New Britain herald., 1930-11-20
A DREAM l> SHATTERED

David had obtained an offer Of thc superintendcncy Of q small terra cotta plant just outside Seattle pro- vided he arrived in two weeks time.
 We can easily be ready 10 start in a week-easilN' Fanny assured him.
 We can # we stick 10 business, said David. But i you start ac- cepting invitations to farewell par ties youI be here all summer, It's choice between parties and mo-
 "In choose you" answered Fanny happily.
 On the last day David ief, the house at Il promising 10 get his lunch downtown, He was scarce:v out Of sight when Florence kltritch walked in,
 Go and dress yourself' she or dered. I'm gong to take you out to the Country Club for lunchaon.'
 "Oh. Florence. what an angel you are 10 want me, but l cant pos sibly"
 What? LverythinS's packed-'
 T know, hut have 10 go after milk for Shejla, There isn't thing left for her lunch. Anyway, l couldn't leave her
 Mrs. Collins is on h,r nay now to stay with Shcila. might as well confess that 1 hustled around and got up a surprise party for you rh.s morning. Evoryonc's thcre--
 Fanny weakened. All she could find in tae ice box for shellas lunch vas a bowl of canned clam chow der, left from the day before There was no ice, but the chowdcr smelIe1 right enough.
 About 4 o'clock. when Fanny got back to the cottage. she found jt empty Of all but Mrs. Collins. regret full to be the mou-ap.oce Of baj news.
 sheila had suddenly become il around o'clock, she said. TcT,u- natcIy Nr-. Collins had the pres once Of mind to telephone Mrs. Frost, vho had taken Sheila hom with her.
 Shes awful sick said Mrs. Col Iirs. "I never seen a person turn so green"
 Fanny ran the half mile to her IT other-in laws. Doctor Burnett vas there and trained nurse. Sheila, in d dreadful lassjtude. lay ia the center of her grandmother's great four-poster bed. moaning q little but not opening her eyes when Fonny spoke her name.
 Fanny, on her knees beside tha bed, began 70 sob hystericaljv- David led her from the room. Mrs. Frost followed,
 You must pull yourself to- rether." commanded David quietly. ''Remember, you may be needed.
 Fanny" asked Mrs. Frost abruptly, what did you give Sheila 10 eat?"
 Fanny was still tottering on the bcrderland of hyster;a. She honest ly could not remember for a mo- n.ent what Sheila had eaten.
 1T don't l.nor." she faltcred be tpecn sobs, "brcad and milk think"
 Are !ou certain about that?'
 Fanny remembered then about the clam chowdar r. was the chow der that had poisoned She.la.
 Dumb with horror, Fanns crouched in her chair. her head hent over Dayid's hand When David and she were alone she would confess to him the awfulness Of what she had done. David would understand. pot his mother must not know. If his mother found ou' sh. would take Sheila away from Ter. convince David she was nc. worthy to be trusted again with het baby.
 Mrs. Frost was incSorablc-
 Are you certain you gave hel -rcthing but bread and milh?"
 Yes" Fanny half whispered.
 Then how about this?"
 In Mrs. Frost's hand vas q cracked bowl with bits of tell-talt chouder clinsing to it's sides
 Fanny knew then that she ha& alked into the trap her mother-in- law had set for her.
 All during that endless avfu night Fanny orouched at the heaG