New Britain herald., 1929-07-16

keep you another day You never heard anything so impudent Tn your life, Jack" she rushed on, as if she had seen Morgan not longer ago than the day before.
 Nan gasped her amazement, then realized that the tall body of her husband formed an effectual screen between herself and the woman who had been his wife. Iris had not seen her-yet.
 Leave the room, Estelle." Iris commanded imperiously. Then her voice changed, became Grch, aughter-ripple2: Dear Jack! Are you too stunned 10 speak? It's Iris, darling, come home again! And there's my little lover! You haven't forgotten Mother. have you, sweet heart? Naughty mother, but she didn't mean to be gone so long - Oh, Why - it's Nan Carroll, isn't it?"
 Arrested in the act Of stretching out one lovely hand to her former husband and the other to her son. Iris Morgan stared blankly at the girl whose presence there was apparent ly the last thing she had dreamed of. Blue-green eyes grew wider and wider, then suddenly narrowed until the thick bronze lashes almost touched. Dropping her hands, which had not yet touched either husband or son, Iris tall, slim body straight ened, stffened.
 '1--see," she said slowly, icily. No wonder Estelle tried to keep me out of my own house. Apparent ly it's high time I came home. So this is what the saintly Sir Gala had has come to-"
 Mans head jerked up. Her brown eyes blazed. Involuntarily she took step forward, but Nor gan halted her and commanded her to silence with one imperative ges- ture. His the task to explain. :. Curtis Was shrinking against the back of his chair, an utterly be- wildered and frightened pawn in a drama whose significance he could not even faintly grasp.
 Leave the loom, Curtis" Nor gan commanded sharply.
 The child covered as if he had been struck. Don't wanna go." he whined. T wanna see my mother. Cant I stay, Nan? Cant I?"
 "Of course he shall stay with his mother,' Iris almost screamed. Poor little lover! God knows what they've done 10 you, but Mothers home now" She was about to drop 10 her knees beside the boys chair when again Morgans voice rang out.
 "Leave the room Curtis. Go on to school"
 Without word Nan stepped for ward. I'll go upstairs with you. Curtis" she said with curious steadinoss.
 Stay here, Nam" her husband commanded starnly, but the girl did not betray by word or glance that she had heard. The child seized her hand, scrambled out of his char and, looking up at her with fearful, bewildered black eyes. ac- companied her docilely out of the room.
 They did not speak until they were on the stairs. Suddenly the boy flung both arms about the girls small body and raised frightened, lmploring eyes to her pale, set face.
 "Whassa matter, Nan? Aren't you and Father glad to see my ovu mother? -'-.t you, Nan? Fathers mad at he and l didn't do any thing" he sobbed.
 Hes not angry with you, Cur hs. Nan said in d cold, steady voice. Hes just-surprsed to see your mother Come! We must hurry or you'n be late for school ''
 You don't look sparkly any more Curtis mourned, tears sIfp- ping down his cheeks. All those lectric lights have gone out insid,, you, Nan. Are you mad, Nan? Arc you?"
 Afterwards. Nan could never re- member what she said or did dur Ing those few ghastly minutes after IT'S arrival. She retained only a dlm picture of herself moving as if Tn a nightmare. giving strange, jn- coherent answers to a terror stricken child who had no idoa why he should be terrified. She re- membered one question and the an- sWer:
 Will my other mother let me keep Cop Nan? Will she? She don't like dogs. She says they eat loo much and scratch up the furni- turc, Will I have to sell Cop? Will I, Nan?"
 No. You shall keep Cop. Cur lis, she remembered answering, with grim determination.
 At last the boy was gone almost happy again because of that prom lse, but with a lingering backward glance toward the closed dining room door. Did he love Iris. too? Nan asked herself, and did not even realize that she had added that betraying too"
 Estelle found her standing on the last step of the stairs-a stiff. Whitehead, blind-eyed little thing.
 Please, ma'am," Estelle whis- p@red coming close enough 10 touch Mans loosely claspcd, cold hands The mister sent me 10 find yon He wants you in-thcro." and she jarkcd her head toward the din- ing room. Listen, ma'am: don't you let her get away with nothing, stand up for your rights, Miss Nan. our" his wife now. and she ain't got 10 more right in this house than - than a cockrOach, Don't Eou t.l.a ,,.,,J ,-Ff-.