The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-15

shook. What was there ahead for
her, Eiinor Btaffordf He knew her
fathers business was ill-maflaged
and neglected. Now, the creditors
would close In on them. Accounts
would not be extended: credit
would be gone.
Barrel wished he could stop
seeing Elinor as she stood, look
ing at the, yawnins grave. She
had stared at II AZ q frightened
child would. Watching her, he had
longed to pick her up, hold her
close and comfort her.
Lord. I can't do it!s he said,
half-gFoaning. He was thinking
Of taking the fortune that had
been left him, fortune he could
never feel TO be his.
He must give It back to them
In some way. But how? How?
Elinor had given him one
glance filed with reproach. Why
had she looked at him thus, he
wondered. Why couldn't he stop
thinking about her?
In q Park avenue apartment Ida
was screamtng. You n you!
You did 1T" she was pointing at
Elinor. Bentwell was drinking
from q glass that trembled in his
hand. Eiinor looked from one to
the other. She began to laugh q
little and then she began to cry.
Bessie Thrope sobbed con-
yulsiyely, going back TO Brooklyn.
Jim 'Thrope, small, under-weight,
prematurely gray. kept her arm
pressed against his side. Never
mind" he said at they waited in
the subway for their train. wen
managed"
He had tried to speak heartily
but. his voice sounded hollow and
as he spoke he saw himself in a
long, narrow mirror above q slot
machine. He was shabby, hoi-
low.cheeked, the sort of man who
when little older sat huddied
on park benches reading papers
others had discarded or looking
wistfully after the well-fed and
warm. Bessie's tat, sagged face
had been swollen by the tears she
had shed and 1t was iconvulsed
by tears that were yet to be shed.
I'll never counted on much"
she confided and again she sobbed,
but ! never thought it would be
this, Jim!"
Neither did l." he answered
'drearily.
The train shot into the station.
Humans poured from 1t. There
was the usual tangled push made
by those who wished to get on.
Many Of them cast curious glances
at Bessie and each time she re-
allied this she sobbed deeply after
q futile effort to keep back the
sob.
She slipped her hand into Jim's.
She managed to whisper. Anyway.
we have the boys - and each
He nodded. eyes misted.
She had never seen the shabbi-
ness of the Brooklyn home more
clearly than she did q little later
when they arrived there The lin
oleum on the floor of the small
dark entry had been worn through.
The edge by the sill was warped,
broken, curling. She had thought
that perhaps some day they would
be able to have nice tiles in the
entry. Tiles washed SO well! The
wall paper Of the inner hall was
udk duu SOhC0s xuC OOy0 Aou
broken the knob from the newell
post by sliding down the banister.
There was hardly piece Of furni-
.ture in the house that did not need
repair. Aunt Ella hadn't UNDER
stood that. She had not been able
to realize that boys couldn't help
tumbling about occasionally, wear
Ing things out. You couldn't nag
them all the time and have a
home!
Bessie took of her rusty, black
hat and the black coat that she had
borrowed from q sympathetic
jim Junior came pounding down
the stairs, an 18-year.old boy
whose feet were still ahead OF the
rest of him. He was followed by
Bert. 16, and Sexton. almost IL.
do / 60 to college? :" Jim Junior
asked from the landing.
Bessie shook her head. For q
moment the boy was silent. Then
he drew q deep breath and his
shoulders squared. "Oh, well. / can
go to night school," he said after
a hard swallow.
Sexton alone was loudly resent
full. "Gosh," he walled, there
nave to 60 through ute-pored by
dumb cracks about churches be-
cause Of my daYned name and"
Never mind" said Jim. slipping
from his oveFcoat. We'll have .
real nice dinner!" Bessie prom
Used, her lips trembling on the
smile that she forced. Jim Junior
slipped an arm around her. I'll
made her cling to him a moment
and sob again. Then she hurried
to the rear Of the house. 1t would
steady her to get her hands into
cold water and the potatoes were
waiting to be pared. It was Mag
gie's afternoon out which was just
as we'll.
At half past seven Sexton opened
the door to Elinor Stafford, who
was still in the black she had worn
at her grea-aunt's funeral. AL
though tears did not leave unhappy
traces on her face Sexton saw. by
the laguor of her eyelids, that
she'd been crying too.
Ito BE C0ntinued)
RINSING WHITE GARMENTS