New Britain herald., 1929-01-31

Mrs. Saunders. She waited several
minutes, and when Saunders did
not come. she became alarmed.
She knocked on Hollis door. but
received no answer. though she
could hear voices quite distinctly.
She turned the knob, and discov-
cred that the bolt on Hollis side
was drawn. She wondered if he
had purposely locked her out.
There was something wrong. She
shook the door violently.
Almost Immediately, it was
opened. and she saw little group
standing about her husbands bed.
Mrs. Saunders was there, and a
man whom she knew Immediately
to be the ships doctor. There were
several other people of whom she
received no particular impression.
Mrs. Saunders stopped quickly. and
drew up the sheet. covering Hollis
face.
Ashtoreth was trembling so that
she could scarcely walk. In that
dreadful moment. as she propelled
her shaking legs toward the bed.
she had strange feeling that it
was not she-but some other wo-
man-who was about to look upon
the dead man. For she knew. in
stantly. that her husband was dead.
"Veronal," somebody was saying.
AN overdose"
The words came to her as from 4
great distance. and rang strangely
in her ears. She remembered
reading recently about the death
of an author. who had died in a
hotel in New York from an over
dose of veronal. Ashtoreth Won
dered how she happened to think
of that. There had been an in
quest. and an autopsy. And the
doctors said that the author had
been troubled with sleeplessness
and so had taken veronal. 1t was
all the details.
The doctor was talking to her,
but she did not know what he was
saying. She was wondering If there
would be an autopsy. and If they
would cut Hollis body. She felt that
she could not bear it.
She put her hands on the sheet
and turned it down from his face
He looked very quiet. and not un.
happy. She wondered if he was
glad that he had died. One corner
of his mouth was qLirked up a little
as though he was smiling YER,
small smile. She wondered if he
was smiling at life or at death
Or at her. perhaps. Or Monty
who knew she was parasite.
The doctor was still talking. "Yo,
mustn't touch the body, Mrs. Hart.
She bent and kissed the dead mar
on the lips. And. for the first time
in many weeks, she forgot abou
those two teeth on the swivels tina
had killed romance.
"Oh. Holly" she brcathed. "Holl!
-. Holly You'll never cal
me Orchid any more Not
| ever . any more
Suddenly she felt overpowering
ly sorry for herself, and rushet
from the room. crying loudly. 4
little later she tainted, and wa
unconscious for a very long time
, When she opened her eyes. Mrs
Saunders was standing over her.
You're crying" she whispered
why. Mrs. Saundcrs?" And
then she remembered. 'Oh
for Holly. My Holly. Holly's dead
isn't he?"
The stesyardess wiped her eyes.
You pore lamb" she said. "Yo,
pore little lamb. But it's not TO
Mr.. Hart / was crying. 1t was fo
yourself. You'll be that lonely. 20.
POOR thing. Your husband-Got
have mercy on his soul - has NJ
call for tears. He's where there
no weeping nor sorrow"
Ashtorcth's voice was very weak
DO you say your prayers
Mrs. Saunders?"
II do that. God love you"
Ashtoreth slipped from the be,
to her knees.
"Oh. Holly" she prayed aloud
''if you can hear me where you are
you'll know that I'm not bad CIR,
And you'll know l love you. Holly
Not the way you wanted me to
But I couldn't help that. dear. In
selfish. and vain, and horrid.
But. oh Holly . Holly. dear 80.
God have mercy on you both.
said Mrs. Saunders, and lifted he
up. and put her in bed
In a little while the doctor came
and gave her a sedative, and toi'
her that Hollis had died in his sleer
and had not suffered.
After that she slept herself. Al
incredible, dreamless sleep. tina
lasted all through the night. TIL
sun was shining again when sh
awoke. Presently Mrs. Sander
came in. with several envelopes i
her hand.
Gables" she said. THE wireless
reports of Mr.. Harris death reache
| Paris and the States last night
Ashtorcth took them listlesslS
They were from friends Of her huS
| bands. And. though the name
| were entirely unfamiliar. the mes
saGes made her cry.
| Everybody loved him." -
thought nliserably, but me. An
was the only ono whose love h
wanted"
| Maizie had sent a radio. An
there was one signed aunt Meg
Even Sadie had sent her synpath,
LOVE AND KISSES FRO.
YOUR FRIEND SADIE"
IT happened that Monty's was :
the bottors Of the pile.
"MY HEART GOES OFT r
ToOR LITTLE BEAUTIFUL or
CH1D. HOLLIS LOVED NO
ENOUGH TO DIE But 7 Low
NOE' ENOUGH TO LIVE FoI
EVER. / AM COMING TO SAY