The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-03-17

- eHAc3&AEA IN nH&CAUyB OcpAEe~
ment Store, works nights as .
dance hall hostess. She lives with
her mother, MOLLY, her elder
sister, MYRA, and her young
She Is in love with LARRY
HARROWGATE, an artist. Larry
Is engaged to ELIZABETH
BOWES, q debutante.
STEVEN BARCLAY, 81 and
her employer, loves Ellen. Myra
and Molly openly favor Barclay
and Ellen quarrels with them
over this partially. Because OF
gossip at the store she decides to
see Barclay NO more. Without
EiIen's knowledge Molly invites
the older man 20 dinner, borrow
ing money for the occasion. Ellen
A. angry and Is still further dis
pleased when Ba. clay gives
Mike q much desired bicycle.
That night Barclay asks Ellen
to marry him ana she refuses.
Pride VIII not permit her 70 tell
him she loves Larry. Unwilling.
ly she leaves Barclay with the
hope Of winning her.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER Xxx
Days passed. Difficult days for
Ellen. Days when her efforts to
meet insurance payments, milk
bills and butcher bills seemed
hardly worth the effort. Days.
when she needed sleep and rest
and leisure and felt that the bur-
den Of the double Job, SO vitality
necessary for the present, was too
much to bear.
She had not broken with Steven.
She could not. She saw him In
the store and occasionally outside
usually at luncheon. He did not
speak again OF marriage but In a
thousand ways he unconsciously
revealed to her what was In his
heart.
There were times those hur-
ried, fiurried days when she for
got her problems, delicious, thrill
ing times made of the stuff Of
dreams. Those were the hours she
spent with Larry. In vain Molly
HAD protested, had wept, had be-
come angry. Ellen persisted in
her determination to see him when
she chose. One Monday evening
the quarrel between her and Molly
had come to an ugly climax.
Larry had arrived at the apart
rnent, unannounced, and Molly
had asked him to leave. After
ward there had been q spirited
scene between mother ana daugh-
ter resulting in victory of sorts
for Ellen. At any rate Molly had
stopped her visible campaign
against Larry. What was In her
mind the girl did not know.
On Tuesday morning Ellen went
to the basement lockers at Bar
clay's to hang UP her hat and coat.
Absorbed In her usual morning
WEAKNESS, she was slow to. notice
the group of saleswomen clustered
about the mirror heading the row
Of lockers. As she removed her hat
she heard her name spoken. Ellen
stared at the whispering group and
saw that Mrs Bondy was in the
center.
The girls face biazed. Her
throat felt dry and her hands be-
gan to shake. She started slowly
toward the group, recognized Jen-
ny Elkins, and saw that Jenny was
watching her progress with q fas-
cinated fear. None OF the others
perceived the white-faced, angry
girl until she was upon them.
perhaps you'll let me share
the story" Ellen said softly. at
seems only fair since you're dis
GUESSING me-"
CONSERVATION smote the group
No one moved or spoke. Jennys
compact clattered from her hand,
She dared not stoop. The others
were embarrassed, ashamed, fright
ened. Mrs Bondy saw her power
slipping. She made an effort to re-
gain It.
Suppose you tell US dearie." she
remarked. WED all love to know
what IT'S like being an old mans
darling"
In the balance. Then one girl
laughed q nervous hysteria. The
others caught her up. A wave OF
high, cruel laughter beat at FL.
lens ears and drove the blazing
color from her face. She saw that
her cause was lost. An almost
overpowering impulse to announce
that she was engaged to Steven
swept over her.
It would be q way to stop that
laughter and wipe the complacent
smile from Mrs Bondy's face.
Ellen hesitated, made her de-
cision and gave the giggling group
proud, scornful glance as she
moved Off without another word.
Her thoughts were spinning round
and round. Her heart seethed
with rage and humiliation.
she took the elevator to Stevens
Office. She waited until the thump-
ing Of her heart subsidized before
she knocked. Steven himself OPEN
ed the door. His look Of surprise
faded into delighted welcome. Then
he saw that she was unstrung and
wretched and he came close to her,
drawing her inside.
what is it?" he asked, con-
cerned and peremptory.
Ellen began to tremble. Exhaust
ed from the force of anger and
humiliation, close to tears as she
heard the anxiety in his voice. she