New Britain herald., 1928-10-18
CHAPTER XLvIII

"Oh. Sybil. dont!" implored Mrs fhorne. You know l loved Tedd, hs if he were my own. You and ~aG have grown away from me. and .'n euch . lonely old woman. I'll mis, Teddy more than any of you"
 She put her hands to her face And silent tears stole between hel poor. thin fingers. Then sybil wal on her knees, with her face in her mothers lap. sobbing as though her heart would break. Valerie came And sat on the arm of her chair to ttroke her slim shoulders lovingly, and Tad dropped . kiss on her bowed head.
 Mother, dear" whispered Va lerie. we'll never let you be lonely again."
 She caught Tad's -dimmed kiance. and raised her eyebrows in- terrogatively.
 "Al right" he nodded.
 "Mother, dear, listen. You're go- Ing to have another little grand thild. I'm going to have a baby! Honestly - in three more months. ! think I've been so smart to keep 1t a secret. We meant not to tell kou for a little while yet. Tie longer we waited the cleverer l Felt. But now, you poor dear. l want you to stop your crying, and tell Tad and me you're glad. Tad's lon! Aren't you thrilled. Mother - And Sib-Sib. dear-can't you be klad too? Another little baby-to make life bearable now that reddy's gone. Oh, please tell me tou're glad!"
 Tad! Is 1t true?"
 They turned to him together, bybil and her mother. And their turprise was SO genuine. thai Valerie laughed aloud.
 Well, like that! Of course it's hue. Don't you suppose I know?'
 Then they laughed - the two women who never expected to smile hgain-and, throwing their arms hbout Valerie, kissed her.
 "Oh, my dear!" breathed Sybil. hnd, catching a sob with her teeth. bit her lips. T think it's wonderful, Wal" she cried. And never even buspected. l never was so sur brised in all my life. Three months ! why. Val"
 :. Mrs. Thorne was counting quietly bn her fingers.
 "June-that's lovely" she 7his- bered through her tears. Tad. I'm b glad"
 She kissed him tenderly.
 T guess I've something to live kor after all. Your baby"
 Her hands dropped idly in her tap, and she fell to musing.
 Tad was a lovely baby. Valerie. Buch a fine, healthy boy. And he heyer gave me a minutes worry. Bybil was fussy - but Tad-land lakes alive. often said you never know there was a baby in the house. Teddy was good baby, too. Remember when he was cut ting those first teeth? The poor uttle lyN0s
 sybil slipped quietly from the room. A few minutes later Tad found her at the telephone.
 Svbil had worn a black frock to feddy's funeral. and on her shcui- Fer q bunch of the anemones she cad scattered on his casket. She sat bn 8 high-backed Spanish chair that she had dragged to the table bn which the telephone stood. and bhe rested her head wearily against the shield of red and gold that ernamented its tall carved back. On the table tall candles cast wan light on a bowl of white roses hat diffused the heavy odor that komes with funerals. and a profu- hon of cut flowers.
 She sat with her back to Tad, but he caught q glimpse of her bale face in the mirror. And he thought she looked like a peniten- hal little saint in her black dress. 6ith the candles flickering, and the breath of mournful sweetness all About her.
 She was talking listlessly. her tips renfoved from the transmitter.
 you expect him shortly? This )b Sybil Thorne. Please tell him l Mant to see him. Tell him to wait Tor me-"
 She hung up the receiver. and burned to Tad.