More people in the store because of the coming holiday. Customers, keyed to ex- citement, a little more impatient than usual. Yes, Mark was weary.
 He had been at Blossonda1e's for three weeks now. There had been two $35 checks and on Sat- urday there would be another. The young Traverses, though they had little on the credit side of the ledger, were at least meeting their debts, paying their living expenses and, remarkable as it might seem, quite happy. There had been no quarrels since the night Mark and Norma were too tired at the end of a day to regret the fact they had no money for recreation.
 "I'm so glad you'll be home all day tomorrow" Norma said as she set the last dish on the table. You really need the rest, Mark. You've been over-doing."
 "Oh, it isn't that! Just that Pm new at this stuff. Not used to be- ing on my feet all day and don't know enough about the store. Boy, when the Christmas rush starts I suppose I'll think this was a pie mic! After the second week in De- cember the store is open from g in the morning until at night"
 But they'll pay you extra, won't they?"
 Hope so. I haven't found out yet. We'll, what's the program for tomorrow?
 Dinner at two. thought you'd want to sleep late. Is that all right?"
 70. K with me. Say, you know there's one thing I'm mighty glad about-won't have to sit across from Aunt Matilda and hear her talk about what happened the sum- mer of '72 in Progress City and how Great-Uncle Hiram hornswog- gled the Indians out of their land."
 What did happen in Progress City?"
 II don't know! God forbid, I never listened! Aunt Matilda's nearly 80 but she can out-talk any, one I ever met. What do you say, kid? Shall we step out to movie?"
 Norma dimpled. There's Jack Oakie in that new one at the Gen. tury."
 Lets see it!''
 Perhaps the roast duck Norma drew from the oven next day was not seasoned exactly to the taste of a French chef. Perhaps its dressing could have been inn proved. Nevertheless the bird was beautifully roasted. It was well cooked and, according to Mark Travers, it was the finest fare he had ever eaten. The duck was af- ter all only a part of the care fully prepared meal. That it was a success was enough to put Norma into the true spirit fo day. She knew the sweet potatoes, the salad and rolls and the mince pie were as they should be. Hearing Mark praise her cooking-as he did praise twas more than reward for the hours she had spent in the tiny kitchen.
 They dined by cand1elight and the fruit centerpiece was as color full and attractive as though it had been arranged on silver platter instead of one of the plates from the five and ten"
 At the other side of the city in a palatial dining room an elab- crate dinner was being served. Marks father and mother sat at either end of that dining table. Half a dozen servants had spent their efforts preparing and serv- ing the repast. It was the sort of dinner to which Mark Travers had been accustomed all his life.
 There could have been no great CT contract than the simple meal Norma had cooked and the one at which Marks parents sat. Perhaps Mark was thinking something of this sort.
 He leaned forward across the table and found the girls hand. As he pressed it Mark said in a lowered voice. "You-you make me awfully happy. You're 90 sweet Normal"
 All of which was ample reason for Norma Travers to rise next morning feeling the world was a grand place in which to live. She her tasks in the apart ment. Then she dressed, putting on the old polo coat and snug hat she had worn so often on daily trips to the law office. She had errands to attend to downtown and was anxious to finish them and be home by noon.
 The street car was not crowded and Norma found a seat imme- That was because the rush had ended. She rode to Broad street and Eighth avenue and then left the car.
 Norma walked rapidly. Mentally she was reviewing her list of pur- chases-first the saucer to replace the one she had broken. then the oil cloth and the yard of rib bon"
 Her thoughts were interrupted by a. shrill familiar voice.