The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-11-15
Mrs John v. Bowler, 3rd

1 "You need a shave" said Pat.
"You look terrible" 80
Couldn't sleep. Couldn't shave.
I kept thinking about you. Think
ing about us, Pat. can't go
| through with it." Barney was sud-
denly very grim, very determined
young man..
| Barney" said Pat in a fright
ened voice, "You mustn't say such
| things"
'I can't marry JOAN" Barney
said quietly. at would be a horri-
| BILE thing to do. can't do 1t, low
ing you the way love you. I'm
going to tell her." tt5s
Barney, listen to mel" said Pat.
"You can't do that to Joan. She
mustn't be hurt again. couldn't
bear it."
Again"
"You see she cared for someone
else once, Barney. And newell,
nothing came of it,
| "He didn't walk out on Joan ?"
Barney began Indignantly. His ex-
preston was unbelieying.
"It was just that she was so sure
and so happy. And then he stopped
coming because'he fell for another
girl"
Another girl chiseled in" Bar
ney spoke slowly.
"Just exactly the same" said
Pat. Except that they weren't en-
| gagged like you and Joan. 1t would
be a million times worse. And I'm
her sister,"
Barney was seeing things clear
ly now, in the light of this new
knowledge. Things fell into place.
Fitted. The whole pattern was
there. Joan's sadness, the mel
anchoIy quality in her voice. It
was that quality that had stirred
him. 1t had ben a long time be-
fore Joan had responded to his de-
votion. And when she had, he had
missed something.
1--WE couldn't said Pat. ooh
Barney, I'll go away!"
"You can't go away" Barney
said. Looking across at Pat. sit
ting there with the brave look ir
her eyes, he knew 1t was the one
thing he couldn't stand - having
Pat leave.
IT swear I'll oe gbod,' he prom.
ised. "Ill stop thinking about you
And I'll Sc to it that Joan never
even guesses the truth. You and
would probably live a cat-and-dot
life anyhow"
"Of course we would" encour.
aged Pat huskily.
Joan and I think alike abou
so many things. You'd make mi
miserable, always hanging around
my neck. Now, wouldn't you?"
Eyes, Barney" said Pat. "1'n
afraid I would. I'd always b,
thinking something would run owe
you or something would fall dowI
on your head"
cor the earth would open up ant
swallow me. oh, Pat, darling,
love you so!'
After that they just sat ant
stared at each other miserably un
til the small place was almos
filled with other customers. Thei
plates had been removed and =,
waiter coughed alphabetically.
Anything more, sir?"
mo, nothing"
Pat glanced at her watch. Bar
ney got to his feet, paid the cash
Ter and they went out together in
to day grown golden with sun
shine.
When they reached the .offic
| bdIHcy lOullu tClCPIOhC SeAlA
waiting for him. He gave a mum
Der, waited and then held brie
conversation. THAT" he said a
he put down the telephone, "wa
Olive Wetherington, head of tn
Junior League. They want Joan t.
sing at some charity affair they'r
giving at a private home. You car
Sc chow famous your sister Il
getting"
He added YEARLY. 81 told he
Joan would come. Naturally !
will be good publicity"
Pat plunged into the most In
tensive activity. She revised he
filing system which included ;
painstaking study of the old card
and substitution of many new ones
She re-arranged pictures and in
dulged in a grand housecleanini
that left no time for the gay ban
ter and companionable talks will
Barney that had been such happ,
interludes heretofore.
1t was not easy to avoid Bar
ney's dark, unhappy gaze, AM
to avoid reference, to the question
that was a thr0bbing issue be
tween them. There had been ont
one time when vigilance. the clos
; guard, had been relaxed. That wa
one afternoon when it rained AM
Pat had come outside to flint
Barney waiting for her.
"Pll drive you home" he saft
gruffly.
But. Barney. you don't need 10
was planning to take toxi."
Don't be a fool, Pat" Barne,
! said shortly. He reached over and