New Britain herald., 1925-09-18
M9Eor8o:t!:.
 By RUBY M AIRES C s1a ssrs.

"ls anything the matter, Miss Marraby?"
 Nan raised her eyes to his with an effort, her lips quiyered into a smile.
 "Nothng-of course not; no, there is nothing the matter, thank you. ." Unconsciously she shrank a little from him.
 Do you know" he said abruptly after a moment, '1'Se got a sort of feeling at the back of my mind that you and have met somewhere be- fore"
 He paused, but Nan gave no sign. though her heart seemed 10 leap als most from her body,
 Have you ever seen me before?" he asked painfully, You know-I am sure Arnott has told you--that the shock l had when l was knock cd out in France has made me for- get some things in my life. They say it's only temporary and that shall be all right again, but it's got on my nerves--I'm always dreading that I shall run across people l ought to know, and not know them"
 q saw you that night at the hotel" she said gently. "I dare say that you are thinking of that"
 Perhaps l am.' He sounded re- lieved: he gave quick sigh and looked down the wet road in the di- rection in which Arnott had yan- | ished.
 "Arnott seems very bucked to think that you will be within easy reach of him at Leavenden." he said. with sudden change Of voice. T sup- pose you are old friends?"
 Nan said Yes" and then No" and then added, with a rush, T don't know; it all depends what you would call old friends"
 Arnott came back with the taxi: the rain was dripping from his shoulders, but he was flushed and smiling.
 T had the deuce of a job to get it," he explained to Nan. T had to go halfway down the street"
 Nan thanked him hurriedly: she said "Goodby" to Peter without looking at him and ran across the path to the waiting cab.
 Arnott followed and stood at the door. regardless of the rain puring down on him.
 And you'll let me know when you're leaving town?" he asked. You promised, you know" he add ed as she hesitated.
 Did I? Very well--do go and taks shelter, you're wet through"
 He shut the door reluctantly. Nan waved hand to him.
 It was only when she reached the flat that she remembered that she had forgotten all about loans hat: she bit her lip with veXation.
 Joan was angry.
 You might have remembered it." she said peevishly. That was all l asked you to do for me"
 Nan did not try to defend herself
 "l forgot" she said. That's my only excuse. just torgot--l was thinking about something else, and you'd forget worse things than that if you'd got little red demons fighting for your heart" she cried. with sudden fire.
 loans little maid knocked at the door; she thrust a scared face around.
 , Please, Nam, another telegram
 Joan rushed across the room.
 For me, of course-" she grabbed f the yellow envelope, glanced at 1t and gave a little laugh. { "How silly; was so sure it must be for mo; but it's for you, Nan" } Nan took out the message. t q have got to go home at once" , she said duly, My stepmother has died very suddenly" } Nan" The two girls looked at . one another in dismay. Joan had , never seen Mrs. Marraby but she r had heard great deal about her.
 Things always happen in threes,' . Nan was saying, dully. First MT. { Arnott coming-then the wire from , Tim, and now-this." f She stood twisting the paper me- 7 chemically. Life had suddenly changed from a sane and cheerful , thing into a sort of torturous dream where sorrow and death and desola- l ton stalked hand-in- hand, She thought of Mrs. Marraby as she had ' last seen her-a woman in the prime { of life-and it seemed impossible that she could really be dead :. and the three small boys motherless. = Mans cold face was suddenly swept ; by emotion.
 "Oh, the poor little boys" she V said brokenly. "I must go at once. of h course l must" r IL was only when she was really in the train and racing out of London e that she remembered what Arnott '. had said about his sisters home be- | ing so near Leavenden. She caught her breadth with a gasp. q Was this the hand of fate again she closed her eyes giddily.