The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-18
Illustrations by G. P. Whitford

Vhdys EAauSASs 4NV MA
It was unbearable. Francie
couldn't stand 1t. With q sob, she
twisted out Of the booth and fled.
John Weston stared In amaze
ment as his daughter entered the
house. Francie's Aunt Hat, who
kept house for them, sat across the
living room playing solitaire.
what o miracle brings you home
before II on a Friday night?' Mr..
Weston asked.
Francie crumped at his feet
and buried her head In his lap. "Oh,
Pops, | hate him."
Hate whom, deara'
"Gusty. He's nothing but q
big"
amen" Aunt Hat nodded Tig-
orously over her solitaire layout.
II never"
"please, Hat :" Mr.. Weston
frowned. He was q big man with
iron gray hair and o gentle smile,
He ran his hand over Francie's
disheveled curls. Nov what's
wrong, dear?'
Incoherently Francie told them
about the amazing Mr.. Koon.
Aunt Hat leaped up, scattering
cards In every direction. A large
bosomed woman with lemon-col-
ored hair, she had sung once In
Die Walkure and then had given
up opera for matrinony. She
could fgorget neither her single
fight into valhalla nor the man
who had blighted her career. Her
voice still retained O Wagnerian
sorority.
portunityl"
easy, Hat" Mr.. Weston pro-
tested. "The whole things un-
doubtedly a Joke"
"Oh, Pops, no! It - II was
you're taking this much too
seriously, dar. I'm afraid Hats
been filling your head with fool
ish ideas. Even Il you had the
ticket, I wouldn't like the Idea"
He chuckled. I'm hardly the
type Of father for glamor girl"
Aunt Hat said sharply, II sup
pose you'd rather she stayed In
Elspeth City and married o gar
age mechanic like that windbag
Gusty"
Perhaps" John Weston said. II
don't happen TO agree with your
opinion OF Gusty. Hard knocks
have made him the way he Is.
Its his defense. His mother died
when he was 10. His father put
tered around In show business and
doubtless neglected to send money
for Gustys keep"
Francie stopped crying and lis
tened wide-eyed.
John Weston continued: II re-
member when the boy was hold
ing down three Jobs at once. He
worked for his trumpet lessons
and at the same time sold mag
azines and learned the garage
business"
"He needn't be such q braggart,"
Aunt Hat shifted.
Hes not a." Francie broke
of, remembering that she hated
Gusty.
"The boys only trying to sell
80 you uphold him In snatch
ing the ticket away from Fran
cie?" Aunt Hat demanded indig-
nantly.
II do not" Mr.. Weston retorted
However, will say that he prob
ably was under the influence Of
the same glorious nonsense
you've been stung into Francie."
Aunt Hat retired sulkily to her
game. The cards snapped against
the silence. Mr.. Weston toyed
with F,rancie's hair.
'Hollywood's just like Elspeth
City, dear. People fall IN love
marry and have babies the same
as they do here. Actresses don't
live on spun sugar and moon
beams. They work hard and have
their sorrows the same as you
and I. If you went there, you'd
see for yourself"
This last had q curious effect
on Aunt Hat. For the second time
her cards patterned to the floor.
"Oh, dear, I'm all upset." she said,
and fiounced up the stairs.
Later when Francie went TO her
room, she found Aunt Hat sitting
on the bed. Unfolding the girl In a
a negligee redolent with French
perfume, she said, you poor child"
an dheaved a great sigh. Men are
such callous creatures"
Francie drew away, indignant
Pops IL wonderful to u.s. Auni
Hat"