New Britain herald., 1928-01-05

1 By the end of the meal he had the whole st story-her poverty-her dislike of Pats family and Sadye ,Ietterson-her anger at the way she had been made to work.
 "Why. Pats mother even wanted ! me to clerk in the grocery store" she cried. ''Can you imagine me wrapping up bread and cutting cheese, Staley??"
 He said he certainly couldn't, as l ne gave the waiter a big tip. 'The whole thing IS wrong" he added. Tt always was wrcng-and you're not happy"
 Before she had time to contradict him he went on: ''If you had been happily married you'd never have telerhoned me that day about the Angouleme bill. You'd have gone to your husband for the help you peeded."'
 Would Ic" asked Lily. faltering. Are you sure?"
 Staley laughed shortly. "Why, of course. But you didn't. Your first thought was of me-and do you know what l made up my mind to do that night after you teiephoned me? Do you know?
 | "I'll tel! you" he said. Lets get out of here first though" l He told her when they were in the big car once more, sitting side { by side on the front seat. 'I made up my mind that I'd have you after 1 all" ne said. "I'd never have come near you if I'd been sure you were i happ,-bu. after that l knew you weren't
 1 "No-I'm not" Lily spoke slowly i and thoughtfully. No. she wasn't happy. She still loved Pat, but she was no longer happy with him. Life had become treadmill for both of thom-
 Il want you to think things over { for a day or two,' were Staley's ! parting words to her when he i dropped her at her corner at i've o'clock. And then let me know what you're going to do."
 "Goirg 10 do," Lily echoed. Why. what did he mean? What did he expect her to do: ... | Deep down in her heart she knew | exactly what he wanted her to do. He wanted her to leave Pat and marry him. 'I made up my mind I'd have you after all," he lad said.
 She went up .he street. thinking 1 it over in a confused sort of way. wondering how things were going ! to turn out for her. Would she eyer leave the little flat: She doubted 1t. She felt as If she were buried in it. Buried alive in it. It never had looked so unattrac- tive to her before as it looked that night after the brightness of the Park Lane and ,be luxuriousness of Staley's limousine.
 And as first one day and then an- other went by it began to look really unattractivc.
 For Lily had suddenly lost every bit of int crest in 1t. She only half cleaned it every day. She made the Eeds up in a careless fashion. She forgot to put or clean napkins for every meal at the table. She stopped polishing the silver and the brass ash trays. She let everything , slide.
 After Pat was gone in the morn- ing she would climb hack into bed and lie there. with her pretty arms crossed under her head, ring up ,, at the ceiling and wishing that she , did not have 10 get up 10 do the ironing or wh atevar was 10 bo done. Wishing that she had maid 10 fill her bathtIh for her and lay out some fresh, lovely clothes. in stead of the old blue bungalow apron 1 that hung over the back of a chair, waiting for her to slip into it and get 10 work.
 SI," did not write or telephone 10 Stalcy 10 let him !now what she was going to do about himself and
 
 she was going 10 do about anything. She had no plans. nothing but q great dissatisfaction with her life as it was here in the flat.
 On the Saturday of that week a florists boy brought big bunch of flowers for her from Staley. His card came with it-as if be did not care who saw it and knew that he was sending flowers to her.
 Five minutes after the roses came Sadye Jefferson arrived to ask Lily if she and Pat would come to Sum day night sunpe".
 Where did you get thesc?" she asked. poking her nose into the mass of dewy pink bloom. Have you | secret admirer--or whatc" Lily laughed. What thing 10 say. Sadye." she sad. You've been seeing too many movies lately. and have your head chockful Of plots, . haven't you""