The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-07-19
THE PASSING OF THE PRINCESS
LRY MARclA puNcAN gPIERs.l ]


maternity ward to private room.
Some one had been in the Office
talking to the superintendent that
morning, and the new arrange
ment was the result of the CONVEX
sation. She lay very white and
still on the stretcher and asked no
questions. The ebb of her life had
been long, and it could not be ex-
pected that high tide would return
at once. The baby walled feebly
in the nurses arms. The woman
opened her eyes and, looking to-
ward it, smiled, then YEARLY closed
them again. When Gordon Phelps
went into the superintendent
Office the next morning to make
inquiries, they told him that the
baby was dead. Nobody knew why,
exactly. Perhaps the little soul
had not taken a strong enough
grip upon its new tenement. The
matron, who knew life, said that
it was better SO. But the mother
was deaf to philosophy and un-
reasonable, as mothers frequently
are in such cases, and dug her
slender fingers rebelliously into
the pillows, and moaned within
her heart the moan being the
keener for the lack of utterance.
1t was then that Phelps asked to
be allowed to see her.
An hour later he emerged from
the hospital and with rapid step
turned into Prairie Avenue. AS
cending the steps of one of the
handsomest residences in that
street, he rang the bell and in
quired of the portly butler for
Mrs. Whiting. Fortunately, that
lady was at home. She came
down to the drawingroom almost
Immediately. Her trim walking
suit set off to perfection her little
figure, and the iaunty little toque,
holding in restraint the rebellious
masses of her bright hair, was adj
mirably chosen. Her face glowed
with smiles as she held out her
hand to Phelps.
'What is it this time? A new
girl to chaperone, coaching par
ty to one of the country clubs,
or some delightful Bohemian
scheme2"
Phelps shook his head gravely.
sit is none of those, Mrs. Jack. |
have come to ask favor. If you
are not needing it for this after
noon, will you please lend me one
of your carriagesl 1t is rather an
unusual request; isn't it?"
She laughed but she did not
him.
He continued; ''And may it
be the one done in light fawn,
pleaseG The one with the crest
embroidered with gold. That
carriage is fit for princess"
''Oh, a princess, this time, is
itp she asked gaily. sOf course
you may have the carriage, but
am ! not to be presented at courtW
Phelps smiled slightly and shook |
his head. 81 am afraid not" he
said. ''This is only a little bud ola
princess, who will never attain the
full blown state nor hold court.
Circumstances have acted as
and taken away the
crown. / see that you are dressed
10 90 out. won't detain you any
onger. / thank you very much,
Mrs. Jack, for the loan of the
carriage"
He rose to go. She rose also,
md, coming quickly to his side,
aid OBTAINING hand on his arm.
Her straight dark brows were
lrawn together slightly, as though
n perplexity, and the smile had
rome from her lips.
"You are more than welcome"
he said quickly. SIS there moth
ng else | might do for the prin-
essg"
Phelps steadied himself against
he table and looked intently into
he face of the woman before him. h
Jould this be Mrs. Jack Whit
ng, the frivolous young married I
'elle Of the season, the gayest, the ,
brightest, most fun loving of all
he women he knewl He had al ,
Ways given her credit for being j
,ood hearted, but the tender tone {
n her voice was an inspected
anal;tv Hnr fnna etand HE .