The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-12-06

last of his evening. round Of calls, AM
4 started toward his Office.
There was a harassed look upon hlt
4 face, usually so serenely handsome
4 and In his heart there was that long
/ ing for a conidant which sometimes
4 takes possession OF wifeless men. Ac'
. eordingly, as h~eSneared the residence
of Hon. T. B. Paine, a block nearer
, town, his steps grew slower and he
, stopped.
Upon such occasions he had found
! the society OF Honora Paine very
soothing. Her reposeful manner, her
we'll chosen words. her v e voice,
were balm to his rufied spirits. worn
. cut In sympathy for others ailments,
irritated by the many vexations of Z
physicians life. 4
, He had never honestly told him
self that he intended to marry her, but
the thought was in his mind, still un-
formed, perhaps, and as for Honora,
the matter was settled with her, and
when a thing went so far as that, 1t
very SelQOm
She came forward to meet him this
evening in her slow, dignifed way,
preserving the perfect sweep of her
gown, which in its lilac silk and
black velvet displayed her big blonde
beauty to perfection, showing as
much enthusiasm as she ever allowed
herself.
She wound up her warm welcome
by saying:
we we're afraid that you had for.
saken US; your visits have been SO
scarce Of late"
Honora's cousin, Ruth Joslin, who
was politely included in the plural
pronoun, was seated reading near the
crate, which the chill evening of
early spring made comfortable. She
returned his ~salutation and went back
to her reading.
You look tired" said Honora, an
exquisite note Of concern in her
voice; 4 fear you are working too
hard and, trying to carry too many bur.
dens at once"
Then, with tender interest, she be-
gan to inquire after certain Of his pa
tients.
The most urgent need I have is in
the case of Mrs. Martin" said he;
they live In the next block, and are
old acquaintance of mine. Mrs. Mar
tin is suffering from nervous prostra-
ton, and the invalid and three chill.
dren are entirely without care. Being
strangers here, they have no neigh.
bors to call upon, and | cannot hope
for very much success until help can
be procured"
Before Honora could frame a con.
soling reply. to this confidence, Ruth,
who bati been listening earnestly,
spoke to her:
"Honora, let us send them Jane.
We can do her work for a while.
Honorn turned a voice and face OF
gentle reproach on her cousin.
MY dear Ruth, how unneighborly
1t would seem, even If Jane could
leave her duties, which you know is
impossible. We must not forget our
duty to strangers. l will 60 myself
tomorrow"
THANK you, Miss Paine" said the
young man, gratefully; you will be
showing the truest kindness in going.
And he mentally compared the gen
crosby Of the two girls, much to
Ruth'R d~tsadyantape
The next morning DR.. Wilmot en-
tered the gate Of the Martin resi-.
dence. In the front yard the fye.year.
old twin boys we're holding a circus,
supplying the lack Of wild beasts with
their own lungs
At the door he was let in by ten.
years1ld Mafy, who wore q general
iintidy, discouraged look, The dining
room was open. showing q dusty car.
pot. scattered over with oaaes In the
shape Of ashes, bits OF coal and
crumbs.
When be entered the sick room,
there sat, by the bed, H0nora Paine.
In an irrcproachable street gown and
bonnet, carrying on q formal CONVEX
sation.
Honora was sweetly sympathetic
during the call, and watched the doc.
tor approvingly ns he drew the cur
tains and tried to make Mrs. Martin
comfortable.
That evening he called again, hope
lessly, to BIO sure. He noticed that the
porch and walks were tidiIy swept,
and the mornings litter absent from
thO front yard.
In answer to his ring q trinity at
tired figure opened the door, in whom
he recognized Ruth Josltn.
A pinafore was drawn snugly over
her street dress, her dark-lashed blue
eyes almost black with excitement
and exercise. her bronze-brown hair
tossed aufhly over her forehead. Rails
Ing q warning hand. she said:
4 do not think you should go up
Just yet, DR.. Wilmot; | left Mrs. Mar
tin sleeping quietly only q short time
ago. Tea Is ready, and Mr.. Martin
wishes to know II you vii not come
into the dining Q and share III"
And she opened the door, showing,
instead Of the cherries. untidy room
Of the morning. Z cory place, with
set table glowing attractively !,
under the yellowshaded lamp.
MI. Martin. looking several years ,
younger than 10 the morning, was I,
seated ct the head Of the table: next ,
him. the twins. who with their clean I
faces. collars and c~ravats; looked
quite angelic. /,
When y. wIlm0t descended the !
stairs, having lat III already much !
Improved patient with her husband. I
~ met Ruth III The hail. .