New Britain herald., 1929-07-19
RIVAL! L!WIVES
 e 1920 Av NE4 SERN1CE ING,
@ 1929 # NEz SERVICE INC.

from Little Pat. Sweet of them, dear of them to spend their money on her. But Nan felt no uplifting of the heart. What would it avail her if she gained the love of the whole world and lost that of the
 She had resolutely ignored the package which she knew contained his gift to her. She did not have the courage to look at the tag. If it said merely. For Nan from John" she could not bear if. Better uncertainty than that.
 Am l losing my nerve com- pletely?" Nan whipped up anger and disgust against herself. Look at it. you idiot, Better 10 know the worst than to kid yourself
 With a quick. resolute jerk she tore the package from branch Of the gally decked tree, wounding it, so that the pungent odor fits tears filled her nostrjls. She watched the pine needles sift 10 the flood, the nforced her eyes 10 read the card.
 on" she cried. The card was inscribed in the handwriting she knew and loved so well; For my dear wife. from John.'
 With gentle fingers, which must have soothed the hurt feelings of the little fir tree, Nan retied the parcel still unopened. She and John would open their gifts to- gether when he came back. Christ mas was heavenly time, after all. Gathering Curtis gifts into her arms. Nan ran from the room, up the stairs. Just before reaching the child's door, her clear. un- trained but true voice lifted in joy ous song:
 Tt came upon the midnight
 clear,
 That glorious song of old"
 As she opened the door, still caroling softly, an insistent query pushed it's way through her eXulta- ton: T wonder how he addressed Iris sift-'For my former wife, from Jack" How she had hated to hear Iris call him Jack, making him small and trivial by the simple de- vice Of using a nickname which was a gross misft, Then shame and contrition flooded Mans heart for the words her lips were singing were:
 Peace on the earth.
 Good will 10 men
 From Heavens All-gracious
 King"
 That's a Christmas carol" Cur tis called weakly from his bed. We learned two Christmas carols 10 sing at school last Friday. Can you sing Little Town of Bethlehem" Nan? Can youo can."
 "Of course l can. But look who am. Santa Claus. And there are some big presents downstairs for you. as soon as you're well enough to play with them," Nan answered
 The next hour was almost pure happiness. heightened, Nan was half-ashamed later to realize, by the casual way in which Curtis in spected and laid aside the exquisite miniature of herself which Iris had sent to her son. In later years he might-undoubted would-treas- 1 ure it, take it with him everywhere, build untrue, poetic legends about the woman whose beauty it imnor- talized: but now he was only a greedy, feverish little boy. tearing open packages 10 find treasure more suited to his tastes. Poor Iris. Nan forced herself to say, but imme- dlately came the strong suspicion that the miniature had been really intended for the father, not the son.
 Wouldn't you like to write a note to your mother at the hospital and thank her for her gift?" Nan suggested. In her new happiness, she could afford to be generous. had an urgent need to be generous to- i ward that other woman, who. it seemed. was to be Vanquished. For my dear wife, her heart sang, over and over.
 "Hunh? At the hospltal?" Curtis repeated. with childish scorn for Mans ignorance. She aint-I mean. isn't at the hospital any more. She went to the Wellington Arms ves- l terday Father and I took her. She's got swell room. Ats a hotel. Why l don't they say Wellington Hotel Nan? Silly, calling a hotel Arms"' ! He lay back upon his pillows look ] Ing suddenly tired and peevish 1 Sing to me, Nan. You sing pretty Before Nan. whose voice was 2 l little husky with unshed tears, could hnish the carol he had asked for the child was asleep. Her hand up- i on his forehead told her that, de- spite the excitement of receiving SC many gifts his temperature was per Iceptibly lower.
 Twice during the long afternoon i Nan was sorely tempted 10 call the office. IL would make her even more l happy 10 he absolutely sure that he was there. working on the Bradley case. But each time she refrained cant trust their husbands out oi those jealous suspicious wives vhc cant trust their husvands out of their sight who resort 10 low tricks 1 10 catch them in lies and deceit@ l At five Dr. Black came. Wher he had completed his examination of the sick child. he drew Nan with him out into the hall As the door closed his jovial grin faded instant. ly. and was replaced by a grave