The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-16

he 3 a capable servant, MfS
Harrowgate commented. Steven
liked him. Are you sure you feel
all right now" she continued, ad-
dressing Ellen.
The girl nodded. IT think I'd
better 90 home now" she said.
She and Larry departed, Ellen
clinging to his arm and assuring
Mrs Harrowgate that her faintness
had disappeared as suddenly as it
had come. They were waiting for
the elevator before Larry had his
chance to speak.
II asked you BEFORE" he said
hesitantly. What did you mean
when you said so he didn't tell
your"
Ellen was resting little against
Larry's arm. Her eyes were raised
to his. She was exduisitely con-
scious of everything about her, of
the green walls, of the shining
brass door of the elevator and the
soft, luxurious carpet.
II didn't mean - anything" she
whispered.
Silently they went through the
entrance way to the street that was
a crystal canyon of ice and snow.
Ellen's gloves were crumpled in her
hands. Nervously she began to
draw them on and felt in the left
glove the crackle of paper. She re-
| membered with a throb of fear how
Fergus had avoided Larry's grasp
to drop the gloves in her lap. Sew
eral times as they rode toward the
apartment she stole glances at him,
thinking he looked pale and tired
and wondering what was in that
left glove held so tightly in her
palm.
There was no opportunity to find
out until after Larry had left her.
The instant the door closed behind
him she turned the glove inside
out. A bit Of paper fell into her
| hand.
Written upon it were the follow
| ing words:
HI'll see you at your home at
| eight O'Clock. Be there"
| The girl dropped the message to
| the floor. stopped, picked 1t up and
which she hurled into the waste
| which she hurled int ohte, waste
basket. Without troubling to re-
move her coat, still adorned with
Larry's violets, she began to walk
up and down the living room. The
| place was bleakN cold and the
| whole apartment filled with brood
ing quiet. When Ellen snapped on
| the lights she saw Molly had left a
note for her on the library table.
Molly and Myra had gone to the
movies.
"If Bert comes for Myra ask him
to wait" Molly had written.
Ellen crossed to the bedroom
| looked inside and observed that
Mike was sound asleep, his arms
| flung youthfully over his head. She
entered to adjust the window and
shut out the freezing air. She
pulled the tumbled bedcovers back
into place, half-hoping that her
young brother would waken. but
Mike only stirred restlessly. She
| brushed his hair back from his
forehead and thought that he
looked rosy and well again. Soon
he would be able to get about with
out the crutches. A hot. wet tear
dropped on the cheek of the Sleep
| ing boy. but he did not waken.
Ellen returned to the living
| room, lighted the gas in the crate
| and. lay down on the divan to stare
at the ceiling.
suddenly IL was september again.
! Steven lay dead in a curtained bed
room Of the lavish Long Island
house. Ellen saw herself In that
Hateful sitting room watching Fer
gus pack her travelling casa pale
6hamed girl, mad with grief and
humiliation, who wanted to escape,
to run away from an impossible
situation. She saw now that she
had allowed her own lack OF cour-
age to persuade her that part OF
her life could be hidden as II Il
had nnever existed. She had been
wrong about that. That part OF
her life was AZ real as any other
part. II lived In her own memory
ana In the memory OF O loathsome,
| suspicfous man who was coming to
| remind her Of Il. Bc was coming
10 remind her that Il might cost
her the most precious thing In life.
The sky outside grew darker and
darker. Snow began to fall invih'
| IDLY In the darkness.
Suddenly Ellen sprang up nisd
| ran downstairs 10 the telephone.
Frantic with restiessnesu. tapping
one foot impatientIy - she waited,