New Britain herald., 1927-12-12

she opened the door Of the living room and held out her hand to | Staley.
 ! He smiled at her as he took 1t. We've reached the hand-shaking stage Of our friendship, eh?' he asked, good humoredly. Well, that's encouraging"
 And then he kissed her in the quick, possessive way of a man who holds in his arms the woman who Is to be his wife.
 'I hate him 10 touch me- she 1 thought, but she let him do it. There was no use in burning any 1 bridges behind her until she was sure of herself and Pat - sure of what they were going 10 do. She sat down on the low. deep sofa that stood beside the empty grate. and Staley sat down beside her. He took his billfold from his pocket and drew an envelope from it.
 "What's thato" asked Lily. Something I want to ask you | about" the man answered. and showed her one of the torn halves of | Pats identification card-the half that had his photograph upon it.
 "Whcre in the world did that come from 9" Lily asked, her start | led eyes upon if. But she knew in stantly where it had come from. From Carrie. the housemaid. :. Staley from the house that after noon.
 Prom Carrie" Staley said brief | ly. He had known Carrie and liked 1 her always. She never forgot that he | took three Jumps of sugar in his cof- | fee when he came to have dinner with the Lexingtons, and she always | greeted him at the door with her checry smile. "Shc said she found it in your room."
 Lily did not try 10 answer him. Like most people who do not stick 10 the plain and simple truth, she had found out that there are times when dead silence does better than any falschood.
 This was one of those times. she told herself swiftly. viz her lips pressed into a straight line that hid their beautiful Cupid's bow, and her eyes going rapidly from the card 10 Staley's face and back 10 the 1 card again.
 This is he card that the taxi driver camo here for that night a couple of months ago, l suppose, he said, flcking it with his finger. ''rhc card that you said you didn't have--that you didn't know any thing about
 Lily knew that this was the time to tell him tho truth. The time 10 tell him that she loved not him. but Pat France.
 She tried 10. and couldn't do it. "I-can't. and ] won't talk this over with you. Stalcy.' she said after a long pause. If you're going to marry me. you've got to trust me. You can't 90 around listening 10 tales from people who've worked here in this house,
 Staleys pleasant. Eood-looking face darkened "I haven't listened ,o any tales of anybody's, Lily he said. Carrie brought this envelope to me in my office an hour ago. ana told m. it was something she had found in your room. She was gone before I even opened the thing
 He tore up both card and envelope and tossed the pieces of paper into the empty smoke -blackcncd fire place.
 But even if she hadn't shown me the fellows picture I was coming here to talk to you about him. he went on. quietly. Its perfectly clear to me that you know him a great deal better than anyone knows you do. Your whole manner toward me has changed since the night he came to this house for that card--" His eyes went to the ashes of the fireplace. where the bits oi torn card lay.
 Lily gavr him a long look from under the heavy black lashes thai curled up from silver white lids "Woll. what do you want 10 do abon it?" she asked, pertly. "Break ouI onGagcm"nt?'
 He shook his heal then. decided ly. just as she had known he would She knew that was the last thin3 that he wanted.
 Good lord. we're going to be married in three weeks. and every body knows it." he said. We can change our minds now. It's 100 late Besides. l want to marry vol just as much as I ever did. More
 Lily smiled at hm-a slow smiIc that curlod up the soft corners 0 hcr pretty lips. but left her eyes a! cold as Icc Well. then, let's forge this card business. what do vol say" she asked, sweet az honey.