The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-05
satisfaction

"That Barrett girls up to some- thing, mind you," she said to Fan- ny Amberton who reclined on the chaise tongue.
 Your Imagination works over time, darling" Fanny answered laxily. She's a mere child and rather q well-behaved one, I think. At least she doesn't shout and scream the way Muriel did to- night"
 T don't like her." Tressa's green eyes narrowed. "Muriel's all right. She belongs. at any rate. Clever little baggage to have snagged Van Robard for her own. He's filthy with money" Vans mother was fascinating gently. q saw her at Newport when was in pistails. Beautifui creature she was. All the men were second life, you know. Van wasn't his son."
 "Ch. I didn't mean that!! Tres sa, struggling out of her frock, paused. looking interested. "He adopted Van legally. Vans father was a nobody. Artist or something of the sort. He left Miilie without penny and she married Dirk Robard within the year. Clever girl" Fanny yawned. "All this happened when Van was a baby. I suppose?" Tressa said casually.
 Not 8 bit of 1t. Van was in prep school. MilIie's people put him through believe. But they were stoney most of the time. Dirk and Miilie were married just before the war---in 1873. I believe. You were too young. You wouldn't re- member. But there was a lot of newspaper talk. She stopped.
 Newspaper taik?" Trsssa asked. her curiosity sharpsned by aI, syasiye quality in her sisters voice. What about? It wasn't terribly unconventional match, was it?" "Oh. no. Millicsnt was a Brad shaw. Baltimore society = the finest. That wasn't it." Fanny glanced at the door uneasily. 1T hate to talk about 1t. Eva might come in. She often does for a late chat"
 Don't be an idiot" Tressa snapped. shell knock and then you can change the subject. Any how, why should Eva mind"
 Dirk and she were great friends and Millie was a distant cousin. You know how she is about her friends and family. Touchy as the deuce."
 Well, tell me anyhow" persist ed Tressa. "I'm dying of curiosity"
 Fanny leaned forward. Dirk Robard had been married a few years before," she said solemnly. "rt all came out in the newspapers when he married Millie."
 "Well, what of it?" Tressa want ed to know. What had hap pened?"
 "The girl was beautiful every one said," Fanny explained. 'I nev- and said she was raving. tear dropped out of sight. No one knew where or why. Dirk went abroad for a year. The rumor was that she had died but when he married Millle Bradshaw the papers un- oNEtAcu d uANoEVcs DANoICcb WcFc more or less news back in 1913."
 "They still are." Tressa said drily.
 Anyhow Van came into a good thing" Fanny went on with relish. He is sole heir to that enormous fortune. Miilie died in 1920. a year after Dirk. They left him
 
 Tressa sat down at the dressing table concentrating on her sleek skin. Little rose -colored jars and bottles yielded up their contents to supplement her beauty.
 Good story" she observed, pat ting in some creamy colored un- guent.
 And Muriel Ladd who doesn't need & penny of 1t is going to step into all that money" Fanny mur- fr1ured.
 "Do you think 50, really?" Tressa asked cryptically.
 Fanny stared.
 "Why Tressa Lord, whatever are you driving at?"
 Tressa laughed.
 Vans had affairs before." she countered evasively. You're sure- ly not so naive as to believe that just because his engagement to Muriel has been announced they'll go through with it!"
 Adele had better marry that girl off and quickly, too." Fanny replied. She's one of the naughty post-war children these dreadful young men arc always writing books about"
 Tressa yawned.
 Well, If anyone writes book about Muriel Ladd don't ask me to read 1t. please. I'd be bored to death. These bad brats who think up shocking things to say weary me-"
 "You were born seven years too early for that sort of thing" Fan ny observed with satisfactoin.
 Tressa stood up, winding the sleek folds of her robe about her lovely figure with an impatient movement.
 "Don't remind me of my senior- ity," she urged. 6 rasp in her voice.
 "You know I didn't mean to do that" Fanny said amiably.
 Tressa leaned nearer to the mif- TOT over the full-skirted dressing table, her eyes opened wide. "Well, I'm reminded of 1t entirely too of- ten." she said with bitterness. I'm still on the block and Muriel has had a bidder. Don't rub 1t in."
 Her sister said, You've had chances. It isn't as if--"
 With an impatient gesture Tres sa interrupted. "Oh, know. I know! You've given me every advantage. Let's not go over all that again." Her beautiful mouth was twisted. Her long hands were clenched at her sides.
 Fanny attempted to head off the tantrum which threatened. You're beautiful enough" she said. Ito land anybody. But you're too clever, l think. You say things that wound a mans pride. You never lose a chance to be biting"
 Tressa drowned. "You always say that. You're milk and water and I'm vinegar. Is that what you