The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-20

something for his motLer except bring his girl in for dinner every Sunday. The Donahue twins were taething. The Caseys were going to have. one of them new French telc- phones. If Min would leave her silk un- derwear out on a chair Ma would rub 1t out and press it. There was no sense to Min's tiring herself out at night after work.
 Its your day to visit your .fa- ther anyhow Ma observed sofnc- what unnecessarily. Mona was as | likely to forget to go to the office as to the hospital on visiting night. Tell him I'll be over Sunday" Ma went on. She always said that. .I'll roast him chicken. Kitty can go up to Alice's-" 2ss As Ma always cooked something l for her husband, and as Kitty al- l ways spent Sunday with Alice, this required no particular response. l Alice was Mona's elder sister. mar ried these two years and much against Mas wishes. However, after the decd had been done Ma was the first to give Alice her support.
 Most of the baby's flnery had been bought by Ma from dimes and quarters saved painstakingly out of the house keeping money. Mona suspected that Mas movie money found it's way into the same fund.
 It had been Allce's rather un- fortunate marriage which had set Mona against marrying poor man. Her sister, once so smart-looking. skipping off to work every morn ing, so proud of her ability t0. help with the family expenses, was now. after two years of married life. q changed being.
 Dressed slopplly in house dresses her hair struggling about her neck. her face gulltless of color and. her skin unpowdered, Alice struggled half -heartedly through her days work in badly furnished, rather malodorous little flat.
 There were always, no matter at what time of day one might call, dishes soaking in the sink. babies clothes draping the radiator. some thing stewing on the stove and q broom to be stumbled over in the dark hallway.
 The baby was always ailing, all ways whimpering in apologetic lit- tic means. Jim. the rather disillu- stoned young husband, usually sought q pool room after. the cas- ual, badIy-cooked meal Alice would est out for him. Mona could hardly blame him. It was amazing that this drab, uninterested, unkempt little creature could be the gay, chic Alice who had gone off so con- fidently to marry Jim.
 Whose fault was 1t that their marriage had turned1out so badly? No -body's. probably. Just the pres sure of circumstances.
 "Where'd you get the orange juice 2" remarked Bud. It was an unprecedented extravaganza in the Moran household.
 Minie's beau had brought her home from q party in Brooklyn, Ma explained. And this k what he stops and busy at one of them mar kets on Washington Place. A crate of oranges. mind you! Drinking, I'll bet. Anyhow better than lot of orchids!"
 She pronounced the word "or- chards". Ma had met that exotic flower only in print.
 No" Mona said. MT Hart stop ped to talk to one of the market men in Washington street. Mother. You know they get there late ut night and walt until morning when the hotel people buy. Well. then MT Hat wanted to buy something. too. The crate was right there and he couldn't take 1t home very well to his club so he gave 1t to me. He knows we have large family
 
 Mona laughed slightly. Cliff Hart was a friend of Lotiie's. Rather a good sort. too. Lots of money. fun- ny roguish eyes. twInkling gray blue.
 This rather dashing young man. In a humorous frame of mind. had insisted on driving Mona home via Brooklyn bridge. Int party had been In Hist street.
 "Yea, he did 1t for the famly!" Bud began derisiveiy.
 'Children," Ma softly interposed. She filled Buds plate with crisp bn- con and carefully brewned pota- toes.
 ''Eat q real meal now. Min. de- clare. you're as skinny ae n rail"
 "And." But rapped out, "it aint SO stylishi"
 Kitty appeared, cosy In her blue bnthrobe, hor hair tousicd and face flushed from Hleep. demanding her orange juice. Nhe moved kitchoh- Wnra with Q backward glance over tho lifted trim of her glass and nt 0nou engaged In conversation with Ma cOneerning A talk nt school on