The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-26
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By MAUD MAYNE

though India had been the world beyond
Warren, of whom she had thought during
long night watches beside the bed Of Baby
Helen-Warren, the big, the brave, who
had been her one ideal from those gay
days Of her girlhood to the somber gray
now.
Had Warren forgotten, she wondered?
Her quick step. faltered at the thought.
And even If he remembered that rose
maiden whom he loved, could he care now
for the woman bereft Of those youthful
charms?
Its no use. A nervous wreck of her
former self, with a mind as dull as her
sallow face-what chance has she?'' .
And she slept against a tear-Wet pillow
that night.
She saw him next day from a safe re-
treat behind tangle of vines, and she
wondered how ten years could have
changed a man so little. He was playing
tennis with a white-gowned girl whose
laugh rang gayly and whose step was
light. His own was buoyant Could the
pretty, dimpled doll in that farther court
half appreciate the heaven it was to be
young and merry, all grace and piauant
curves, and to fit like a white moth in
the sunshine under the alert eye of a man
among men such as he? Miss Lands
stood like one entranced until lost ball
brought the laughing players in her direc-
ton. Then she beat retreat, all breath
less.
1t was hours later as she sat on
shelving rock watching. the cool sparkIes
on the lake that she heard his voice be-
hind her. Il have looked for; you every
where he said as quietly. as though
he had left her yesterday. ~ -,
She looked up and found no word to say
to him. only she felt with amazement the
unaccustomed color rushing, in swift tide
to her cheek. =. Il
They were earnest, tender eyes that
met her own. They tell me Jack is
married" he said with his old directness
as he pushed aside her book and sat
down. Are you-can you-does he man
age y
ITO get along without me? Oh, yes.
so easily! 1t was all myIhuge vanity that
made me think myself Indispensable 10
Jack"
But the little one, Jacks baby. she
needed you?"
''She really did There was no one
else
Miss Lands spoke with eagerness, as
though she would extenuate crime. 1T
is a comfort to me to think that it was
not useless sacrifice. She was SO frail
a mite! 1t was a constant struggle.
month in, month out, for her life. I lived
one idea for ten WARS, :Warren-the idea
of saving Helen and making her strong
ike OLneT. happier CnllQren. no" ma
tural it seemed to pour out hef heart with
out reserve to this sympathetic comrads
of the old days!
And you succeeded" he asked, in
tent and grave.
''She is very we'll and very happy-or
will be when she forgets to be homesic'i
for me. Jacks wife is young and fas-
cinatingly pretty. Helen will grow to
adore her as Jack does.'' There was a
break in her voice, and she knew that
Warren knew the stab Of jealousy that
cut through her like a physical pain.
But he only said and there was bliss
full reinsurance in his tone of quiet con-
viction: No one who has loved you
could ever forget you for the most fas-
cinatingly pretty girl that ever lived.
But now that she has relieved you Of
those responsibilities. isn't there room for
another idea, dear? Are you ready to go
into another bondage, to give strength
and happiness to a great fellow as de-
pe;sfent upon you in a sense as Baby
Helen was?"
She looked at him. incredulous that he
could ask it He was so debonair, so
young. SO handsome! And She-'l m an
old woman, Warren, and not even
bright one. I've run in one rut for years."
= He wanted desperately to kiss the w1st-
full brown eyes, the plaintiNe curves OF
the sweet mouth. but he held his rampant
desires in check and said only: You're
the same sweet, capable girl you were
ten years ago, only bit tired. that's all.
You were always a success, Emily, in
whatever you undertook. You've done for
Baby Helen what all the doctors couldn't.
and as to your tottering antiquity, and
she heard his rich laugh ring out, you
are three years my Junior child. Don't
make me feel like a musty volume on a.
crumbling shelf. I'm a very young fell
low" whimsically, land you"-He turned
impulsively and plucked a handful OF
fragrant pink blossoms that a saucy
breeze had Haunted near his cheek. You
are my lost Byzantine. Do you see what
this is, sweetheart?' 'a
And as he drew her close and tucked
TIE pink eglantine into her hair Miss
Lands knew that at 80 one can Be SUI
premely happy and absurdly young.