The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-06

nuSDanu, DAn, mas kOSt HIS an"
 bition. She hates their purpose
 less life, but realizes it Is too late
 to change.
 CHAPTER 2
 Marian went back to the bedroom. Painstakingly, she glossed her lips with tangerine. It was the last touch of brittle artificially. While adjust ing her veil, she heard Dan leave the apartment. He would have the car at the building entrance when she went down. She heard him speak to Dolly, warm, friendly note in his voice.
 Dolly lived in one of the small court apartments across the hall. She was the widow of Dams brother, living on tiny income, augmenting 1t by doing Marian's housework at 40 cents an hour.
 Marian threw the beautiful fox cape around her shoulders. She had the impersonal sickness of a mannequinn poured-in. glossed over smoothness. Pulling on spot less gloves, she left the apartment. Dollys door stood open.
 Hello, there" Marian called. She had trained the harsh tones out of her voice, it was low and cultured.
 Good morning how nice you look, Marian - but you always look nice" With cheerful envy Dolly observed Marian's smart sophisti- cation.
 Dolly was short and round and fair, pretty in sweet comfortable way. Although she was 23, there was a childishness about her, an irrepressible gaiety. She wore a clean cotton dress, honey-colored hair curled around her fresh face. Dolly would work hard in Mar ian's apartment all morning, play contract or see picture in the afternoon, mend Dams clothes read or knit during the evening.
 Just why Dolly's mode of life should add to Marian's discontent she could not have told. Dolly had nothing. She scrimped and saved to buy an annuity for her old age. Old age-Marian shivered.
 Put two potatoes in the oven at 5:30, will you, Dolly?"
 "All right - I'm going to bake an apple pie and I'll give you half" She leaned from the door as Marian went down the hall. Let up little, Marian" she called. Your eyes look tired"
 The stairs were nicely carpeted, the foyer had a quiet, luxurious air. Marian wondered where she and Dan would be living if she hadn't helped out. In her mind she always called her work helping out. Ger tainly Dan would not have been able to pay $75 month for an apart ment. It was one of her annoyances that he never appeared grateful.
 He waited at the curb and she got into the car. It was a cheap car, provided by Dams company. Silently, they drove downtown.
 The October morning sparkled through a warm haze. The coming of autumn depressed Marian, 1t meant that winter was crowding close behind. And winter brought Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, family days which should be fes- tive and gay but which were not. She and Dan had been married in October, the gold of the day shot with crimson and sober brown.
 The corners of Marian's lips ilted, remembering. They had been such crazy kids, so unrea- sonably, senselessly joyous. On their first Thanksgiving Day she had roasted a turkey. They hadn't been able to afford the turkey
 Her lips strengthened. They hadn't been able to afford any thing, not until she went back to her job. Even now her wants were never satisfied, always skimming just beyond the reach of her salary.
 Dan stopped at an office build ing on LaSalle street. Bye, Marian - see you tonight He patted her gloved hand. Be good little secretary - maybe they'll make you an executive today"
 Marian stepped into an elevator. Dan was different. It wasn't his habit to make cracks like that. Years ago there had been unhappy times over her job, but gradually he had come to accept it.
 She went through the outer office of the Grant Fellows Bro- kerage Firm. speaking graciously to the telephone operator. the stenographers and office boy. They returned her greeting courteously. She had hired those girls and that boy, she had the power to dismiss them. It was natural that they should stand little in awe of her.
 Once, a long time ago, she had sat at the last typewriter, gazing with purposeful eeys into Grant Fellows private office each time the door opened. There had been sec- retary then, Angie Doran, a poised,  beautifully correct person of 30 or more. Angie Doran had engaged Marian and trained her. Later, sur- missing Marian's aspirations toward the private office, she had discharg- ed her with two weeks pay. Grant Fellows, himself, had sent for Mar ian and reirstated her.
 Soon after that, Angie had been given years leave of absence and Marian had taken her place. Angie had never come back. Marian had forgotten Angie. only to remember her with ircreasidg frequency as the years passed and yourg, ambitious girls came into the office. She had trained the girls with care, deftiy nipping any yearning toward her own envied position. TYrfii q fau ,,,ni1fte aOn gha had