Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-17

You always were spolleu W uealh'
"Yes-to DEATH"
stephen"
"Yes!"
"Are you becoming cynical:'
II? Why should ~
You are, Stop it. Mercy on us.
If that is what is going on in certain
house on lower Fifth avenue. facing
the corner of certain streets, It's time
somebody dropped in to-
"To-what!'
TITO the rescue! I've mind to do 1t
myself. They say you are not WELL
ether
"Who says that?'
ooh, the usual little pathological
cockatrice-or rather, cnntatrice. Don't
ask me, because l won't tell you.
always tell you too much anyway.
Don't II"
"Do you?"
"Of course do. Everybody spoils
you, and so do -
.'Yes-I am rather in that way, l
suppose"
What way?"
"Oh-spoiled."
"Stephen."
'Yes?"
And in a lower voice, please don't
say such things-will you?"
mo"
Especially to me-"
Especially to you. No, I won't,
Sylvia"
And. after hesitation, she continu-
ed sweetly:
81 wonder what you were doing, all
alone in that old house of yours, when
/ called you up:"
81? Let me see. oh, l was superln-
tending some. packing"
"Are you going of somewhere!'
II think So"
"Where?'
IL don't know, Sylvia"
81 decline to be snubbed. I'm shame
less, and wish to be informed. Please
tell me-
I'D rather not tell you"
every well. Goodby! But don't ring
off just yet. Stephen. DO you think
that some time you would care to see
any people, mean when you begin to
go out again?"
"NYho, for example?"
"Why, anybody
"No; l don't think 1 should care to.
I'm rather too busy to go about, even
If were inclined to-"
"Are you really busy, Stephen?'
"Yes-waiting That is the very
hardest sort of occupation, and I'm
obliged to be on hand every minute
"But you said that you were going
out of town."
Ibid L? Well. did not say it exact
~, but l am going to leave town"
For very long?' she asked.
"Perhaps. | can't tell yet.
"Stephen, before you go. if you are
going for very, very long while-per-
haps you will-you might care to say
goodby"
"Do you care to have me?"
Eyes, do"
There was silence, and when his
voice sounded again it had altered.
81 do not think you would care to
see me. Sylvia. I-they say | AMI
have changed-since my-since slight
illness. am not over it yet, not cured
mot very we'll yet and little tired,
you sea little shaken. | am leaving
New York toto try once more to be
cured. l expect to be well-one way or
another
stephen, where are you going? An
swer ne!'
II can't answer you"
rs your illness serious:'
"A-it is-it requires some-some
care"
Her fingers frightened around the re-
ceiyer whitened to the delicate nails
under the pressure. Mute, struggling
with the mounting impulse, voice and
lip unsteady, she still spoke with re-
straint:
"You say you require care? And
what care have you? VINO is there
with you? Answer me-"
"Why, everybody-the servants.
have care enough"
ooh, the servants! Have you ply
sician to advise you?"
"Certainly--the best in the world
Sylvia, dea-Sylvia, didn't mean to
give you an impression
Stephen, l will have you truthful
with me! know perfectly well you
are ILL., If could only-if there was
something, some way Listen: l am
II am going to do something about It,
and don't care very much what do!'
"What sweet nonsense! he laughed,
but his voice was no steadler than
hers.
evil you drive with me-" she asked
impulsively, "some afternoon"
Sylvia, dear, you don't really want
me to do it, Wait, listen: live got
to tell you that-that I'm not ut for It
I've got to be honest with you. am
not fit, not in physical condition to &c
out just yet. I've really been III 1of
weeks. Plank has been very nice tc
me. l want to get well. l mean to
try very hard. But the man you knew
-is-changes."