New Britain herald., 1928-12-03

oed. surprised. why. what do you
mean? What in the world do do
for you, for goodness sake?"
More than you know. I'm \
stranger In a strange land here. and
1t means a lot to me to be able to
come to see you in this peaceful
little place sometimes"
Emmy's face famed softly, and
her lowered lashes made shadows
on her cheeks. All at once she
knew she did not want Wells Harbi-
son to talk to her like this. She
wanted to keep things between them
on an ordinary friendly plane. 1t
was so much more comfortable.
"Why. you haven't even been
here for almost two weeks" she be-
gan, and saw at once that she was
saying the wrong thing.
For Harbison's blue eyes darkened
and narrowed, and he came close to
her. looking down intently at her.
ITS just two weeks to the day." he
said in low voice. Just two weeks.
And would you like to hear why !
stayed away all this time?"
Emmy did not want to hear why
now, although she had been sick
with curiosity to know for the past
two weeks. She gave her head a
tiny shake that HARRISON did not
see.
II wanted to see if COULD stay
away from YOU" he explained. And
here I am. right hack where ]
started from, you see!'
Emmy tried to laugh. And here
you are!" she said, uneasily. Just
in time to take me to the pop con-
cert down at Public Hail." She re-
membered suddenly. and thankfully,
that there was one that afternoon.
In nervous haste she put on her
| hat and coat, anxious to get away
from the flat and its solitude.
Jimmy, but It's nice to be out,
seeing something besinds my own
four walls, for a CHANGE" she con-
fessed to him when they were seat
ed, side by side, IN the hall watching
the people come in to hear the con-
cert. Here, with all the hustle and
subdued noise around them she
could tell him the truth. I've hardly
stirred from my flat. was SO afraid
you might come or telephone while
l was out"
Emmy, do you mean that" Har-
! bison turned his head and gave her
a quick. keen look. If you do,
you're a puzzle to me. You say
you've waited for two weeks to see
me, just as I've waited to see you.
And then when l finally do come
to see you. you drag me out into
this crowd of people to hear lot
of music that + don't want to hear.
l don't understand you a little bit"
| Emmy did not understand herself,
SO far as that went. She seemed to
be two peopl: one that liked Wells
Harbison-more than liked him.--
and one that was shy and uncom-
Portable and unhappy in his pres
ence.
Before the concert was over they
got up and walked over to the Stat
Ter Hotel for tea. People do not in
dulge in five o'clock tea In the Mid
die West, as they do in the East
and Europe, and at this hour the
big shadowy Pompeian Room was
deserted except for themselves.
They sat at little table In cor
ner with an orange-shaded lamp
throwing a glow over their faces.
HARRISON ordered anchovy sand
witches and pate sandwiches. green
tea for Emmy and gingerale for
himself.
When the ale came he slipped a
small flat silver flask from his pock-
ct and unscrewed the top. The odor
that came from it took Emmy back
to a long-ago night OH Flower
street, when he father had come
home with one of his worst attacks
of neuralgia and her mother HAD
paid his taxi driver with part of her
fifty dollar birthday present.
With sombre eyes she watched
HARRISON ''sweetcn" his glass from
the silver flask. She watched him
while he lifted it to his lips and
drank half of the mixture in it be-
fore he set 1t down.
! Over the little meal they talked
about Emmy's voice. and how nm
portant it was In q friendly. pleas
ant way. Harbiscn said. as he had
said before, land you've got to spend
both time and money on 1t to make
it what 1t can he. . I'm goins
to see that you do it. too"
Emmy lay in bed that night. lis
tening to the sound of rain on the
leaves outside her windows. and
breathing in the odor of the wet
grass and dust from the park below,
and thinking of Wells HARRISON and
lis goodness to her. No one ever
| had been so interested in her as he
was. No one. with the exception OF
herself, had ever believed in her
voice as he did.
On Friday of that week he took
her to lunch. and afterward he wen,
with her to the music store where
she had rented the upright paino
and ordered baby grand to be sent
to her in place Of it. And he insist
ed upon paying the difference in
the price of them.
why not?" he asked, when EN-.
my objected. Were friends. and
friends ought not to be silly and
squeamish about borrowing ano
lending money. II needed money
you'd lend it to me. wouldn't you?
And I'd be proud to take it from
you"