New Britain herald., 1930-07-03

Alan, on his way now to Berna- dine, despairing Of seeing her alive, felt infinitely grateful for Phillipa. She would help him; she would be T real mother 10 Bobby.
 He always thought something pleasant about Phillipa when Nat allie threatened to obsess his mind. 1t helped him to forget her. But rhillipa was not unfailingly ef- fectiye Even to the door of Bernadine's house Alan thought O. Natalie.
 Oh, why. why, why couldn't she have been as good as she looked? When this was over and Berna- dine was "out there" Natalie, in their house a few streets away could have made everything so differcnt-so bearable.
 He rang the doorbell, with a feeling Of helplossness. Why was it. he wondered, that people al ways expected man to meet these crises with undaunted cour- age? He would have given any thing at that moment to have Natalie at his side.
 Always going back 10 Natalie, He recognized the uniformed wish in his mind as an outcropping of what he called "his damnable weakness" The weakness Of which he was ashamed Why ! couldn't he sustain his digust and contempt for her? Why were his heart and his mind alwaIs engaged in warfare over her? 1 Well, no matter. His heart had lis head to take control of his destiny.
 { His anxiety over Bernadine deepened the moment the door was opened for him. It was not . Ncllie's tear-stained face that he saw. A strange maid told him, in hushed and frightened tones, that he was to go up immediately,
 Halfway ID the stairs he heard i Nellie speaking 10 Bobby, evi- dcntly trying 10 restrain the boy from going 10 his mothers room, Her voice wrung AIan's heart.
 Hush. darlin', hush. Mother can't see you now, Be a good boy, Bobby please"
 BobDy's childish treble raised i1 protest against this interfcr- ence. caused Alan 10 reach hastily for hts handkarchiof
 But I want 10 tell Mummy I've bWldod bridge.' Bobby cried. she wanted me to build her a bridge. and I've buildod it."
 "sheu know, darlin'. Shell know everything you do; when you're a good boy and when you're not"
 Alan went on. but an icy chill had gripped him. He was, thon. too late. The maids nod when h. had whispered in inc hall: "How i: shoe" had meant that Bern1- dine was gone.
 One oc inc nurses who had been ia constant attendance upon Bernadrne of late, opened the door and said in a professionally subdued voice: Come in" Alan looked hastily toward 'ho bed. Dr. Warnall was bent over his patient. Alan stepped to hls side.
 she will not know you," the physician said, straigh,oning np. shes in a coma"
 It seemed to Alan that he stood there in state ot soul-trying in- activity for time unending The hclplcssness of man when he would hold soul from departing mortal clay appalled, him, Beads Of moisture dotted his brow, but his lips were dry as sun-bakeI sand.
 | In reality # was less than half an hour before the doctor looked | ar him, and sad gravely; shes dead"
 Alan stood moment longer, silently wishing God-speed 10 th%; yoyager on her long journey. Then he turned with the steps of an old man and went out.
 Life seemed heavN crushing, q burden. Had there ever been any joy in ii? Would Bobby smile again when his childish mind grasped the sorrowfuI fact that his Mummy" was not there any more?
 Nellie was at the door of the rursarr Bobby had tired him. self into his afternoon nap. long delayed and freed her to 20 10