New Britain herald., 1927-12-16

crazy to do it''-he grinned at Lily with affection as he said that-"but she says she's going to, anyway. 1 Only she's going to wait until tomor- row to be sure she really wants to | do it.'
 His mother shot a curious look at | Lily, who smiled back at her from under her pink-and- orchid hat that had been bought for Staley Drum mond's bride.
 Aren't you sure you want to marry Pat now?" she asked, sharply, and Lily nodded.
 I'm sure as sure can be-" she said, and felt Pats arm go around her as she said 1t. But Pats never been sure of me, and my mother thinks don't know what I'm doing, too. So I've promised both of them that would wait until tomorrow before I go with Pat for license"
 Mrs. France began to cut q fluffy white mound of biscuit dough into strips and squares. Well I was going to say that if you weren't sure of yourself you'd better go back Nome." she remarked, with a nod of her head. Getting married is noth- ing to shilly-shally about! It's something you either ought to want to do with all your heart, or some thing you ought not to do at all. There are no ifs and ands about get ting married. . This surely is a surprise to mel"
 And as if she suddenly realized just how surprising it was, she sat down suddenly on 8 wooden chair behind her, holding a piece of the fluffy dough In her hands. She shook her head. staring at the pair of them.
 T hope you both know your own minds" she said after a few sec onds. Pat, you've been going round with that Ertz girl for a long time, and you've liked her pretty we'll and Miss Lexington cared enough for that other young man to prom ise to marry him. wonder if you really like each other as much as f you think you do-you two" Lily nodded her head at her. | We've talked all that over-dozens of times" she answered, calmly. Pat and l have argued this thing back and forth for long time-1 know he once thought a great deal about the Ertz girl. and he knows l still like the man I thought l could marry a while ago. know he's poor as Jobs turkey, and he knows that I'm lazy and selfish and good for nothing, don't you Pat?" She looked up at him, her head, in its wide hat. tilted back against his shoulder.
 He only pressed his red-brown, lean cheek against her white one for answer.
 Gan you fix up some place for her to sleep tonight, Maj" he asked I"I'll run over to the garage and see Roy about getting a job, while you two are getting acquainted.
 He smiled at them both, his blue eyes twinlIling under their heavy straight brows. There was little shadow of anxiety under that twin, kle. He wanted them to like eacf other, and to understand each other These two women whom he loved more than any other human being in his life.
 But when he was gone, Lily began to feel chilled and strange in the friendly little house. Silence fel upon her as she followed Mrs France upstaires to little bedroom at the back of the house--a little white bedroom, all dotted Swiss cur tains and pale blue ribbons. The fur niture was painted white, and 1t was simple and old -fashioned-a bls bed, a wide dresser. a little table and two chairs.
 "This is Florence's room. You car sleep here with her tonight" sait Pats mother. Now, you mus change into something thatll Wasf and you can come down stairs ano help me get lunch.'
 She trotted down the stairs, ant . Lily began to look through the suit case that Pat had brought up fol her, for something that woult wash" although she knew periectl! we'll that the three dresses she hat packed were the kind that have t' be sent to the dry cleaner 's-hand made, silky things of many pieat: and ruffles and bits of delicate em , broidery.
 The plainest one of the three wa a. sleeveless yellow crepe-de-chln' that buttoned down the front witt pearl buttons. She slipped into l . and started down the stairs. i AS she passed the open door o the room next to her she saw a pic , ture of herself tucked into the mir TOT of the chiffonier-a neWSpape 5 clipping. The one that told of he engagement to Staley Drummono. She remembered how she had tor up the clipping that he had had Il the cab that long-ago day when tn story had been printed. II must have bought another news paper afterward and kept this piec from it.
 He cared for me, even then, jus