New Britain herald., 1926-06-24
HER MAN s: s; :.;;::;: ;;:::' ;;: 1919 Broadway Ne" York c'


Her mouth NOrhedi ara Shs pl her face down into her thin hand! and broke into that dreadful noise, less weeping that Aunt Agony haG learned 10 dread.
 Almost in panic she jumped UT and took Sylyias dressing gowr heaying shoulders,
 ''Now then. stop that this min' ute! You've cried long enough.' sht said with a sharpness she was fal from feeling. Get out of that bed and I'll make it up."
 She dragged her little rocker close 10 Sylyias bed, and helped her into it. She had a sudden wild idea that If she made Sylvia move around if she could get her out Of this room where she had lived with her griet for a whole month-that might make her forget it.
 I'll get her 10 come downstairs for breakfast tomorrow. if I can. ' she was saying 10 herself. when the doorbell rang sharply in the hall below.
 She looked at Sylvia. If that's Fay do you want to see her" she asked.
 Fay had called every day for weeks, and Aunt Agony had an idea that it would do Sylvia lots of good Ito see Fay, who was always good company, even though Aunt Agony hated her.
 But Sylvia shook her head. "No. I don't want to see anybody yet" she said, her voice still thick with tears.
 She sat with her face still buried in her hands, and listened to Aunt Agony go down the front stairs and open the hall door. Then came Kanny's voice, so low that she couldn't hear what he was saying.
 She got up and braced herself with one thin hand on the back of her chair. IL was weeks since she had walked across the room. But now she went as far as the hall and stood al the top of the stairs there.
 Rauny's voice was pleading with Aunt Agony
 "Aw. go on I'D and ask her. Be q good sport, that's a girl" he was saying, and Sylvia could imagine the look Of wrath that Aunt Agony was giving him as he called her a "girl.'' If there was one person in the world that Ranny could neither kid" nor flatter that person was Agony Starr.
 "No.' she answered him now, in voice that snapped. "Nol She doesn't want 10 see you and I'm not going 10 lot you see her.'
 Then Fanny muttered something about finding out for himself whether his own wife would see him or not, by love"
 NO. I've said you can't go up, and you can't" Sylvia heard Aunt Agony answer him angrily
 She could imagine her aunt standing at the foot Of the stairs. like wild lioness in his pathway. daring him 10 try 10 pass her.
 But he must have tried it. For there came a rush Of feet on the carpeted steps. and Sylvia turned in panic and tottered back to her bed room, clinging to the door for sup port.
 No, no, she was not going to see him-she was sure that he really didn't want 10 see her. He didn't love her CT want her. He was only sorry for her because she had lost the baby. That was it--he was sor- ry for her.
 Well, she didn't want his pity or his sympathy. She had needed them both month ago, during those aw- tul days when she watched her baby slip slowly but surely away from her into that UNKNOWN COUNTRY that lies somewhere beyond death.
 And she had needed him. then. But he had not been there, and now she didn't want 10 even see him. She wanted to be left alone to for get him, and all the unhappiness Of her life with him, If she could, if shc could.
 She began 10 close the door, but before she could, Ranuy was there beside her. He stood on the thres- hold. looking at her with the old look Of hungry longing that she knew so well. And she looked back at him with her tear-swollen eyes.
 And suddenly all the bitterness and resentment that had been in her heart went out of it. This was hor Ranny who stood here-Her Ranny, Her Man! And the father of the little baby who had died.
 He belonged 10 her-and she to him, after all. Nothing could keep them apart. No matter what they did. there would always come time when he would come 10 her like this and she would he waiting.
 She knew now that she had been waiting for q month for Ranny 10 come to her, and stand looking at her as he was looking at her now.
 "Svlvy." he said huskily. and, somehow, in that single word was everything that she wanted to hear.
 She made little answering sound that vas half a note of joy and half moan, and took an un- steady step toward him.
 And then. all al once, his arms were around her. and her wet face was hidden against the velveteen Of his old lounging robe. He hadn't even stopped to change it that night at his mothers house, when this ir- rcsistihle wave of longing for Sylvia had swept over him and brought him 10 her.
 She leaned back in his arms, and looked at him as if she couldn't really believe that it was Ranpy who held her-her hands touched his face as if she wanted 10 make sure that he really was here.
 Then she drew him close 10 her, more as q woman holds her child than as a woman embraces her lover. Never had she loved Ranny SD much as she loved him now. in