New Britain herald., 1928-02-04


 ress. ''She may make a fine wife, but shell never thrill him the way I used to-
 Her eyes followed the little nurse as she filled tea kettle and set it on the stove.
 Couldn't I do something to mother says I mustn't stay, but I'm going to. And I'll feel better abou. staying if can help a little"
 The Ertz turned around from the stove and gave her a long look from her tired blue eyes. She seemed to he doing some very hard thinking. for she drowned in a puzzled, un- certain way.
 "Why. don't know what there is for you to do."' answered, after a pause. Mrs. France and Florence and I are going 10 take turns look ing after him." Sho said "him" i'm stead Of Pat" as if there were only one man in tho world, so far as she was concerned.
 Then she turned her back upon Lily and walked over to the sink, where she emptied out a hot water l'ottle. She dried the top of it very carefully with dish towel. and all the time she was doing it she srowned in that puzzled way. as if she were wondering what Lily was doing in that house at all
 The doctor is sure it's typhoid ?" Mrs. France asked. presently. stir ring up the frothy yellow batter for her pancakes and dropping table spoonful of it into a sizzling pan.
 The Ertz nodded. He thinks so He's coming again at ten o'clock" she said. T shall have to have some turpentine for stupes. Is there any in the house 2"
 Mrs France shook her head. Not a drop" she answered. But ] cah send for sone--''
 Let mo get it! rlease". Lily broke in eagerly. and in flash she vas ont of tho kitchen. Then she ran back to the door How much do you want?'
 The Ertz told her. and once more she was gone. She climbed into her fathers car that stood before tho l,ouse where she had left #. and tore down Inc humble little street with roar and a. rush.
 That trip was the beginning Of long. long service for Fat.
 He did nave typhoid fever. md for weeks and weeks he was in the state that doctors call "the typhoid state"--not quite conscious. and not cutie unconscious
 The only person he over asked for was The t,rtz. Day and night hc called thickiy and droNsily for. her. if she 50 much as stepped out into tho hall beyond his room. Day and night Lily could hear him Eliza beth, faizaheth.'
 She. herself, never went into the rooIn.
 Sometimes she stood in the door way and looked down at his flushed face and damp hair on tho tossed pillows. He did not look like Pat, but like some stranger. with his features sharp"ncd by the fever and his unsnayod checks and chin.
 She had no wish 10 go any nearer 10 him. iIe didn't want her. any way, with his insistent call for Eliza beth Ertz.
 Al first shc and Lily had been polite 'n"mies. giving each other short but court sous replies. helping each other whenever they rould but watching each other every mo- ment
 Then. as one week and then an other slipped past. they became sl- most friendly. Tho world Of Staley nrummond and dNorces and lealousios and gossip seemed 10 hayc fallen away from then, and the only reality was this small, white , oon'. where the man they both loved, in their own way, lay fighting for his life.
 Lily learned all kinds of things dbOnt that Hght. She learned abOnt I step ladder temperatures and ice Eags and how 70 fill them properly. She learned how 10 wash clinical thermometers. and the quickest way 10 dissolve baking soda in hot water.
 And she learned other things, too. Sine learned how to pretend that she was not wanted in the house. and how to be more honest than sne had been in her life before.
 She had to be honest with Staley. Having forgotten 10 mail him the letter she had written to him on the night she came 10 the France house. bold. she wrote him anothor-and a much niorc truthful onc-two weeks later.
 T know yo9 think I'm out Cf my mind 10 stay here where I'm not sl," closed it, Cor else you think I'm still in love with Pat and Npcct to live with Iitn again if he | r"ts better. H'It rcIthcr of thos- 'hing5 is truc. ] coIur hrrc becaus. Fat once belonged 10 mo, and 1t l