New Britain herald., 1928-02-06

could now speak Of 1t without break ing down-without excitement
 T don't understand you. coming down here to stay while he's tick, when all the time you're planning to marry Drummond," the nurse murmured, staring into the darkness of the hall. That's why l say that you must still be in love with Pat" T Was once, and l still have a tender spot in my heart for him. Lily answered. And that's why I'm here, partly. Only I don't really know why did come-I just had to. I guess. But this Is the end of things all the same. AS soon as Pats all right. I'm gone. and the divorce comes off,"
 She went to bed. thinking how strange it was that she should be on friendly terms with this woman and that they should sit down calmly to discuss the,r feelings toward Pat. It was laughable. really.
 She was almost asleep when his voice reused her. She sat bolt up- right in bed, not quite sure that she had not been dreaming.
 She listened and then she heard it again. "Baty!" he was say ing in the thick, drowsy voice of his delrium. But she knew that he wanted her. There was only one person in the world whom he "al.ed Baby" in just that way. putting all of his love into the two silly little syllables.
 In an instant Lily was out on the floor in her bare feet, and out of her room and on the threshold of the one across the hall.
 Elizabeth Ertz vas standing be- side the bed. looking down at Pat She had taken off her uniform and her long. brown hair was in two braids down her back. "Ssh!" she said, aud tried to wave Lily away, He's worse. I'm going to telephone the doctor"
 She tried to draw Lily with her into the hall and to shut the door of the room. But Lily was not to be drawn away. Pat had called her and she was going to him.
 Just don't try to hold me-" she said quickly and sharply to the little nurse, and she flew into the bed- room.
 Pat was still muttering in his stupor when she knelt down beside him on the rug and laid her hand on his shoulder and her head down on the pillow beside him. There, there my boy" she kept saying to him. [ over and over, not knowing what she was saying. There, there nice boy!''
 The doctor came, and Mrs.France came patterlng in on her felt slip rers. Florence woke up. too. and she and her father sat on the win- dow seat in the hall and waited for | the doctor to tell them how Pat was.
 They had a long wait, for Dr. Billings, a small conscientious man, took off his coat and helped Eliza beth Ertz give Pat the treatment that he advised.
 Through it all Lily never moved. When the doctor came she went over to corner of tho room and sat there. huddled against the wall. with Pats old blue hathrobe around her, and there she stayed, watching the bed with wide-open. frightened eyes.
 If Pat dies I may as we'll be dead. too," she told herself, as it came to her that world without Pat in 1t would be a dull and dreadful world to live in.
 Why, what had she been thinking of all along-to even dream that she could give herself to Stanley Drum nond? She belonged to Pat. and since he didn't want her. the only thing she could do was to stay with her mother and father. Or perhaps to get job somewhere like Florence France. But never to marry Staley.
 ! Not even If Pat dies:" she prom sed herself. Not even then would I marry Staley Drummond. or any. body else" It had taken this terrible sickness of Pats to show her all i these things, but she saw them now, as clearly as if she were looking into a mirror.
 She knew why she had come to I the house that night two weeks ago or more. She knew why she had i stayed there when nobody Tn the house wanted her. She knew why she had worked with Eliza beth Ertz. even though Elizabeth Ertz was her greatest enemy. . .. Because to do all of these things meant that she | could be near Pat.
 Nobody mattered to her but him ! And nothing mattered but him, rot all of the things that staley Drunlmond could buy for her Auto- mobiles, a great horse. q whole jewel box of diamonds, a trip to Europe They seemed as worthless as toys to her suddenly just as they had once before when she had first fallen in love with Pct.
 If only Pat lives that's all want and all I ask she said, not to her self. but to Someone to whom she found herself wildly praying as she