New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-07


And suppose J don't take your
Take It or leave tit goes
Constancc's first emotion was
one of utter humiliation, which
was quickly succeeded by rage. She
flashed a look OF defiance at II.
Hedge.
II will marry whom ] please"
she stormed. II will"
You will go to your room, Miss
Brooke" interrupted the efficiency
man coldly.
II won't. I'll"
Tommy Treadwell, with a sense
OF true delicacy, put an end to the
scene.
You're all unstrung, Connie"
he said gently. Better get some
rest. Good night"
She hesitated, then buried her
face In her hands and walked away
slowly. AS she passed Tommy, he
whispered swiftly:
TN phone tomorrow. BE ready"
He did not even say good night
TO n. Hedge. but strobe from the
conservatory and q minute later
left the house.
AS for the party, it ended, ac-
cording to fixed time limit, at
eleven o'clock. There were not very
many left at that hour, SO that no
extensive hardship was done. Only
the efficiency man was about
down stairs when the New Year
came in with a tolling OF bells,
ale looks rather sound and sens
ihle," Unused II, Hedge as he turn
cd out the desk light. But. as for
marrying Constance certainly
not! ] cannot permit It,"
Constance arose early. 1t was
scarcely seven o'clock, but there
was a strategic reason for the I'M
usual event. Constance was going
away: she was about to quit the
shelter Of the Brooke roof-tree for
that of another, and 1t was essen
tial that the efficiency man should
be unaware OF the fact until 1T had
been accomplished.
Constance was going to be mar
ried. Yes, to Tommy Treadwell, OF
course, He was her refuge in time
of tribulation and despair.
1T makes no difference" unused
Constance as she dressed hastily,
that ! don't love Tommy. He un-
derstands. He knows ! like and ad-
mire him. and he's going TO be
satisfied with that. ! think he's al
most heroic TO marry a girl that he
knows doesn't love him. But I can't
exist here, And I must-yes, must
- find a new home for Billy and
Alice. Tommy has promised to take
both OF them until father returns.
suppose 1t will get into the pa
pers, but Oh, anything is better
than this"
The breakfast gong had not
sounded when Constance made d
final survey of herself, seized a big
muff, picked up the grip, and
moved briskly TO the door OF her
room. At the threshold she paused
long enough to look up and down
the hall, She did not want to meet
either Billy or Alice; she would
telephone them after It was all
over The hall was empty of life
so Constance stepped out and head
cd for the rear staircase.
One flight she descended rapidly
which carried her ne far as the
main floor, and then she began tc
follow more cautiously the second
flight which was poorly lighted
and had two sharp turns. At tht
first turn she paused abruptly. Sht
heard footsteps in the semi gloon
below. Somebody was coming W
the stairs.
Constance pcered over the halus
trade and held her breath. A ser
want she did not mind. But 1t VA
not a servant - 1t was II. Hedge
Her first impulse told her to turf
and run; but the time was TO-
short and the grip too heavy.
Face it." she told hcrsel
quickly.
But she did not want 10 face III
efficiency man with the grip, so sh
tried 10 hold the latter behind he
skirts. 1t was an awkward maneu
yer. The grip hammered at he
heels as she resumed descent @
the staircase. Then it slipped fror
her fingers. An instant later
struck her in the hollow Of a KNEE
Constance staggered. swayed, an
pitched forward, uttering shar
cry.
She came to a halt hall a. doze
steps below. Tightly gripped aroun
her waist was one arm Of the eff
cheney man; the other was cling1n
desperately to the rail. Both {
Constance's arms we're around hi
neck. She could feel him strugglin
desperately to maintain a balanc,
With gasping intake OF his breat
he presently achieved it. The gri
shot past them, rounded a turn
and landed noisily on the floor {
the basement hall,
He twisted his head to peer luz
her face. Their eyes were not 81
inches apart In the half light.
It's Constance" he exclaimed.
Never had the efficiency ma
called her that before.
Yes; it's l."
You're unusually early th
morning"
Possibly"
H. Hedge seemed willing 10 pre-
long the conversation,
ITS not eight yet" he remarked
II know IT,"
Didn't you drop something?"
"Of course"
an go down and get Il for you,
But he made no move.