New Britain herald., 1927-11-22
CHAPTER 1

March morning last year Lily Lexington opened her eyes upon a world that had always been wonderfully kind to her.
 All her life it had treated her like the spoiled child of For tune that she was.
 It had coddled her and pam pered her. It had granted ev- cry wish and every whim that she had ever had. Every one.
 And now, at P, Lily was dis contented and restless and un- happy-as might have been ex- pected. She was exactly like a child who has had "too much Christmas" Too much candy, too many toys, too much fun and excitement.
 She looked like a spoiled child. too, on this particular March morning, with her gray green eyes full of sleep, her mouth suIky, velvety bow, her golden-red hair a curly, tousled mass above a drowning forehead.
 "Oh, dear" She yawned, stretched herself, and sighed deeply. In that unhappy sigh was all her dissatisfaction with life in general.
 Then she held up her left hand and looked at the large diamond that decorated her en- gagement finger. Her frown deepened. The corners of her mouth dropped unhappily. "Oh, dear" she sighed once more, turning the glitterlng thing slowly upon her finger.
 As she sat up in bed the door of the room opened slowly and her mother poked her head in- to the opening. It was a very imposing head, crowned with iron-gray hair, dressed in a high pompadour.
 "You're awake, Lily" Mrs: Lexington's voice was rich and full, but it had a note of sharp ness in it just as her full, rich ly-colored face had a sharp look about it sometimes.
 She was tall and heavy, but she moved with a surprising swiftness. Her pink linen housedress cracked like paper, some keys in her pocket jln- e!ed, and her heels clicked on the polished floor as she went ground the room pulling up the shades, putting down the win lows. and lighting the gas logs i1 the grate. She was as full Of energy as an electric fan.
 Wet me see your ring again, I.ilv." she said, pulling up a chair to the side of the bed: Her eyes warmed as she looked at it. and then at her daugh- ter's lovely, sullen face. i've always wanted you to marry Staley Drummond. His ring is just like hinl-suhstantial and good. It must weigh all of three karats, Lily, that dla- mond"
 "Three karats," the girl re- peated, lifelessly, and from her tone she might have been say ing Carrots instead of "kar- ats."
 Somewhere in the big, con- fortable house a bell rang shrilly, and her eyes went to the gilt telephone that stood on the table beside her bed.
 If that's Staley, tell him I'm asleep, Mother" she said quickly. Tell him I'll be home this afternoon at } if he wants to see me-"
 Her mother stared at her. But, dear, he probably wants to see you now, on his way down town,' she said with a cold, sprightly air. Hes been engaged to you less than F hours, and naturally"
 "You heard what l sald'' Lily interrupted, and her lips came together with a snap. She dropped back upon her pillows and turned her brilliant gaze upon the ceiling.
 It was Staley Drummond on the telephone and Mrs. LeXlng- ton gave him Lily $ message. She's going out this after noon. Staley,' she told him Tn her very best voice. But she Il be home at , and she wants you to stay for dinner. Good-bye.'
 What did you tell him that for" asked Lily, when her mother had hung up the re- ceiver. If I'd wanted him to stay for dinner I'd have told you so, wouldn't I?' She was scowling now, like a beautiful cross baby. Mrs. Lexington shrugged her