The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-14

EARL DE ARMOUNT. They mcc, him on the strcte next day and he speaks to them. Mary-Frances Is thrilled, agrees to meet him that night after the performance.
 Phil telephones Anne, asking her to go on . picnic. Shc refuses be- cause 1t is her night to cook al home. Phil, annoyed, takes LET TY KING, n filing clerk, on the picnic.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XIII
 Three more trilled affirmatives before Mary Frances turned from the telephone to Anne. "Mayn't l please go over to Ermintrude' s for just half an hour? Ple-ase?"
 NO" said Anne firmly. You were there last night. I told you that wanted you to help me this evening""
 But what in the world" asked Rosalie, though indulgently, lis this notion of yours about cleaning the hall tonight, Anne? Such an odd time to choose"
 May I?" whined Mary Frances.
 "No, dear" said Anne. You may not"
 Darling" said Rosalie, the peace maker perpetual, Task your little friend to come here and visit you this evening"
 "No," said Anne. Mary Frances must help me this evening""
 Mary Frances at the telephone wilted and dropped; desire for liv- ing went from her; she was abused, martyred, and this she gave to Rosalie, along with a quivering lower lip and knuckle close 10 her eye ready to wipe away the tears that even her courage could not long forestall.
 Rosalie, sorrowful too with sym pathy, said, Dearest, tell your lit- tie friend that you will call her again in a few minutes, and we'll sec" And Mary Frances said, Listen, Ermintrude, I'll call you now" and replaced the receiver on its hook and looked indignantly at Anne.
 "Anne, dear" Rosalie began, "don't you think it Is just bit sell fish that because you have no en- gagements for this evening you should insist that Mary Frances make none?"
 No" Anne said. "The hall must be cleaned, and l think Mary Frances should be willing to help. 1t takes hours for one person to dust the grille work on the stairs, and"
 Rosalle inserted, But why to- night? Isn't evening rather a strange time to begin house cleaning?"
 'It is the only time I have"
 Now, now, Anne" Rosalie shook a playful finger. Don't you recall a little story or--um--some- thing about the early bird?"
 Anne did not answer that. She spoke, instead, to Mary-Frances. I'm tired tonight, honey, and the hall must be cleaned. It has been needing 1t for weeks now, you know. If you really don't wish to of thought you'd rather help mo than to have me do 1t alone.h
 1T guess I'd just as soon," said Mary Frances. "All right, Anne, angel. I'll tell Ermintrude I can't"
 Grand cleared his throat and gestured detainingly toward Mary Frances. "One moment, my darling" he said. 1T fear that have fallen far behind in this dis cussion and have, in consequence, failed of its conclusion. I do not question your motives, Anne dear Anne--but l do question your de- cision. To clean the front hall at a late hour on a spring evening! The front hall. Suppose that guests should arrive in the midst of this process of cleaning. Suppose. ..." ! He went on and on; but presently he asked question with Mary Frances name in 1t and paused for an answer.
 Anne had not been actually lis- tening for some time. She had formed, forced. perhaps, q habit of looking attentive and of paying no more attention to him than she paid to other cxtraneous sounds. It saved trouble with her temper, and she rarely got caught, because she knew him and his speeches so well. She ventured, now, "Yes, Grand. Still. l do think that Mary Frances | Is old enough to have some duties and some responsibilities" You are right in that There can be no discussoin of that. But l note that you evade my question. shall put 1t differently. Who Is to decide what these duties and re- responsibilities shall be? Of what they shall consist? In other words, do you little girls not forget, some times at least. that your Rosalie and Grand are still able to take their places-able and willing-as heads of this household? am not criticizing. I understand only too well how this-I shall not call 1t thoughtlessnes or carelessness- on your part comes about A desire to spare Rosalie and me Is at it's source, I know. That l know. But our shoulders are still broad and we are here with you children for but one purpose.
 Shift the burden. little Anne. Shift the burden. And now, Nary Frances, with my full and free con- sent, and I trust with Anne's, you may telephone to your little friend and invite her here to your home to spend the evening with you"
 Anne nodded and said, All right dear" to ry-Frances, and Ro- salie commented concerning how easy it was to have life flow along like a song. "It is only a matter" said Rosalie, "of our all singing to- gether the same sweet little lov- ing tune."
 Lefty tossed away her cigarets, and Philip stopped being in- formative about birds and rose from the blanket spread over the