New Britain herald., 1930-10-25

Synopsis: Hallie Ellesmore, beau titul young nurse, falls in love with Saxely Grannock, nicknamed Socks" during q chance meeting oR cliff above Long Island Sound, -~although she is already engaged to Lester Broom, Grannock's younge> half brother. Grannock cannot see her clearly, as he has eye trouble and is soon to undergo an operation which will either restore or ruin his sight. Hence he refuses to let he-' tell her name, but gives her a tiny ivory rose as love token. Un- ' known to Grannock, Hallie be- comes his night nurse during tha treatment, and must notify Dr. Lytton when certain symptoms de yelop. Lester, coming home drunk, holds Hallie captive in another room until past time to call the doctor and Grannock goes blind. Disgraced, Halle breaks with Lester, but he refuses to give her up. Outside the house she meets Grannock by accident, and hear ing her voice he recognizes her as the unknown girl he met on the cliff. She cannot bring herself to disillusion him by revealing her self as the nurse who blinded him, and evades his questions regarding < her name. She pleads with Dr. Lyt- ton to help maintain the delusion, believing it to be for Grannock's own best interest.
 Chapter 9
 LESTER HAS A PREMONITION
 Hallie was right in believing Les ter Broom neither meddlesome nor malicious unless his own security were threatened.
 What she did not realize was 7 that, when she gave her love to hls half-brother instead of him, she stabbed at something dearer to him even than his security-his vanity. He had found himself brought abruptly against the fact that he could not offer her anything less than marriage; and. as if that were not enough, in marrying her he must run the risk of displeasng his half-brother and losing his fortune. {" And then - when he had conceded all that - Hallie asked him to be- lieve that she would not marry him!
 She was crazy. Of course she would marry him. Hard upon which reassurng reflection, came Dr. Lytton with an incoherent ac- count of some misunderstanding or
 Whats 1t all about? 2" murmured Lester. What doesn't poor old Socks understand ?'
 Lytton re-explaned.
 Damn funny" said Lester.
 Tt probably does strike you as humorous" returned Lytton, but to me it seems profoundly tragic and embarrassing"
 T don't follow you. How can Socks possibly have fallen ir love with Miss Ellesmore if he's never seen her? And anyway, if he has, he'll fade out of the picture when he hears she's going 10 marry me-
 Lytton tried again.
 z - need your cooperation, / 'Broon," he said with exemplary self Control Your brother is in diff cult and dangerous nervous condi- ,@tion. He won't rest. He won't let me : prescribe for him. He doesn't, you 7 see, realize his blindness yet. When he does-well, I'm watching fer col , lapse"
 Poor old Socks, Too bad your treatment took the wrong turning, wasn't it?"
 Lytton swallowed hard. T want you to leave your brother in ignorance of his mistahe,' he brought out. Let him think-what he thinks At any rate, for som ? time. I am going soon to see Miss .Ellesmore and sec how the land : lies. In the meantime, I'd like your permission to find out which of the servants here know her as a nurse and to ask them to say nothing if She comes here again as your brother's-friend.'
 - You sound" said Lester star Ing "as though you thought Ha-- Miss Ellcsmore has fallen in love with old Socks."
 T saw them together.'
 The color mounted slowly to Lester's face.
 I'll bet you she was only being pleasant 10 him on my account" he clustered. we need ms consent before we can get married, you know"
 'We'll leave it at this, Broom. I'll see that Miss Ellesmore gets out of Grannoclls life as quickly and quietly as is safe. But no one is to explain her to him-no one until I give the word. Is that clear? Frankly, I fear for his reason if he i; given the truth just now. And don't forget this" he added, as d parting thrust, If his reason is af- fected he won't be left in charge of your affairs. Your mother named others in her will, remember. who were to act if your brother could not"
 T wasn't thinking of putting into Seeks affairs if you say not" pro- tested Lester. Nevertheless, whel the doctor has departed for his in- terview with Hallie, he left in Les