The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-07-12

knew suddenly that the world was
full of people who had loved UNI
wisely and far too we'll.
that Aunt Ella had been "disap-
pointed In love-" She herself,
Elinor realized, might live to be
as old az Miss Ella, now close to
90. Ninety years! OF course the
pain would dull but always II
would be beneath the covering
made by time.
Bentwell suspected that Lida's
white, slender fingers had been IN
the pie. Ida had not wanted
Elinor In the first place. Ida had
wanted nothing but the money she
felt would be hers through Miss
Ella, Bentwelrs aunt. Elinor's
coming had made q tragedy for
Ida and she had never ceased to
resent It. what she called Miss
Elias "meanness and obstinacy'
had made for Ida another trag-
edy. Her life, she said, had been
"a series Of Illustrations" Nothing
beautiful could endure for her, she
stated naively.
Bentweii didn't know what he
could do about 1t for or whether
anything could be done. And be-
cause he was thus harassed. he
drank steadily and moro than was
usual. At tho nightly chess
games to Elinor's "Check!" he
would say thick, ''Er-oh---
yes, swaying In his chair. II
sometimes seemed to her that she
could not stand that. either. but
2ex au "a n
learned that one endured what
one must.
Barrett kept feeling that she
might call. II sho did, he knew
he would go running back. no
matter what she ala or was. He
stiffened when Higgins appeared
to say, "The telephone, Mr. Bar
rett--", then lost interest as no
heard who waited to speak with
him.
Higgins told him that "a lady"
had called during his absence.
Barrett paused with his !overcoat
half way down his arms. II did
not know the voice, SIR" Higgins
added.
ooh" Barrett murmured. He
refused an invitation from Miss
Ella and considered going with
the Hatch Foundation to the Cobb
again. They were planning some
important excavations. But he
must first settle Gerald and he
could not seem to find the proper
place for the child despite an
energetic search.
He received note from Ida
Stafford, asking that he do her the
favor of coming to talk with hcr
about matter that was important
TO her and with which she needed
his help. He replied saying he
would como as soon as tho pressure
of business matters gave him the
time. Eiinor saw the note, directed
In his bold band. to her mother.
"fm through" she decided.
Through with him. This - ends
It."
But OF course It did not. II In
creased, instead, her certainty OF
his falseness and her misery.
December was cold and storm
swept. People herded In hot
rooms murmuring Of the unusual
amount OF snow and OF when
thcy were planning to go south.
Miss Ella caught a slight cold.
MISS SmyIuV eASu1cu MtSo Eha
to Bessie Thorpe who had come
asking "just a little help until
the first Bessie had not known
where to turn. She sat. uncom-
Portable beneath Miss smythe's
critical scrutiny and sage conjec-
ture about the reason for her call.
Bessie tried to smile. Jim, Jr.
| had been sick again. she confded.
i Miss Smythe murmurcd q remote.
"How unfortunatc!" and looked
pointediy toward the clock.
Going down the. steps later Bes-
sic wept. She couldn't help It. She
didn't know where to turn this
time, Elinor, dear child, would help
help her II she could but Bessie
knew that Elinor never had o cent
For the first time In Bessie's life
she let her conscious mind reckon
Miss Elias age and speculate on
how much longer Miss Ella would
live. "she couldn't leave us out
entirely when she knowns how we
need IT, Bessie thought. "And she's
fond of Jim"
Even $40. 900 would make ali
the difference In the world to
them. Jim had been unlucky with
everything he'd touched.
she shifted, blew her reddened
nose and set her chin which had
been quivcrinG. She made hei
way cautiously. slowly. The pave
ments were treachcrously slippery
beneath their light coating Of
snow.
The news OF Miss ella Sessions
illness Travelled swiftly and Ida
found O thaw In tradenmen which
ehe Immediately took advantage Of
buying two new frocks and q hat. /.
Then Miss ella grew better and
was able 10 eit UP for half . day
20 come downstairs Tor . few