New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-31

| There isn't a CHANGER" she MUIR
INJURED.
mot = chance" he told her curt
i ly. ut is unfortunate that they ha"
her In with you. A mistake. o,
course. You should have complained
Immediately"
Complained? Ashtoreth was
puzzled. Because she was i'll. you
mean? But tuberculosis is not con-
tagious surely?"
The doctor looked at her quizz,-
cally.
""rhat was not what ! meant" he
said. "No-tuberculosis is not COLI
tagious."
Mona had fallen asleep. Her
mouth was open. and her lips
seemed blue and thick.
Ashtoreth remembered a line she
had read omewhere-'the reddest
and the cruelest lips in town" She
wondered II Mona's lips would ever
be like that again.
| She motioned to the stewardess
to go, and drew chair to Mona s
berth. Everything was very still.
It must, she reflected. be nearly
| dawn. She reached for Monas
hand, and when she found II was
cold. began to rub 1t gently.
She sat there for hours. Untii,
with a start. she realized that morn
ing had come. and the little cabin
was flooded with sunshine. She
turned off the lights, and laid :.
towel wrung out In ice water across
Mona's forehead. The girl stirred
restlessly. and murmured soms-
thing inaudible. Ashtoreth bent
closer. =. 1t was something about
Death. -. Ashtoreth shivered. and
Strengthened.
The doctor came soon, accom-
panied by the purser. Ashtoretn
rang then for the stewardess. ana
slipped away for a shower. Her
head was tiIrobbing madly. and she
achei with IL ter WEAKNESS.
"A cup Of black coffee" she told
herself dcterninedly. will brace
me right up. simply can't get
sick"
In the corridor she met Jac,
Smythe. on his way to the purser :
Office to inquire for Mona. He lis
tened gravely while she told him
what the doctor had said.
I'm sorrier than I can say" he
declared. IT'S a perfectly dreadful
thing. Mona is an utterly irrational
woman, and uncomfortable hysteria
has brought this upon her. TIL.
whole thing was nothing but a sort
OF phantasy OF her diseased min"
However. l am profoundly sorry"
But 'Pariah-Girl." cried Ashto-
reth. Didn't you write it,
"Of course wrote it!' affirmed
smythe, and seemed annoyed at
the question.
And you didn't have Mona In
mind?"
He purscd his lips reflectivcly.
well" he admitted, II suppose
in writing a man can never CT
very far behind his own vital eX-
periences. l wrote, to be sure. Of q
woman A. I knew her. But tina,
} woman was not simply Mona. She
was a composite. Mona. In her CO.
} lossal conceit, took all credit fol
the model
He smiled.
TUESDAY
"She was" he added remini.
Gently "the best Of all possible
sweethearts."
Ashtoreth remembered Mona;
invectives Of the night before. =.
Snug. >. Self-sufficed.
She turned quickly from him. and
flung parting taunt over hcl
shoulder.
Among the compcnsations o.
dying. I've 10 doubt" she ex'
claimed. Mona counts you.'
He bowed as in acknowledgment
Of a compliment.
} And you" he retorted quickly
, ARE to be counted, my dear
, among the compensations Of liv.
ing"
She turned then, and came bach
70 him.
II never want you to speak It
me again." she commanded. "If yot
come back OH this boat. hope 70,
will remember that II Mona die
shall feel as II you were he,
murderer
He flushed uncomfortably.
II wish you wouldn't talk thai
way" he protested. Il tell 20,
Mona IL a victim Of her own pas
sion. She has the most devastatins
temper in the world. Is it my faul
, II she loses her head. and rupture,
, her lungs"
THE more you talk" Ashtoretl
told him acidly. 'the more hat.
you"
When she reached her cabin, sh'
found a steward waiting at thu
door.
THE captain wants to see ye.,
, Miss" he Informed her. He ierket
his finger toward the closed door
The doctors In there with he'
now. I guess she's going to die, al
right"
Ashtoreth put her hand on tht
knob.
, She's Just had a hemorrhage.
. the man said. You don't want t
90 in now, Miss.
. Sick at heart and nauseated
Ashtoreth turned away.
The captain was a kindly man
whose blue. far-seeing eyes hat
looked OH life and Death ant
many seas. He took her hant