The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-16

can't understand any man not not wanting her, as you say. Sybil is the most striking girl .. What made you think that, Doro- thy?"
 T didn't think it myself. Millie Sanders told me"
 How did she know?"
 those things. Millie'S husband and Bob have been good friends for years, and the four of them -Sybil and Bob and the Sanders have gone about great deal" It was incredible, yet it was the only answer to Sybil's purposeful dislike, Joan thought.
 Was Millie Sanders at Sybil's last Wednesday," she asked.
 No. She's not like the rest of Sybil's friends"
 That afternoon, when Joan met her, she remembered her as one of the pleasant matrons to whom Bob had presented her at the spring party. She liked her immediately. As matter of fact Joan felt much more at home at Dorothy's party than at Sybil's.
 Perhaps 1t was the room itself, Joan thought. There was none of the chilling slnartness in it that Sybils home reflected, though it was equally luxurious. A cheer full fire roared in the great fire place, and its flames were reflect ed in dazzling splendor by the diamond on her left hand. The ring, too, she realized, gave her the self confidence which she had lacked before. It gleamed as the emblem of Bob's devotion, for all the world to see - a symbol of his presence at her side.
 Instead of cocktails and canapeS, served by formidable Jennings, Dorothy had tea and tiny sand- Mrs. Macdonald, the Downs wiches and delectable cakes, and housekeeper, passed them around with the friendly fussiness of an old mother hen.
 After they had tea, Dorothy led the way upstairs to her aunt's sit ting room, and there, in the center of the room, stood an enormous old chest, elaborately bedecked with crepe paper bows and paper hearts, and bulging with daintily wrapped gifts.
 "Surprise!" A dozen voices echoed the word.
 Joan, too stunned to speak, looked at Dorothy, and her eyes flashed appreciation. There was lump in her throat, and her heart was filled with sweet bewilder- ment. This was shower for her for Joan Barrett, the outcaSt, who had never known single friendship in all her life. Here were gifts from friendly neighbors who asked nothing further than the fact that she was their neigh bor's fiancee and Dorothy Starke's friend!
 One by one she unwrapped them - lovely linen bridge sets, en- riched with dainty hand embroid- cry; bath towels, enormous af- fairs that Bob could hide away in; bright kitchen accessories-pot holders and hot plate mats and aprons
 Her eyes fingered over each one hungrily, and she thought that she had never, never dreamed of such abundant happiness.
 The time was passing all too quickly
 Perhaps it was an hour or so later, when Nellie, the little Irish kitchen maid, came upstairs and whispered something to Mrs. Mcdonald, who hovered in the doorway.
 Mrs. Mcdonald froWned. Be off with you, Nellie, and don't talk such nonesense-" she scolded.
 What is it, Mrs. McDonald?" Dorothy asked.
 There's some fakir of woman down at the back door who tells fortunes with the cards, and this superstitious little baggage thinks the young lady shoul dhear her foolishness."
 Dorothy laughed. Don't be silly, Nellie.'
 The others, lowered, looked up with sudden interest.
 "A fortune teller?" they chor- used. Bring her in, of course. Joan don't you want your fortune told?"
 She does npt!" D h y snapped, little fearful of loans reaction.
 But Millie Sanders, however careless, guileless Millie - settled the matter.
 "Of course Joan wants her for tune told" she insitsed. Send the woman up Nellie. Don't you want to know what the future holds, Joan?"
 And Joan, too happy at this mo- ment to dream of any misfortune, nodded her head eagerly. "Id ---------------
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