New Britain herald., 1926-07-01

on Mrs. Shirley, who has tonsilitis They'll be right back, so they said.
 "Oh!" Sylvia said fcintly She die not '-tove from the doorway.
 She didn't want to be left her, alone with Peter. After all, she Wa. still Randall Phelps wife, and { mans wife is not supposed to have a tete-a-tete with bachelor who i' in love with her! CT with any othel man, for that matter!
 q think I'll run across the stree' Iand see Fay's mother. too." Sylvia said suddenly, q didn't know she wa: sick. If the baby cries. telephone fol me, will you?" She turned 10 go.
 But Peter called her back.
 He had put down his paper and his pipe. As she came into the shab- by, cozy room, he stood up, looking down into the flames.
 "Sit down minute, please" he said in husky voice, ''I have some- thing I want to say to you" She put her hand against the wall to steady herself for 8 second Then she came close to him, and sat down in the chair he had just left. Her fingers played nervously with the cover of the sewing basket she was holding.
 Tiff 1t isn't anything impor- tant," she begged. don't say it to- night. I've been through a lot to- day, and I'm so tired l can hardly think"
 He turned then and looked at her ,"It is important" he answered slow I1y "It may sound silly 10 you-but its life or death 10 me"
 CHAPTER Tx
 Sylvia was never 10 forget the scene in Aunt Aeony's shabby lit tie sitting room that night. It stamped itself forever and ever on her memory. The lamp light mel flowing the worn red velvet chairs and the faded, thrcad-bare rug. The ruddy glow from the gratc-fire istruck upward at Peter WtlIas Ehomely fee as he turned slowlay itowa,d her.
 She was never to forget how he Hooked just then. as his brown eyes imct hers with the kind of look that | faithful dog has for it's master. She looked back at him. thinking how faithful and good and decent he Was-the kind of man who would meyer carry on sneaking little love affairs behind his wifc's back. ITn was the best man she had ever |Enown-probahly the best man she ever would know, so long as she lived.
 "Why didn't I fall in love with him instead Of with Ranny?" she asked herself. "Thcn life would have iben so simple, so peaceful, so com- Ifor-ble"
 She was startled when his deep voice echoed her own thought.
 "You should h 70 married me. Sylvia" he said quietly, "in the be- ginung." So that was what he had the"n trying to say!
 She dropped her eyes. so that the thick lashes made soft shadows on her cheeks. "How do you mean--in 'the bcginning?" she asked him.
 "T mea that all this would never have had 10 happen to you if you'd married me when l asked you 10. four years ago" he told her blunt fly. "I kn then that you'd never le able O live with Phelps. I knew it the i. Int you told me that you were going to run away with him. I shouldn't have let you do it."
 She raised her eyes 10 him and ithe lctic little smile she gave him went straight 10 his heart.
 "Nou couldn't have stopped me- '' she said. "AIl inc kings horses and all the kings men couldn't have stopped me from marrying him tWhen he wanted mo 10 marry him. They couldn't keep me away from him now. if he wanted me- Sh" saw that she was hurting him. He was looking down at her with such a queer expression. And he mado a queer sound in his throat, as If he va ed to answer her and Icouldnt.
 But she knew that she had to tell him the truth, no matter how much lit hurt. She had to make him un- derstanl that she still loved Ran dall Phelps, and that he mustn't talk 10 her like this while she was tstill Ranny's wife.
 "T know that you think I don't want 10 live with Ranny any more. Peter" she said to him. But you're all wrong He doesn't want 10 live with ME any more. He's asked me to divorce him or l wouldn't think of doia~ such a thing. I still care for him. and-and you mustn't talk to me this way"
 Her low voice seemed to throb in ithn air of the little room for a full minute after she had stopped speak ling.
 Peter turned his back 10 her again. and stared down into the glowing coals.
 q never would have said word if l hadn't thought you Werc through with Phelps" he said, grufI. fly. I've shut up for four years haven't |? And you must have known all along how l feel abou you. You know I'd marry you to- morrow if you were free"
 She couldn't see his face as ht spoke. but at his sides his hand: were cIeuching themselves until thu kur kles Whitencd. She saw that ht was carried away by the flood o emotion that he had kept damned up for so many years.
 Five minutes ago she wonldn' have believed that Peter, the staiC and solid Peter, could be so shaker by the fact that she was going t' divorce Ranny-or by any othe fact, for that matter.
 Shc got up and walked over tt him. "Peter" she told him, yer, quietly. Peter, I don't know what t' do. I'm sorry you feel like this. Be cause there isn't any use of you