Show SHARE e OF GOSSI iii a t t 4 t t n By to Pago Paga Nolson n A AFTER FTER 18 15 years ear Emily Stark was going to leave her hue bus band bands She sat alone in her bedroom waiting for him to come home Tonight she the would tell teU him Tonight Tonight Tonight To To- night everything would be settled and tomorrow she ehe would go off oIT with Chester Moore Idly she thought of Chester He lie was pleasant pleas pleas- ant and tall and genial And rich Otherwise there was nothing par par- Impressive about him He lie lacked the fire and drive of ot John her ber husband Vindictively she thought how sick to death she he was of men of ot Johns John's type Of Ot John He lic had been too occupied with his work with building up his hi business Suddenly her mind leaped to Haidee Haldee Hal Hal- dee Pearson Curious Curious' why she should think of Haidee Then a voice way down deep In her heart old her that Haidee was wRIthe the cause the real cause of her and John separating If It she hadn't seen them tog together ther that night at the Flamingo Club if she he had bad heard no whispered gossip she and John would have kept on drifting drifting drifting-drifting drifting until he made the e first move that would break things thing off That was why she was wa going to tell him tonight She couldn't stand tand having him b bethe be bethe the first to broach the subject I The telephone on her bedside table table ta ta- ble shrilly Interrupted her thoughts This is the city hospital Mrs Stark Your son Robert has been In an accident You'd better get down here as quickly as you can Emily's heart stopped beating then began again pounding wildly terror racing through her blood Is he is he-is Is he he- he she sho couldn't finish the sentence The voice came back cool and reassuring re reo assuring Theres no need for Immediate immediate Im im- im mediate worry Mrs Stark Hes He's asking for you and his father Oh Ohl Ohi She dropped the tho phone whirled whirled stopped John was standing stand ing in the tho doorway She stared at him wildly What is it What's happened He took hold of her shoulders and shook her Has lIas something happened happened hap hap- to Robert Yes Hes He's had an accident Hes He's at the City Hospital Without a word he turned and went out She caught up a wrap and followed him downstairs The cars car's out front he told her He had his hat and coat on was holding the door John got behind the wheel The machine leaped down the drive He drove fast but not recklessly Ills IDs face was a cold inscrutable profile Emily wanted to talk tally wanted to say something John is It our out fault We haven't been ver very good parents Oh Ob John he mustn't diet dietHe lie He wont won't die said John We wont won't let him die She felt closer doser to him then than she sho had in years A nurse admitted them to the hospital room Robert nobert was conscious con cons waiting His Ills handsome boy boys ish face lighted at sight of ot them Dad Mother I Gee I thought you'd oud never come Tears came into the boys boy's eyes I Im I'm Im I'm all aU right At first I was glad It happened I thought well If I died then things wouldn't matter any more more lIe He looked from one to the other of ot them But Dut now now its its it's different Youre You're together here here her together Im I'm all aU right now Emily tried hard to swallow the lump that came into her throat and So she sh put her head down on the tho pillow beside her sons son's and cried After a while she stood up John was waiting for her at the Ule door A doctor entered the room Is he be will will everything be all aU right doctor doctor doc doe tor The doctor went over to the the bed and looked at Robert and then came back to the two by the door Hell Hen be bo all aU right right now For we were worried He didn't seem leem to want to recover Outside John and Emily walked slowly down the corridor Neither spoke nor looked at the other A Athe At Atthe Atthe the end of the corridor was conservatory It was empty and they entered Emily I guess we haven't been good parents I guess things have been happening that we never dreamed about Yes Emily said Yes John I I-I I I feel so ashamed and guilty He took her hand and held i It awkwardly Therel There Now theres there's no need to blame yourself It was wasas wasas wasas as much me I I-I I I guess Im I'm to blame all around John Johns I Youre You're no more to blame than I. I Even if you and Haidee Pearson Pearson- She broke off oa biting her lip regretting the impulse that had made her mention Haldee's name Johns John's eyebrows went up For a moment the lines Unes about his mouth hardened Then he smiled A man has his pride too you know Haidee Haldee Hat Hal dee was the best I could do on such short notice Emily looked up quickly You mean mean- He lIe nodded I couldn't see you getting all aU the gossip I figured I deserved a little tittle |