The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-10
CHAPTER XIX

"Oh, it's you!" Ardath said smiling def1antly at Jill.
 Jill stared at Ardatn, bewilder- Sment in her eyes.
 Ardathl Fresh from sleep, her hair tumbled, only half-dressed.
 Afterward Jills eyes were going to be wells of miserable tears. But she was glad now - If you could call being hurt and proud and numb glad" - that her face was not revealing her suffering. That she was able to look at Ardath cooly, proudly and with complete boise.
 Wont you come mp" Ardath asked, delighting in the situation.
 "No, thank you" Jill replied. "I'm sorry. l didn't know you were here.
 T don't live here. Exactly" Ar dath answered. Her voice was amused.
 Jill turned and walked steadily toward her car, hearing the slam- ming of the door behind her.
 Before she reached her car, she stumbled against a small figure. Small, bird-like eyes in a wrinkled face gazed up at her.
 'SYou been in g. kinda hurry" a quavering voice said, with a chuckle sounding in it," "and early. I didn't theenk pretty girls get up at seex o'clock
 Automatically, Jill pushed back the cuff of her coat. Her little jewelled watch was ticking on her arm merrily, as though nothing had happened to its owner. Both hands marked the hour. It was exactly six o'clock.
 T don't need those theengs," the old woman said. I'm out every day thees time. You can't fool old Rose"
 Jill stood for a moment regard ing the smiling old face. Rose! Once, maybe this ancient person had been young and beautiful and happy. Maybe, though, she had bean as unhappy as she, Jill, was new. Perhaps she had found for getfulness with the years. A rose Drowned by many suns, beaten down by many adverse winds. What thin coat she had about her shrunken form.
 On an impulse, she reached into her purse and drew out a bill, which she pressed into one claw like hand. Then, Jill pulled the cherry-red woolen scarf from about her throat and wrapped 1t about the old woman's shoulders
 She heard startled exclamation as she got in her car. God bless us!"
 Jill looked back as she started the motor. The old beggar - she must be beggar, for who else would be out at this hour - was staring at her with a dazed ex- pression on her face. Both hands cluetched the bright red scarf.
 It was after the car rounded the corner that tears came. rolling down Jill's cheeks unheeded. She was consicous of many curious eyes. But she was past caring. Her world, beautiful dream world though 1t had been, had crashed. Her idol had not been found with feet of clay, but with feet of mud. Alan and Ardath' An ugly romance between them.
 To think that her Alan-but she was wrong. He had never been hers. He did not even remotely resemble the Alan of her dreams He was just an ordinary-oh more than ordinary man. Consoline himself with a cheap adventures.
 She must stop thinking of him She must go back home, and greet everybody at breakfast with a nice morning face. The face of girl awfully happy over being engaged to Milo Montanne.
 Jill shuddered. She couldn't go back now. She would go to Patty and stay until she could face the family with more composure.
 She wouldn't wake Patty for awhile. She would drive for awhile and then go home.
 During the time Jill was driving aimlessly about the streets with her white, strained face, Alan had reached his apartment and let him. self in with his lacth key.
 The place was now quite empty, a fact which brought a feeling of intense relief. In the rear room the stripped easel met his eyes,