New Britain herald., 1927-12-19
By Beatrice Burton lNlOIlCV xO I1 Author Shoulders Honey Lou"
 "The Hollywood Girl" Etc.
READ THIS FIRST


 Lily Lexington, spoiled daughter of the Cyrus LeXlngtons, who live far beyond their means, is engaged 10 q rich bachelor, Staley Drum mond, much older than herself. The day after he proposes Lily goes downtown to meet her chum, Sue Cain, and secs a man watching her through the crowd. She feels her self Curiously attracted by him, and then she sees that he IS q tax driver and is standing beside cab. She jumps into it, forgetting Sue, and he drives her home. IL is the beginning Of their friendship. She learns that his name Is Pat France and that he owns his cab in com pany headed by his friend, Roy Jet tcrson. He sells il to finance q DIS ton ring invention of his. and he and his cab disappear from the down town streets.
 Lily begins to miss him and real izes that she is in love with him. But just about the time she makes up her mind to break off her en- gagement to Staley, Mrs. Lexington announces the engagement and the wedding day is set for the tenth ol June. About the tenth of May Lily walks into the back yard one morn ing to find that her mothers new chauffeur is--Pat France, He ad- mits that the temptation to take the iob was too great for him 10 resist because it made it possible for hlm to be with her, and tells her that he hasn't been able to think of anyone but her since the day he met her.
 Finally Carrie, the housemald, goes to Mrs. Lexington with the story of their infatuation, and Mrs Lexington decides to get Pat out ot the house by telling him he Will have to wait on table that night when Staley comes for dinner. Fat leaves, and to Mrs. LeXington's sor- row Lily leaves with him. promising that she will wait 24 hours until she goes with Pat for a marriage H. cense. Mrs. Lexington admits that she hopes she'll change her mlnd. Iilv goes to the Frances house ana Pat gets a job from Roy Jetterson and says that he and his wife Sadye will stand up" with them at the wedding. But Lily asks Sue to be with her, and Sue reluctantly con sents. That night when Lily ana Pats sister, Florence, are dressing for a party at the Jettersons Fat comes upstairs and says that Lliy's folks are at the house and want to see her.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XNII1
 Lilv expected to see only her moth- CT and father when she ran down the stairs, still wrapped in her orchid silk breakfast coat.
 Pat followed her. but at the door of the parlor she stopped and told him she would see them alone. Ana no matter what they say to me, I'm not. going to change she sad, solemnly. her hand on the knob. She opened the door and went In. l The first person she saw was Staley Drummond. He was standing m 1 front of the mantcl- piece, smoking q i cigaret and saying something Tn ms pleasant voice to her mother and 1 father.
 He was spruce, as always, even to | the little white rose in the lapel of his coat. But his face was gray looking and hasgard and his body seemed to sag as he leaned against the mantel.
 ! Lily looked from him to her moth CT and father. They were slttlng on Mrs. Frances gray-green sofa, with it's old fashioned lace tidies, and MT Lexington was holding his Wlle s [ large. white hand in his, stroklng IT,. 1 He got up and stood beside his runaway daughter. He was not very tall man-not much taller than she-but he was one ot those soilu' identified people who always seem larger than they are. His arms were very comforting as he put them around her anu pu'',N "~
 ders.
 Well Lily Locket," he said, using a nickname that he had had for her since her babyhood, do you thlhN you're doing the right thing? Run ring away from your old dad llhe this? Marrying this fellow that you hardly know?'
 Lily could feel Staley Drum mond's eyes on her. He had not sa'a a word He just stood. leaning oeairst the 1nantel- piece, and watch ! ing her as if he were trying to lls- ire her out-trying to read her | ,,oughts. She was dreadfully sorry for him.
 And, suddenly. instead of answer ;,er her father. Lily turned to him.
 "Staley, I don't know what 10 say 10 YOU. l dont-it's going to De awful for you, isn't it? EHerypody ! talking-'
 StaIoy stood up straight, sduarlhs bis shoulders. His lips smiled under ike little blond toothbrush oi a mus tachc that he wore. but ms 'N'9 were perploAed and serious. ! aoh mind what people say, Lily, ne sal1' , with q shake of his head. 'l can stand what they say. What l can | stand is losing you.'
 He suddenly turned his back upon her, and leaned his forehead agamst the mantcl- shelf. His whole body was shaken with silent sobbing.
 Lily never had seen man cry before in her life. and she was iiliod with dismay and pity for hln. Q She hadn't known that llo caroI for her like this. Deep in her heart she had always had sneaklng sus- picion that he never would have asked her to marry him If she hadn't managed things 90 cleNerly'
 She remembered now, with cor- tain shame. how shc bad told nm
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