The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-22

them, flushed and smiling. Mollie swept into her chair with a sigh.
 "Why, I thought you two were dancingw she said. "Say, it's a crime to waste swell music like that"
 i've were" Janet explained, "but the floor was so crowded thought I'd rather not dance" The other girl gave her quick glance. Whats the matter, Ja- net?" she asked in a different tone. You look sort of pale. Don't you feel well?"
 Janet caught at the suggestion. "It's-just a headache" she said. Would you mind if I don't go on to the theater with you? l hate to leave the party but know I'd feel better at home. You mustn't come with me-not any of you. Please don't! If someone will call cab for me I'll just say good night"
 There were objections. They'd all go with her, Al said. He'd go for the car right now. We'll, then, Mullins would go. It ended finally as Janet wished. Mollie Lambert, reading something in the other girls eyes, settled that. "I hate to have you leave, honey" she said, "but of course if you think you'll feel better at home that's the thing to do. And if you'd really rather go alone, that's for you to say. Come on, boys, let's | all scram. The show begins at S:30 | and if we don't start we'll miss the | first part.''
 Janet had never in her life been | more grateful to anyone than when, as she was getting into the taxicab, Mollie caught her hand and squeezed it. Goodnight, honey" Mollfe said, T hope you'll feel lots better"
 | She didn't say anything more but Janet understood. Mollie, too. had seen Rolf Carlyle dancing with Betty Kendall.
 "I'm sure I will! Janet assured them. Good night"
 She did feel better, too, even though an hour later her pillow was wet with tears.
 Several days passed before Janet saw Mollie again and when they met little was said about the dinner at Reigals'. Frank Null l lins returned to Spruce City. Though he telephoned Janet twice she avoided another meeting. Once she was not at home when he
 called and the second time she was leaving to attend a lecture with
 Pauline Hayden. It was a lecture by a famous explorer. Someone had given Pauline the tickets and Ja-
 net was glad to be invited. In- stead of cooking dinner at home now she had dropped into the habit of eating down town with Pauline or one of the other girls.
 She liked Pauline better than the questions. All of the girls at the
 office had known of Janet's engage ment. They knew. too, that Rolf wasn't coming to the Every Home office any longer, that he didn't wait for Janet now or meet her at the drug store corner. Such gossip flies quickly in an office the size of the Every Home establishment. Janet overheard Clara Dennison telling two other stenographers | that it was all over town that Rolf | was going to marry a "swell so- ciety girl" She knew the girls whispered other things about her. self and Rolf, too.
 Determinedly Janet tried to con- ceal her unhappiness. She tried to forget by working harder, by go- ing for long walks, by taking
 books from the circulating library.
 She enrolled at the Y. W. c. A.
 for class in beginning French.
 Still she could not forget Rolf
 She couldn't even hate him.
 She left the office one evening in
 late March, stepping out into a drizzling rain. It was cold, too. Janet raised her umbrella, drew her coat closely about her neck. At the street corner she hesitated. She wasn't thinking about the rain or the cold wind. She was think ing that she was utterly miserable. q can't go on this way!" Janet told herself desperately. 1T can't! Something's got to happen!" And, sure enough, only little later that evening something did. (TO Be Continued)