The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-15

Monica's absence cost him great
deal. He was missing her more than
he would have believed possible a
year ago. She was so sweet. That
was it so everlastingly sweet and
clean and desirable! She made all
these other girls with their poses
and Alterations and meannesses
look drab and uninteresting.
Monnie-i mitted it to him
self at last come to be the
core and CT ! of his life. He
loved her - and she was in love
with another man. There was
| nothing he could do about it. I'm
consciously he groaned to himself.
Nothing he could do, he repeated,
except to stand by and be her
friend if she needed one. He rather
thought she would.
The party of which Sandra had
spoken was a barn dance at the
summer place of the Bliss some
Is miles out on the river road.
The great studio barn was heaped
for the occasion, with sheaves and
decorated with pumpkins, corn
stalks, russell leaves and gourds.
Charles, bored with the idea of
assembling a special costume for
the affair, knotted a bandana over
| his cracking shirt front and
| lounged on the sidelines, watching
the merriment. Geraldine Cardigan
looking rather prettier than usual
in a fresh blue Bingham, whirled
by in the arms of one of the Payne
boys and waved to him. He saw
Dan dancing with Sandra and look
ed away. There was no doubt about
1t, the girl was attractive in a fe-
line sort of way. Dan, he observed,
was rather the worse for wear. He
had been stopping at the punch
bowl in the corner bit too often
and his step was slightly unsteady.
Sandra seemed to be in her ele-
ment. She didn't, Charles thought,
drink at all but she was gayer
than those who did. Her trilling
laughter sounded often. Her full
skirted frock of yellow stuff. bill
lowing about her, was the merest
A milkmaid from the Rue De La
PaiX.
Good lookin' grill" Charles
turned to find Lance Waterman,
one of his cousins, at his elbow.
Charles grunted.
Hear they're maxim a go of
it." Lance indicated Dan who was
weaving in and out in the intrica-
cies of the dance.
IT believe they are"
Her fathers been helpin' old
man Cardigan ever since the mar
ket took that dip" observed Lance
disappointedly and Charles re-
f1ected that it was a disadvantage
in many ways to live in a town
where every one else knew your
business. He had heard the gos-
sip, too, and felt rather sorry for
Dan, even though he disliked him.
The fellow had charm of sort.
He could quite understand what
Monnie saw in him. Dan was what
most girls called "frightfuly hand
some" Yes, there was something
about him. But what a bounder-
to pass up chance at a girl like
Monnie because he wanted money.
Or was he judging Dan unfairly.
You could never be sure.
Charles was bored, wanting to
so home, but too kind-hearted to
offend his hostess by so doing.
Everything palled on him nowadays
especially these parties where
there was noisy band and every
one shouting above it. Those pic
mics with Monnie and her family
last summer he had enjoyed
those. He had been really happy
then. Happier than he'd ever been
before.
He could not have told when he
noticed something was in the air,
something quite obviously apart
from the party itself. There were
whispers in little groups. Some
thing electric impaired itself to
the gathering. Charles was mildly
puzzled and amused, too. The party
was evidently turning to a gossip
NEST.
1t was very late and he was just
about to make his departure when
he found himself, without rhyme
or reason, dancing with Dams sis