New Britain herald., 1928-01-13

Oh, it was good to bc and her"
 And then she began to cry. She opened the door of tho little flat and went down the stairs. carrying her Christmas presents with her.
 Thank fortune I'll never have to see HER again." Lily remarked aloud, slamming the door behind her.
 as far from tears as she had been close to them few short minutes before.
 And, still riding on the crest of that sweeping anger, she rushed into the room she had shared with Pat for so many months. and began to throw things into her two suitcases and her dressing bag.
 She ran down to the janitor's suite in the basement and telephoned for a cab.
 Then she telephoned her fathers house. A strange voice answered her "a high, nasal, woman's voice.
 Mrs. Lexington ain't here," 1t said. Neither ain't MT. Lexington. They're both to the Hot Springs for Christmas. And who is this speak ink?" That was the way it pro- nounced the word-.'speakink." This is Mrs. France, MT. sxing- tons daughter" answered Lily, grandly, to show the woman how English should be. spoken. II shall be home in very few minutes. Sec that my room Is opened, please. and things put in order for me-" There was pause. "I amt never heerd of no Mrs. France" the voice said, doubtfully then. Lily scowled. How everything could go wrong at times! Even small, unimportant things like tele- phone conversations. | You understood what I said to you?" she asked sharply, "Ill be home ill few minutes. See that my room upstairs is made ready! The room with the silver knocker on the door" '-
 And she hung up the receiver be- 1 fore the creature in her mothers house could say anything more. l Pat was still hidden behind the paper when she went back to the flat.
 l He did not stir when she passed him, carrying her heavy bags. He did not look at her. He did not Sepeals. If he knew she was there, in the room with him, he gave no sign of 1t.
 Outside, in the quiet street, sound ed the squawk of a taxicab horn, and the screaming brakes. The door,
 bell rang.
 Lily went down the stairs and sent
 the man up for her luggage. She sat
 in the cab while he went upstairs
 for them. wondering if. even then
 Pat would not come down and try te take her back upstairs with him.
 II wish he would," she said te
 herself. I'd enjoy refusing him
 now!"
 But he did not give her that pleas ure.
 A slatternly little maid in q pink } house dress and pink dusting cay
 opened the door of the house or
 Montpelier road when Lily drove III n if fhat
 Her eyes were walery and hrl mouth hung open. She had what the smart and slangy Sue Cain would , have called "a doubtful map" "Ych.' she said, wArn ,.ny cam, . running up the front steps. I'm Mrs. France" Lily told her I'm afraid I'm going to have tt
 ask you to lend me some money ; two dollars for the taxi driver" At that the little maid looked l more doubtful than before. T don . know who you are, lady" she said 3 |" ain't never hecrd Mis- Lexington l mention no daughter Lily was cXasperated. Have yeI
 any money?' she asked. If yo' P have, go and get if and don't stan' f here taking" She turned and beck f oned to the driver 10 bring her bag
 up to the porch.
 9 "A'l right" the maid decided. a ] if she saw that there was no use i - trying to keep Lily and the bag y out of the house any longer. Sh y trotted out 10 the back of the house y and came back with two silver dol q lars.
 Here you are, n'rrn. I hope C ain't doing nothing wrong" she sait II She lifted the bags into the hous
 and Lily sent her upstairs wit v them.
 l, She followed her 10 the door ( D her old room. and saw with a pan l that it was just as it had been il s day she walked out oi lt=e>s.. l. the lowered silk comforter folded e q triangle on the foot of the be II They had kept everything in ord' U for her.