The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-23
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY
.Gualtieri photo.

SisS EIl.N NlSh llNc WItf tnclr grandparents, once wealthy. now so impoverished that Anns and Cccily's earnings support the household. The sisters have been orphaned since childhood. The grandparents are known rcspcc- lively us "Rosalic" and "Grand".
 When the story opens Ann has been engaged to PHILIP ECKOYD Il young lawyer, for eight years. They cannot marry because Ann knows her sisters and grandpar- ents depend on her to manage their home.
 Cccily has new admircr, BARRY McKEEI, with whom she is falling in love though she has known him only n short time. Mary Frances and her friend, EItMINTRUDE HILL, strike up an acquaintance with EARL DE ARMOUNT. stock company actor. To Mary-Franccs he Is an intense ly romantic figure. She meets him secretly.
 Next morning Phil comes to take Ann to her office in his car. diatcIy. When she points out the | oDStNNiSS tnCS NopC hS"i VuoTISI- ing.
 CcclIy is warned by her friend MARTA, that Barry Mckccl Is Il heart breaker. However. that same evening Barry asks Cccily tG him but is cvasivc about the mar riagc date.
 NOW CO oN WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXI
 "You mean," Cecily asked tremulously. that you wouldn't"
 "I mean, suppose, that couldn't. Eight weeks--of course. Eight months-probably but pro- testingly. Eight years--no real man could or would"
 Phil Is q real man."
 "Ycs?" Barry made it an inn pudence.
 But he is," she insisted, strug- gling against an astonishing new loyalty which, unwelcome. she felt must be insincere. "He truly Is. He is so good, and so trust worthy and patient. and"
 "LaZy?" he supplied.
 "He isn't lazy" she contested. and hated Phil with all her might. Why did he insist upon intruding? What difference did it make whether he was real man or lazy. or not lazy? Why should he be here at all with his inevitable rightncss. smoothing his vain mus tachc, n menacing third under these trees and stars? Phil did not like her. Why should she de- fend him? Why didn't Barry dis pose of him instead of saying in that insistent voice. as if it were important, Not mentally lazy" Why didn't Barry chuck the whole business and kiss her again?
 He did kiss her again. But, after that, he said disturbingly. "Cccily, is something wrong?"
 No" she declared, and repeat ed. "No." and added. Nothing at an," because something was wrong, and she knew 1t. and Bar ry knew it.
 Forgive me-" he said. Ut was insufferably rude of me to criti- cizc your friend and your sisters finance. IneXcusable--of course. l am sorry. l suppose I thought. or felt rather, that you and 1 were so-so alone, so close, that other people were inconsequcntial. Even so, that was no reason for rudc- ness, was it?"
 You weren't rude." she said. We were so close that other peo- pie were inconsequential--w didn't exist back there before we got into the car. That is why didn't wish to begin with plans and futures that dragged other people in with us. I wanted to stay right in the present. and close and alone with you. l asked you to. didn't wish to talk about marrying. and being engaged, and the family, and Ann and Phil" There he loomed again, standing in his overshoes and displaying all his sterling qualities. She thrust her hands out in an impotent ges- ture, trying to push Phil away. and said. "Oh-" softly, under her breath.
 her. the loveliest living thing. and greed. He had gone off talk
 
 bills and the cost of living to her to Cecily! He, along with all nature, halted. stupefied, spell bound, stunned before such n crude display of injustice and asi- ninity. There was little to he done about it now. He might slink out of the car and steal to the cliff and suicide politely. And yet--she did toss back her head and wrinkle her nose and squint her eyes like n small boy when she laughed. Hope lay there. tf not promise.
 "Dayling do undrr' stand. at least. It's no good be- ginning on what fool I've been. We couldn't get through It this evening. and you know all about n. anyway. But. cecily, it comes to this. 1 love you more than l