The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-14

pompously. "He is directing the company there for the summer and We wondered if you would care to join us. I admired" said Mrs Cleespuagh. ESQ much your per- formance in Romeo and Juliet"
 Willow Stream! Like cinema flashback Cass saw the tree-shaded lanes and blue waters of that little would mean all the difference be- have this summer at Willow Stream. What was it the doctor had said? "Ough to get out of the city at any cost" And she had smiled at him ironically, paying her bill. But what about Liane :? How could she leave her? Mrs Cleespaugh was babbling on. She spoke of art as a high calling and mentioned $40 week with in finite casualness. Well, thought Cass, it was not much but it was enough. There would be shaded lanes to walk in of mornings, salt air to breathe deeply. Oh, 1t was more than enough!
 Class stood up presently. Her own voice sounded unreal to her. Its too marvellous" she said, unstead- fly. "It sounds really perfect" Even her laughter sounded ner- vous, brittle. T hope I can have my daughter with me-" she hazard ed. "I should be so glad to have her out of the town heat for the summer"
 "Oh, about Liane," said Wells, seeming to remember. There will have to be a double box office staff at Willow Stream. We have a girl engaged for the afternoons but I wondered if Liane might not take over the job in the evenings"
 She's inexperienced, but I'm sure she could manage it," Cass told him.
 "Liane?" Mrs Cleesbaugh's mag isterial dark eyes sought Cass'. My child. She's 18," Cass ex- plained, with that surging of pride which always accompanied her ex- planation.
 almost endurable in the receding sunlight. It was easier to be phil osophic about the heat wave when l OHe was SIloEIly HoNAhB tO tuc country. She looked at all the bright, clean little shops alm ost fondly as she passed them. The shop windows. Purple and yellow and scarlet sports things. Hats which were so nearly like the ere ations of Agnes and Descat and Suzanne Talbot The spacious jew elry and shapely, glittering, small shoes. All seemed a promise of better days to come. Cass stopped at a butcher shop near home and bought three lamb chops. Two for Liane, that growing girl. She hummed as she unlocked the door of the apartment.
 There was a note on the table. It said, "Liane has gone to dinner with me and some friends. Back about TO-" It was signed Molly Cronin.
 The spark died in Cass Barretts heart. She sat down, tired, like an old, old woman. Liane out with Molly and her crowd She didn't like it. Molly did well enough as neighbor, but for Liane to accept her as an intimate hurt Cass cruel ly. Molly with her hennaed hair and scarlet fingertips. her laissez- faire. Some friends" Cass shud- dered at this phrase, remembering the men who usually passed her on the stairs looking for Mollys fiat. Bookmakers in checked suits with huge, synthetic stones in their neckties. Hard looking individuals wearing green hats.
 "How could Liane!" Cass mur- mured to herself Poor child, it was easy to see why she had gone. Ljane had no friends in New York. Molly had probably offered a good time as bait, dancing, delicious food.
 Cass set drearily about the busi- ness of cooking her chop. She put the other two in the ice box for the next day. All the spice had gone out of her own good news now. She ate, washed up. and be- gan to get ready to return to the tneater How strange and silent the fiat semeed without the child!
 She was putting on her hat when the doorbell rang. Three lonor naalv