Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-09

uDeIhlc uIuLcsb, ditOWlub VII " stuy.
''If you go across the street, there's
!, nice little hotel there. Tell the
j, clerk sent you. and go to he'd. Miss
Mana will call You II there's any
change, or II she's delivered. The bat
tie 10 ours. now
Lillian knew that II WAS as hard for
Loring as it WAS for her to accept this
dismissal and leave VIII behind. Will
was SO futile He would have left
her In that other dreadful place.
In silence they crossed the street,
registered at the hotel. and were as
signed room. They moved about In
silent misery. looking out of the win
dows at the walls OF the hospital.
did you know VIII lost his job?"
Loring hesitated. YES" he said
ut last II knew It."
But why"
II didn't know how Ernestine would
take 1t. II hutted In. thought she
would let us know II she needed us"
"You know how proud she is"
lOllIk uiONCu tIbliSf5iys Nitith
I'll 20 back to the hospital. You stay
here. No need for both OF u.s. to go.
I'll call you II you're needed
Weary and confused. Lillian took
of her clothes, bathed In the tiny bath
room and lay down across the bed.
partly dressed again. Her whole
thought was strained at first toward
the hospital and the possible issue OF
Ernestine's illness. Then her thoughts
turned and turned. from Loring to
Ernestine, to VIII. to mamma and
papa and Ernestine and back to man.
ma again. Mamma had allowed papa
and Lering TO dictate to her about
Wills father. That had really sep
arated Ernestine from them long ago.
They had offered Ernestine their love
and help only at the price OF betrayal
Of her marriage. Tears came to Lii
Ian, and eventually. tired and sad, she
fell asleep.
Daylight streaming over her bed
Weakened her. She rose. dressed, went
across to the hospital and asked for
WILL wondering as she did so whether
or not she should have asked for
Loring.
Will came 10 her In the reception
room, looking at her from dull heavy
eyes. silent, waiting.
How is Ernestine. WHIP" she asked
him softly.
"She Is still very ill., he answered.
and added as an afterthought: 1.-The
baby is a girl"
He was exhausted, unshaved, sad
and awry. AS he stood there looking
vaguely about him he seemed to Lii
lian the most forlorn and helpless hui
man being she had ever seen. She
pitied him, but he vexed her.
"Oh, WILL" she said impulsively,
you shouldn't have allowed Ernestine
to have this other baby-so soon
when you weren't prepared. You
should have protected her. He avert
ed his face, but she saw his flush.
i've got to go back upstairs he
said and added, as he turned to the
door. "Loring has already lectured me
on birth control. He's left the hos
pital. You must have missed him"
Lillian was ashamed. She had moi
intended to say such a thing. 1t was
none of their business, really. At the
hotel she stopped at the desk for the
key. but Lnring had it. She went ar
in the quiet elevator. When she opened
the unlocked door OF their room and
went In, Loring was lying back In 8
chair by the open window, his hat OF
the floor beside him. his collar and til
lying upon it He was staring straight
before him, and when Lillian came Il
his side he looked up at her with s
piteous expression.
For a moment, standing there,
dart OF such pain went through Lii
liam that she cried out. This wa!
what Ernestine could do to Lorng
She knew. with gripping pang o
conviction, that nothing that coult
such anguish-such rout. This wal
what Will meant when he said that h
knew what was the matter with Lor
ing She fell on her knees besid
him, sobbing, and laid her face upoI
his knee. His hand fell on her shout
ders. He mistook her fear and pain
shell beeall right, Lillian" he whis
pered. God grant she will The doc
tor said that day or two will tell
It's uremic poisoning"
He sat forward in his chair, and hi
clenched hand fell on one knee, Will
the other arm held her convulsvely.
THANK God you weren't there
Thank God you will never know HOY
she suffered. Will tainted once. an
the nurse brought me into the room
They were fighting death like phys
cal foe. I helped to hold her" H
gave a stifled cry and tore the but
tons from his shirt as he expande
his lungs against the crushing fea
that lay upon him.
"Oh, Lillian" he cried to his Wifi
II don't see how she can live-afte
last night The doctor thinks she vii
and so does Doctor Grey. He's wit
her now. But | don't see how sh
can survive that struggle But on
thing is settled for us. for ever" II