New Britain herald., 1928-01-07

N was Il
 She closed the window and turned
 back into the silent room. All al
 ence she was afraid to be there
 alone in it.
 The kind of wild, unreasoning ter.
 TOT that sometimes comes to women
 alone in houses at night. swept ovel
 her like an icy wave, leaving hes
 cold and shivering.
 It took every bit of her courage tc
 walk back down the hall and into ! the dark bedroom. When she had i turned on the light she felt better
 but she knew she could not stay ir
 the place all night.
 |, 'I'd die of fri-ht-and they'd find
 me with pure white hair in the
 morning." she said to herself, and
 began to pack an overnight bag with
 panic-s,riclien haste. 'I'Il go to a
 hotel if it takes my last penny" | In five minutes she was dressed and out lr the street. Then, just aa she started for the corner she dis covered that she had forgotten her handbag with all her money in it. all Of her money being the $15 that
 Pat had given ner the night before. For an instant she thought of running down to the ianitor and asking him to go into the flat for
 the handbag. Then something else far simpler flashed into her mind.
 Why not go to the France family for the night? Their house was only a few blocks away. and it would do
 them all good to know what a rotten
 trick Pat had played upon her! '1hcy think he's so wonderful" she said 70 herself. scornfully. start ing along the sidev alks under the
 October moon. "Ill just show him l rp."
 The little house was wrapped in 1 darkness when she reached it. But
 as she opened the front gate, witt, | its rusty squeak. a light shone out | from two of the upper windows. Ky
 the time Lily reached the porch, | Mrs. France had the front door open
 and was standing just inside the 1 hall.
 She was wearing d faded Canton l flannel kimono. and her gray hair l was in two funny little braids upon
 her shoulders. ''I saw you comin.
 when you passed the lamp post, ''
 she whispered. drawing the gill into
 the house. 'I was just knee ling down 1 Iy the window to say my prayers" Her blue eyes were filled with
 gentle curiosity. What's happen.
 ed"" she asked softly. You and
 Pa, have had a quarrel. ! suppose" Lily gave start. ''l'll bet Pats
 hore." sshc cried. He's probably told you all about it. and you think it's
 my fault. But it wasn't"
 "He's not here" Pats mother in-
 tcrruptad softly. And I haven't any
 reason to think it was anybody's
 fault. I Was bride once myself.
 and I know what these little Spats
 are between two young married peo- i pie. They don't mean q thing-and uOii want Noh tu ldlh dDOuL Ia.
 tonight. Youll just say lot of i things that you'll be sorry for in i the morning She put her arms around the girl and drew her to- ] wards the staircase.
 i NOW. you just run up and climb i into bed in lhe spare room." she [ added. And when you wake up
 everything will seem bright and { lec&uliful again" I;ut in inc morning things did not : ioo,, bright and beautiful to Lily
 She lay in bed looking at the sunny f blue sky out side the windows and ; wondering where Pat had spent the night.
 Not that ] care really" she said 1 10 herself. 'I guess I'm through
 with him after this. It's bad enough i 10 have a poor husband. without i having ona who's still crazy about 1 his old sweetic."
 : Her eyes were hard and her face , vas set in lines Of stubbornness
 when q knock came on the door i and Florenc" brought in a little ! breakfast tray.
 '1'hcy'rc trying to bc kind 10 me- lie thought. taking it and doing | i:"r best to smile. But it's too lat,
 row. They should have made .
 fuss over me fonr months ago." Florence closed the windows Of
 inc room and handed Lily the little | he'd jacket that she had brought
 with hcr. Then she closed the door Of the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.
 DO you remember asking me , about check in payment of some Of your clothes the otEer day?" she i asked. You wondered if had come | across it down at Angouleme's | What yon said about il made me i curious--and so looked it up" And you told Sadye Jefferson i abo'it ii. didn't you"" Lily sat bolt | upright in the bed suddenly reme | he ring what Sadye Jefferson had
 said about "hear'ng little things | auo,1t her
 ''bor't he .siIlv.' Florences voice