The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-05

mistake. She dcclares she cares only for him. Jim tries to remain loyal to Gypsy but sees Marcia frequently. GypSy as aware of the situation and worries. She tries to talk to Jim hut cannot. One day in q beauty parlOE she hears an unseen woman say, aHave you heard about Jim Wal lsce7 He's going to leave his wife?n NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER xxxvIII.
 Gypsy sat perfectly quiet. She could not raise her eyes; she could not even seem to breathe.
 The voice of the unseen speaker 4 continued: Why, T heard it at the country club. It's all over town now! Jim's leaving this girl he married in New York and is going to divorce her. And here's Marcia that snoney--i Well, guess you think it's priceless. I never heard anything like it!''
 There was . flutter of soprano deeper tones put in something that fs, ,s. s.
 'sr suppose you're right the first speaker agreed. ''cnly honestly everyone knows about it--" Then the conversation in the next booth swung to coming house party. There was no more mention of Jim Wallace.
 The beauty parlor operator was combing out Gypsy's waving hair.
 Now if you'll show me how you wear it." she said. "I'il put the
 Gypsy struggled to master her voice. 'T-I think I'd rather do it myself, if you don't mind" she said. It seemed to her. that someone else had said the words.
 Certainly not. Here-I'1l get you mirror.'' The other girl dis appeared and a moment later was back with a large black mirror. she handed the mirror to Gypsy and was gone. Gypsy confronted her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed. She wondered if the hair dresser had noticed the color come into her face. Of course the girl Gypsy was? She had called her Mrs Wallace" but there were a dozen different families of Wallaces. What did all. that matter anyhow? What did she care about hair dress CTS or who the woman on the other side of the curtain might be?
 was it-could 1t be true! Would Jim do such a thing? Was 1t be- cause of Marcia?
 A tiny, defending voice arose in the girls consciousness. T won't believe it. the voice said. Its only gossip. They're trying to make trouble. I won't believe it's true."
 But the tiny voice was not loud enough to be convincing. It was such a very little. pathetic murmur -.hothing to cling to in this over whelming sea of doubt.
 Gypsy realized she still held the comb and that she had not started to arrange her hair. She ought to begin. Someone might come and would think 1t queer of her to be sitting there, staring at herself in the mirror. She had forgotten about the finger wave, about her eagerness for her hair to be fluffy and soft about her face. She screwed 1t up into | tight knot at the base of her neck, damned the hairpins in cross wise. It was only important now to ret away from this place before anyone should recognize her.
 She was pulling on her hat when the hairdresser reappeared. "Oh" she said reproachfully. you're all ready to go! Is the wave the way you wanted it?"
 Probably she hoped Gypsy would remove her hat so that she might inspect her work but if so the girl disappointed her.
 ..The wave Is very nice." Gypsy said. She had not even noticed what 1t looked like. T pay the girl at the desk, do I?''
 "Yes. Mrs Wallace"
 At the name Gypsy colored again. As quickly as possible she left the slou and got out on the street. Then she was undecided what to do next. Her first impulse had been to go to Jim and ask him if what she had heard was true. Now she knew that she could not do
 This was ., private affair to be discussed only between herself and Jim. She could not so to his office where there were clients, other members of the firm, photographers. she must wait until they were alone at home.
 Waiting was very hard. Gypsy turned honneward. She walked past the corner where she should have taken the street car without notic- ing 1t. When she realized this she had gone SO far that she decided to walk to rest of the distance. At least she was spared the curious chances Of other passengers. She had the feeling that faces were peering at her from behind cur tained windows of houses she passed and that people were saying, 'sThere she is! That's the girl Jim Wallace is going to divorce. Every- one in town knows about it.
 At last she arrived home. She opened the front door and sniffed the faint, delicious odor of Ma tilda's baking. The kitchen door must have been left open against orders. Even 90 the smell was de-
 Everything about the house was {, orderly. exactly as 1t should be. Prepefations for dinner were al- rnost complete. Sam had departed for the day. leaving word that ne would be on hand early next morn- ing to scrub the walks and porches'
 IMr Wallace came home. I think he's upstairs z Matilda announced. {
 Gypsy looked at the clock on the ynantlepiece and saw that It was not vet five. Jim was home early.