Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-11-11

on Christmas afternoon, Bernice
brought up the subject of her cock
tail club.
1t was a sore spot with Ann.
For the anniying item in the news
paper had been circulated around the
store! It was reported that she her
self was the Delafield who "reigned
between the hours of to P. M. over
the farmyard at The Laughing Pig'!"
"Say, you look all in this morning,
Miss Delafield! That job on the out
side must be swell, but it sure does
tell on the looks" one of the sales
girls in her department had said to
her, with no catty intention.
The grapevine system of news was
at work. There was no way of COM
bat, beyond flat denial
Straight from the store with no lott
ering or apparent dates, didn't she
head at half past five each afternoon
for the East Fifties?
Still water ran deep. Didn't the
printed sarcasm about "the face of a
madonna bear out that old saw?
Ann Delafield needed watching. She
was leading a double life.
Thus the report.
Since the publication of the para
graph, it seemed to her there was a
positive chillness in the manner of
the merchandise-manager towards her
on the few occasions of their meeting
during business hours.
On that wet afternoon some weeks
ago, hadn't he driven her from the
store direct to "The Laughing Pig?"
He had no reason to disbelieve that
she went there daily as cocktail-hos-
tess an dwere he to make inquiry,
a decription of her older sister, rough
ly speaking might we'll apply to her
self.
Impossible to run to him and say:
at isn't I. It's my sister Bernice."
That would be both officious and dis
loyal. And it might merit good
snub.
Recollecting the finish of their con-
versation at the dance, too, about busi-
ness and romance not mixing, there
was no particular reason for Ann to
be in good spirits this Christmas af-
teGnoon.
She was worried about her sister.
There were rumors anent the coin
cidence of Claire and Captain de
Freyn winning so frequently when
they were partners at contract. Sup
pose some of the more daring column
lists limited at it? Dare she have a
plain talk with Claire?
That Bernice was no longer the love
ly, laughing girl she had been at the
commencement of her job was now
obvious to Ann. Not only had she
lost a large portion of her looks dark
circles under her eyes, flabby figure
from too many cocktails-but she was
her heart over Freddie
worthless Freddie.
"I do so want you to be happy"
Ann told Bernice, "but do you hon
estly think that happiness and Fred
die go together, darling?"
Tears sprang to Bernice's blue eyes.
1,ol,
about him. I guess if I hadn't-if I
hadn't been easy-with him, he
would think more of me now."
Ann paled.
Easy? Did she mean cheap in the
way of kisses, of keeping tabs on him
and running after him?
"Bernice, you-you don't mean"
She couldn't get the words out. She
could only stare dumbly at the SIS
ter who once had been so fresh and
lovely to look at, and who now sat
before her in deep detection,
dull eyes staring out of the window,
ears waiting for the summons OF a
telephone that didn't ring.
"I mean," said Bernice after long
pause, "that now we've lost our mon
ey 1 guess Pm losing Freddie
can't bear it," she burst into tears.
With measure of relief mixed with
her sympathy, Ann flew to her side.
So Bernice really loved him? Loved
funny, Irresponsible, selfish Feddie?
1t was too fantastic when she could
do so much, much better! But love
was queer thing. 1t came when you
didn't want it-unhappily-as she her
self we'll realized.
Darling if you want him you shall
have him. You know he's been fond
of you for years. Why wouldn't he,
when you're so awfully pretty and
11vo,,1I Lo