The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-18
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few days that even Aunt Jeasie was alarmed. Aunt Jessie had tried, even as Rose, to draw Susan out on the subject of the house party. ssThis gadding around leads to no good" Aunt Jessie scolded. If she had expected to rouse her niece's spirit by this tried and true re- mark she was disappointed.
 'I guess maybe you're right" Su- san had said drearily. T think I'll go to bed early tonight. I'm terribly tired.
 Aunt Jessie had to hide her ex- asperation. .f
 got into the girl" she would mutter to herself, swishing the mop around in the big dish pan or sweeping the back porch with energetic fury.
 Somehow Susan managed to get through dayg at the office. Next week would usher in her birthday. At 20 a birthday should be an event, a celebration. For Susan 1t seemed neither this year.
 When Ben telephoned she told him she was busy: She had not seen him since the eventful night or Lu0 uVUSO V8Etys &uttO uuECdoou ably she blamed Ben in her heart. If he had not lecn there, she would think, perhaps things might movies with Rose, washed her hair. and alarmed her stockings with beautiful, invisible stitches. She borrowed books from the library and read them with her mind far away. Everything seemed empty and futile. Some days--the easiest ones---passed in 6 sort of gray haze when. she felt nothing at all. There were other times when the turn of a head . mans voice calling to an. other across 0 restaurant or a phrase leaping at her from the pages of a book awoke her to some thing like agony.
 She wondered why people said the young were happy. They cer- tainly weren't. At least she wasn't She kept reaching out and striving for things she could never have. ! It would be better to be like Ray, who accepted everything at its face value.
 over their cafeteria luncheon Susan happened to mention the fact that the day was her birthday. Ray widened her eyes.
 My eye! What did the boy friend give your"
 Susan smiled. Haven't any boy friend"
 Ray looked shyewd. Expect me to believe that?"
 Susan allowed herself a tiny shrug. "You can believe 1t or not, just us you like. It's true"
 "You are Q funny one," Ray told her. "You're plenty -looking ---that Is, if anybody likes the tall type. And you could have q good time if you only put your mind to It."
 Susan ate her ice cream. Maybe that's the trouble. 1 don't care enough" sch said.
 Ray announced, "It's just plain dumb. That's what it Is! If you'd wear some snappy clothes and use c little more makeup you'd be real cute. Why don't you come up to the house some night and let Mamma fix you up?"
 "Youre awfully kind" Susan told her. "pll think about it." She squeezed Rays plump little arm as they went out. Yos, it must be comfortable to be like Ray. Life would be simple if you felt as she did about everything.
 It was unaccountnble but susan's heart had frightened somewhat. She told Pierson shyly that 1t Vas her birthday and he joked about her great age. Pierson was 35 and iook0d 70. Jack Waring arrived us they were talking. He looked at the girl curiously.
 Tt must bo great to bo 20," he said. There was C real note of envy in his voice. "Wh1t wouldn't I give to Do back there, with what I know nowl I wouldn't make the same mistakes--"
 "I've mado . lot already" Susan told him almost gayly. But from this day forward I'm determined not to make any moro." She felt would study, she would read good herself. Look at all the women who were great and useful in tho world!"
 It was in this mood of high on. doavor that Susan answered her empioyer's buzzer. Heath seldom rang, preferring to come to the door and summon her.
 She took her notebook, some freshly sharpened pencils, and pre- sented herself. Tali and graceful in hor old black wool frock. with It's sheer white collar falling away from her young throat, Susan made c charming picture.
 "Sit down." Ernest Heath told her. Ills voice sounded strange, almost harsh. Suaan obeyed with out taking her eyes from his dark, aristocratic face. There was some. thing in his expression that vague. ly alarmed her.
 "Miss Carey" Heath went on, clearing his throat. "f've some. thing unpleasant to tell you. Mrs