New Britain herald., 1928-12-04

| up all my time to Wells Harbison, she went on thinking. T haven't taken the time 10 see anybody else-" It was his fault, too. in a way. that she had not taken 1t. He was always urging her to get lots of sleep and to do a great deal of prscticing on the nights when he did not want to come out 10 the flat to see her. Friends. he said. did not matter at all when you had set your heart and soul upon career. And Emmy had believed him up to this tune.
 And yet, here he'uas seeing all oi his friends right along! He did not let her interfere with his scheme of living. !. He was dining out with some friends of his that she did not know this very night,
 Thinking " of these things over. Emmy mad "p her mind all at once tc go down Flower street to see mother and tue boys.
 For weeks she had been half promising hsruslf to go down to see how they wsrs all getting along without her. and then changing hef mind abou, it. For one reason, sht had no great desire to go. and for another. she did not want to zee Robb Hollis these days. Without knowing why. she felt as if she had broken faith with him.
 Its silly of me-" she told herself, as she dressed fer the street before the oval toilet glass in her tiny dressing room. After all. didn't promise him that I'd never look at another man."
 But what had she promised him ? Something that had to do with the cheap little ring that he had given her at Christmas time. Hadn't she promised to wear it only until she fell in love with another man ? She could remember only dimly as she looked down at 1t. sparkling on her finger in the cleo tric lights white radiance.
 Perhaps I ought to give it back to him tonight" she said to herself. picking up her gloves and umbrella. Perhaps I ought not to keep tt, feeling the way I do about Wells Harbison."
 Just as she reached the door ot the flat the telephone ranE-a shtll. sharp sound above the drip and murmur Of the spring rain outside.
 It was Harbison calling her.
 "I just got rid of those fellows had dinner with" he said to he' . "Ill be right out" The receive, clicked in her ear as he hung 1t up.
 She hung up her own receiver an! took off the old hat and ruhberizei red silk coat she had put on. She began to dress for uarbison.
 She dressed for him very careful ly, polishing her bright hair. touch- ing the lobes of her ears and ''er white throat with some perfume he had given her. rubbing unnecessar. :. lip paste into her lips.
 Then the telephone rang again. She hurried into the sitting room, and picked it up.
 "Emmy?" It was Hobb's voice. close against her ear! For a second she felt as if hand closed around her heart and frightened. She caught her breath. But she did not answer.
 Robbs voice came once more: Hello"
 All at once Emmy was herself again. and very cool and calm and collected. Slowly and carefully she put the receiver back upon It's black hook and went back to he, dressing closet.
 The bell rang aguin.
 "T.et it ring!" Emmy said aloud 10 her reflection in the toilet glass. "I don't want to talk to him. and I'm not going to!'
 But when it stopped ringing. as if it had got tired of pleading with her to answer. she was sorry she had hung up the receiver. She was sorry she had not talked to Robh. after he had gone traipsing down to Burkhardt's Drug Store on a night like this. just to telephone to | HeE.
 "I might at least have said Hello to him when he's so good to Motn- er." she told herself
 But she forgot all about him . few minutes later. when the sound of Harbison's taxicab coming to a stop in the street below came up to liner. He had not even stopped 10 gc, 1 his own car. Emmy knew. leaning out of the window to watch him pay his drivcr and come hurrying across 1 the sidewalk.
 His quick step sounded upon the stairs. His knock was loud upon the panels of her door. Emmy knew how eager he was to see her before she saw his face.
 But you said you were going to be tied up all evening"" she greeted him. her eyes shining like jewels in the lamp-lit room. She took his hat and his cane fran him and hung them up.
 1 "Yes, but l didn't know l was going 10 be bored the way was" l 1iV io 2 '-us iuNi'6 hShs h'S AoIioH behind his broad back. T sat there | for what seeIued like eternities in that hotel dining room, trying to be polite. and wondering all the while how soon 1 could break away-and come here 10 you
 T cant imagine that" Emmy answered quickly. T thought men liked to get away by themselves sometimes 10 talk about wood pulp and nine holes of golf and how 10 make the most money in the short 1 est time and so on. Do sit down. Here's your pipe-you want your pipe. don't you"-and here arc 1 the matches"
 She felt as If she must keep on , talking so as not 10 give him a chance 10 say anything sentimental