The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-19

past seven already.
 She called down the narrow pas
 sage. "Yoo-hoo, Aunt Jessie! I can't find my organdie any place" l. The sharp voice came back, 1 tinged with fresh annoyahce; "-
 Except me to do everything! 'Sif 1 could get around to that extra job
 with the spring cleaning and all-" Susan sank down on the bed, her brows crinkled with despair. She ] had promised! Aunt Jessie had l promised!
 The ready tears started to her eyes. Then of sudden she dashed they away after a quick glance at the clock.
 '1'll do it myself" she said. She rushed into the little bathroom where she washed her hands vig- orously, ridding them of the scent l of yellow soap and dishwater. She
 dashed cold water on her reddened eyes and flew to the kitchen. Aunt Jessie was in the back yard, dis cussing lettuce plants with Mrs Sorenson, who lived next door. Susan put the ironing board into
 place and plugged in the cord. She rooted out the dress in it's towel
 wadding and sprinkled it anew. Her fingers flew and her breath came faster. Aunt Jessie hadn't wanted her to go to Rose Milton's s party. That was the real reason she hadn't ironed the pink organ
 die. Aunt Jessie was always doing things like this. She had forgot ten what it was to be young and spent most of her time trying to re- press the natural youthful impulses
 of her niece.
 But Susan would not let her conquer. She was young and that
 meant being alive, hopeful. Sud-
 denly she began to sing Aunt Jessie. coming in from the yard, regarded the girl with irritation. Lands sake!" said Aunt Jessie ! with some asperity. You going to that fool jamboree, anyhow? I thought you'd get to bed early for once and have done with all this gallivanting."
 Susan smiled at her. Her lips curved and she said good-humor- edly, Answer that front door bell. will you? That's a lamb! I hear Mary Ruth on the front stoop."
 The Miltons' front parlor was filled to overflowing when Susan and Mary Ruth arrived. Susan felt shy. Most of the girls were coming with their "boy friends" and only she and Mary Ruth who was little and skinny and had buck teeth came alone-Mary Ruth be-
 cause she had never had a boy
 friend" and Susan because Aunt
 Jessie wouldn't let her come with
 anyone. Aunt Jessie said there
 was plenty of time later for all that nonsense and she wouldn't stand for Susan gallivanting all
 over town with every Tom, Dick
 and Harry.
 Aunt Jessie never missed crimes
 or scandals in the newspapers. Girls Body Found in Vacant Lot"
 she would drone ominously, look ing over her spectacles at Susan,
 struggling with shorthand symbols.
 "No wonder such dreadful things | happen. the way young people go
 lally-gagging at all hours nowa- l days!"
 So Susan had no admirers. She
 had to go to her few parties un-
 escorted. Usually she didn't mind
 but tonight. somehow, she hated | it. She felt conspicuous, walking down North Flornuoy street with
 the dumpy Mary Ruth. She ,, thought people must be hiding be- hind their window curtains, point ing finger and saying. There | goes that Susan Carey. She's aw- fully unpopular. Shes never had a
 beau"
 Hurry up, can't you?" she I asked Mary Ruth rather pettishly. Susan fairly ran up the front
 steps and into the front parlor
 when they reached Rose Milton's
 home. She saw confusion of
 eyes, heard a gabble of tongues.
 She rushed straight upstairs to the front bedroom where she took
 off her last years panama hat. de-
 posting it on the already over
 crowded double bed. Then she primped bit in front of the mir
 TOT over Mrs Milton's big mahog-
 any dresser. The Miltons had nice things. Susan reflected. Not like Aunt Jessie, who still thought the golden oak she had bought in 1905 was the last word in style.
 How can | ever ask anyone to | our house?" the girl had thought in | despair. The cnairs in Aunt Jes-
 sei's parlor were stiff and slippery
 and anyhow she preferred not to have Susan ask her friends in. Aunt Jessie liked things quiet, she said.
 Suddenly Susan felt she must be going to cry. She wondered why
 she had come. She would be mis-
 erable. all evening. She just knew it! She would sit in corner smiling stiff, set smile and trying to look as if she were having a good ti me. The other girls would dance with their escorts to the mu-
 sic of the radio and Susan would
 sneak out to the kitchen and beg
 to be allowed to help with the re-
 treatments just to 'conceal from
 the assembled company the fact
 that she wasn't enjoying herself. oh, she wanted to run away!
 Everything was horrible and life
 was hopelessl
 She dabbed at her eyes and leaned across the welter Of hand-
 painted china toilet things to pow | der her nose. Mrs Milton, stout
 and yoluble. hustled in. wearing q way, lowered georGette.
 susss ,.whes cars,,s sS sa''h'' the matter The krl siammersd. "I--f got