Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18
0NIy dear sir

III SptITy Hlteu HIlSeE ups toScthe-
with careful precision before he continued.
My dear sir. it is one of the strange
cases. but it does not stand alone i'll the
records. 1 have known of Others few
quite parallel. There is only the one treat
ment.''
And that?" interrupted the little man
opposite. haggard with anxiety.
rs the one | have prescribed all along.
There is no change"
The little man. Marshall Graham, got OH
10 his feet and began to pace the floor with
rervous little runs. He plunged his hands
in mis- pockets to hide their trembling.
We must humor her still, doctor?" he
asked. You mean that?'
You must humor her STILL mean that.
j mean just that. Humor her-humor her
beIeve what she believes-if you can. If
you can't. make believe. l tell you
Inc htted hnger tips parted and the
shapely white hands came down resound-
ingly on the learned doctors knee.
Il tel you, Graham. you've got to do it
II you'd save her It's the only way in a
case like hers. and. good Lord man.
haven't L been studying these cases forty
years? / tell you-I-tell-you-''
one long forcfinger timed the words on
the other palm. The doctors face was
solemn
She-rnust-be-humored Any rude Shock
-sny forced awakening-wiu be her death
-Jr something worse. She must awaken
herself She must come out of her deluSion
by herself, of herself-naturally and quiet
ly."
''B-b-ut-" the little mans lips stammer-
cd helplessly- The rest of his question
would not ask itself. but the doctor read 1t
In his anxious face. He got up and forced
the little man into chair gently. Then
stood over him with his big square bulk
and gave him comfort
Man alive he said, ARE you going daft.
100! w III she come out of itg-thats what
y-farry 49,
i believe she will. I-believe-she-will
believe there will be quiet, natural walk
ing up of her own accord-when the time
comes But you've got TO wait for it.
1ouve got to watch over her constantly
and see to 1t that no lubbering idiot breaks
the spell of her dream for her. 1 told You
what that would mean You've got to wait
and the Lord give you patence!
1T Is terrible-the waiting Marshall
Graham said slowly.
1T is terrible to see her so happy doc
tor"
Good Lord. man. wouldn't it be worse to
Sc her miserabie?''
In one way-in one way groaned the
stricken little man.
The doctor settled back into his pivot
chair and adjusted his finger tips once more
precisely.
It's an unusual case-an unusual case
NY dear sir" he said in his stilted PROBES
Sional tone. The shock was seVere-it
is seldom one ioses four children at a slagIe
blow. And then her terrible illness that fol-
lOwed-it sapped her constitution and put
"a tremendous hindrance or natures meth
cd of cure II is only what you would eX-
pect. that the cure is delayed immensely
immensely. By the way, Graham, are the
servants all trustworthy, eh?'
He wheeled about and put the question
abruptly. Marshall Graham awoke from
his deep preoccupdtion.
"PerfectlS-evcry one of EN-. doctor" he
said brisklr. II can trust them down to
the last iota They are all devotedIy at
I.ghe1 a NariOrit-tn M
Good That's of the utmost Importance.
HIrIor her. do theyl Fail In with all her
vagaries about the children
'An. Poor things, it's terrible for them.
too They were all SO fond of the-the-
little ones
rs the chi!dren's nurse still with your"
Roxy? oh. yes-Mrs. Graham will not
think Of letting her go. She is waiting for
them to come home"
TIE little mans voice broke pitifully.
He caught up his hat and hurried toward
the door.
Coed morning. doctor" he said over his
shoulder. He shut the door behind him
and his heavy steps sounded down the long
hall But DIR Sperry was at the outer door
q second later and called him back. The
big white right hand was held out to him,
ard when il got the little nervous, tense
one in its grasp, how 1t gripped,
Good day, Graham, was all the doctor
said. but the little mans heart was lighter
In proportion to the tingling of his hand,
and he went away home with footsteps
that rang less heavily on the stone pave
nlants.
net him al the door. She was holding out
both hands in welcome.
''Oh. Marshall. have you come at last?'
she cried; and here I've been waiting and
waiting, You bad boy, to stay long,"
She drew him into the hall and blew the
fecks CT snow from his shoulders, and pat
ted his face gently. He saw at once the
look of delightful secrecy on her face. and
colo mir .l1f for hat he Ina ha
coming
Marjorie Graham was tall-half a head
above him-and delicately frail. The rings
of soft hair lying her brow were almost
white. but she was very far from old. Her
whole aspect was happily eXpectant.
stranger looking at her sweet, pleased face
world have told himself she must be
IcCtlng some beautiful happening-dnd the
stranger would have been right. Marjorie
Graham was expecting her four little dead
cIIlGr,n to come home in a few days. She
MS getting ready for them Only the rest
less. Wistful eyes betrayed any mental dis
ort!e-. and even in them ii was hardly APP
parent to ordinary notice.
I've got n secret TO tell you-and some
thing / want TO do" the sweet voice cried
Eayly ia his ear.
You didn't know-you funny. absent
minded boy not to!-that next Saturdays
Christmas. Christmas do YOU hear Mar
shall Graham? To think | had to tell you,
And the children coming just in time,
Those propie-where they are, you know
the puzzled look IN her eyeS-"muSt have
planned Just right. They must have re-
remberei Christmas. If you didn't for
gGtful boy. I'm thankful-why. Mar
shall Graham. what kind of a Christmas
would IT be without the children, And
that makes think of the rest of it,
That's the secret. and now what / want
you to do is-can't you guess?'
She tilted her head and looked at him
archly- lie made brave attempt at smil-
ing and shook his head.
Cant do it, ma'am. I'm not as good
q gt:esser as / am forgotten"
Well. then. take your wife out in the
sleigh to choose Christmas treet" she
cried. That's what. You took me last
year and the year beforehand beforehand
before. Oh, most back TO the food, Did
you think you were going to get off this
year? Not bit of II. sir, Well 20 right
after lunch-way out in the country YOU
know. I'm going to be very particular to
get fine this time"
She chatted on too busily to notice the
look Of pain on the little mans face When
she glanced at it, it was smiling again
bTavely.
They went right after lunch The sun
was shining and smart little wind sent
furry of light snow into their faces and
Marjorie laughed at il. The cutter sped
along out of the city. into lovely snow