The Washington times., 1905-10-15
PART III-CHAPTER VIII.


On the same day there was a stir in
the rooms above the curio shop-the |
vague. restless stir that hangs about |
grave illness like a premature pail |
From the moment of Annals coming |
from his first excited recognition of
her as his wife-Solny had failed per- |
ceptibly. His life had for years been
the life of a spent taper. needing no
more than a gust OF rough wind to ex-
tinguish its light; and her coming had,
In all unconsciousness. proved to be that
wind. When the vigor of existence is
at its ebb. a shock of joy is often as
relentlessly fatal as a shock of sorrow;
and on the morning when STROBE and
Mrs. Maxtead confronted their diff
cultics in Palace court. the steady de-
cline that for days had been gaining
ground made its first uncovered attack.
Before II o'clock Solny tainted twice.
The DOCTOR hurriedly sent for. ex-
amined him with unusual minuteness,
gave his directions laconically, and de-
parted, promising to look in again in
two hours time. He was back in Felt
street in an hour and a half.
The patient was sleeping. but his
breathing was alarmingly weak. For the
first time the doctor became personal;
he looked at Anna in a new way.
You must take care of yourself" he
said. I'VE can't have you breaking
DOWN
She glanced up from her place by her
fathers pillow. II sha'n't break down.,
she said.
He continued to look at her with q
shrewdness that brought Penrhyn to
her mind.
II wish you'd have a nurse
She shook her head.
1T would be wiser, you know" He
came round to her side. 81 don't want
TO frighten you
But it's my duty to say-to prepare
you He stopped. He was young,
he wanted intensely TO be kind: but
a practice in the southeast does not
encourage tact.
Annals eyes dilated. ',Oh no." she
said lit can't be, il couldn't be-so
soon.'
He patted her shoulder awkwardly
Come" he said, "be pluckyi He's
old-life isn't worth much to US when
we come to that He indicated the
bed.
Solny's figure showed up through the
bed clothes like an effigy on a tomb:
his face, SO prematurely worn. was the
hollows showed under the eyes.
Anna looked; then looked away. II
understand what you mean,'' she said.
The doctor was disconnected; he was
unused to patients who took such news
in frozen way. He touched her shoul-
der again.
You have done everything for him
that must be a consolation
She said nothing.
He picked up his hat and moved to
the door. III look in again once
perhaps twice-before night There's
nothing 10 be done beyond what I've
said
The girl nodded
And take care of yourself. Remem-
Der It's kinder to him-he may want
you later on.
I'll remember"
do. Good-day,"
"Good-day.'
He went out, closed the door and
passed down stairs
Anna stayed immovable, her hand on
her fathers, her eyes fixed rigidly on
the opposite wall.
In the shop the doctor paused by the
desk
Hes falling fast he said
Johann looked up In alarm.
And 1 want you to look to the
girl It's nothing to me. but 1 can't
quite. place that GIRL and 1 think she
wants seeing to. She'll be my next
patient IL we don't look out We are all
animals. you know, and we all need
our environment It's very plain that
she's out of hers
Johann paled, partly understanding.
What am / TO dor he said.
The doctor looked at him Rouse
her In some way" he said. make her
cry, for choice. A woman's generally
safe If you can make her cry 1 don't
like her eyes-they're too dry and too
expectant for her age. How old is she?
Twenty-two7'
Twenty four"
Il see. We'll, III drop in again. Take
the old man quietly: he'll give no trou-
BILE. Good-dayn
"Good-day, siri"
Johann in his turn was left alone
PART ITI-CHApTEp w