The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-15

Mrs Smithers answered the clan gor of their knock and showed them to their rooms. Cass said, looking about the -eaved third story apartment. "I wonder 1T this won't be terribly hot" Mrs Smith, CTS assured them 1t was amazingly cool under the roof. The two had 10 take her word for it. Mrs Smith, CTS was a small, ruddy woman In bluo gingham. Her hair was white and her blue eyes had a gentle melancholy as did her voice.
 The place smelled of ginger bread and applesauce. Liane loved that as well as the white iron bed with it's honeycomb counterpane. She loved the uneven, painted floor with the rag rugs, the washstand with it's quaint bowl and pitcher. There was a bathroom on the sec ond floor, their landlady explained with a modest pride. She supposed "city folks" would find 1t kind of inconvenient." Liane and Class tried to look as if they were used to the most lavish quarters so that she might not be disillusioned.
 They left their bags and started to walk to the theater. The play house was located on a corner Of the Cleespaugh estate on the shore. There would be no trouble, said Mrs Smithers, in finding 1t as or ange-painted arrows marked tne way all along the road. "The Will low Stream Playhouse, one mile."
 Through the trees ahead they could glimpse that graystone pile which was the Cleespaugh man. sion. It was done quite in the English manner with ivy chamber ing over the walls, with mullioned windows and velvet terraces de- Bcending to a dream of garden.
 There's a place." sighed Liane, "you wouldn't be ashamed to take the boy friend!
 Cass laughed, then looked shocked. "Where do you pick up such dreadful talk?" she wanted to know. Liane said, Elsie always jokes about boy friends. It isn't considered vulgar any more. moth- CT. It's whimsical. Elsie says all our best people use the phrase.
 Cass sniffed. Obviously she had her own opinions about "our best people"
 The road led away now from the house and in little glade beyond they could see the red tiled roof of the playhouse. A little group had already assembled. Cass could see Elsie, very animated wearing a pink sports dress and engaging lean young man in conversation. Vernon Wells was experimenting the unloading of van. Mrs Clees- paugh, in another of her astonish- ing embroidered gowns of past era, lifted her lorgnette to survey the scene. Liane was suddenly overwhelmed by maidenly shyness She did not know all these people and those she did know seemed new and strange, removed from their familiar surroundings. She began to feel panic-stricken about her job. Would she be clever enough to talg to people as brisk ly as she ought to make change and take charge of all that money? She felt decided qualms.
 Elsie's greeting was reassuring Hello, kid, how're things? Yes Elsie was nice and friendly. Li- ane's heart warmed to her. True she was rather snoopy at times liked to ask personal questions and liked to pry. But Liane felt that her simple friendliness made up for all that.
 We don't begin until Thursday night" Elsie volunteered. "The old man" (she made a disrespct- full face at Vernon's back) "ii having fits because tee velvet cur tains arrived two inches too long The decorators have to dash out tomorrow and take a tuck in them. And the lighting system has gone blooey out here in the wilds." Elsie seemed pleased, on the whole, at this delay.
 Liane went around to the front of the small theater and peered in Electricians were making a great 10 do, bawling back and forth al bach other. Carpenters were ham, mering. A tall, fair, young man in flannels were supervising work on The stage. He gave Liane one fleet Ing, curious glance.
 "Cute, isn't it?" Elsie inquired [. "Old LadS Cleespaugh is supposed 10 be our angel but l suspect she's uot paying for the whole business on Vernon wouldn't be so upset. think he has a stake in 1t himself Cieespaugh just supplies the house and lot, not the trimmings, l think"