The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-09
Q I9,s NeA Service. I"e.


 But he said, Good morning, Elaine" and held out his hand. She was surprised to find her. self saying, John McNeill!" and putting her hand in his.
 There was a little silence be- tween them after they had awk- ward silence. Penny, who was ob- serving them like benignant owl, remarked curiously, Do you find her much changed, MT. John? I can't depend on my eyes / any more"
 Changed for the better" John McNeill answered cooly. Penny remarked, "She hasn't made as big a woman as thought she'd make. She was always an over-tall child, and well filled out too."
 John put his head on one side, considering this. Let's see-how old were you when you visited here last?"
 Twelve" Ruth replied glibly To herself she observed, Bright girl! I know the answers-so far" And I was 16," John McNeill said thoughtfully.
 "I was in love with you," Ruth remarked audaciously. You were too old to notice me much, but I was crazy about you just the same" (She thought, "Whatever made me say that" Penny said with a cackle, "Yes. you were, Miss Elaine! You used to follow him around everywhere. lytr |. you put on, to get him to notice you!"
 John McNeill laughed and joined !Senny in looking back through the years. But I noticed she was a good-looking kid." he confessed.
 T remember l said to my moth- CT, Give Elaine Chalmers four or five years and she'll be a profess sional heart breaker. She's got i something"
 Tt seems to me her hair looks darker" Penny stated. Her moth- CTS hair turned dark that way, | too, though not so noticeable"
 Ruth thought, Why have I got ten into this thing! In just a min- ute something's going to be said something's going to break"
 But nothing was said, and noth- | ing broke. John McNeill turned the | conversatin from the past to the {, present, as if that alone interested ! him. I'm on my way to work ] now" he remarked, but all days ] must end. Could I invite myself | to dinner tonight, Penny, if Il brought steak and cooked 1t my | self?"
 Penny said, Why, yes, MT. John. But shouldn't you bring your mother, toas'
 Mothers out of town," he an- sWered, visiting Aunt Sarah in Scranton" (Ruth realized she had | been holding her breath.) "So you see it's. pure charity for you to take me in"
 As he left he said to Ruth, No more fainting! Promise?"
 She laughed. T was just like a gay nineties heroine last night, wasn't I? I can't imagine what made me do it!'
 He looked at her curiously. You seemed pretty tired.' was all he said.
 After he had gone Penny seem- ed to want to talk, but Ruth set | about evading her. John McNeills visit had caused Ruth to abandon all thought of the confession she had been on the verge of making. She thought, it would spoil the litte party tonight. It would spoil everything. I'm going to be Ealine for a few hours longer. It's the incest thing that ever happened to me!'
 So when Penny said, after a while, Excuse me, Miss Elaine, but does your stepfather, MT. Deal, say anything more about selling the house? Ruth replied cannily, T think it's best for us not to discuss things like that, Penny"
 She felt contrite when she saw how rebuked the old creature looked, so she exclaimed hastily, That funny nickname Penny! How did you get that !? I've for gotten."
 Why" the old woman answer ed, diverted, "it happened when | you were just a little tot. I gave | you pennies for your bank because you. had fancy for dropping them in. Every time you dropped in penny little iron man step- ped out and saluted. So you called me Penny! Penny!'" Ruth laughed absently, but she was looking at her hands. T meant to ask you, Penny-have you any turpentine? I've got blue paint on my hands. It must have come off | the door last night. I didn't realize it was freshly painted when 1 was pounding on it."
 | "Oh!" cried the old woman re- proachfully. You've scared the door!"
 She looked so stricken that Ruth said quickly, If have. I'll repair the damage. Have you any paint left?"
 "Oh, yes." Penny said queerly. But the quarter moons past. I'll have to wait now"
 That was the first intimation Ruth had that the old woman was 'touched," that mystery as well as pathos dwelt under this roof .. Penny hobbled quickly to the porch and Ruth could see her, through the prismatic glass of the side panels, rubin gthe door with her sleeve and squinting at it anx-