Evening star., 1908-01-21
CHAPTER xxv11I-Continued.

CHAPTER XXVIII-Continue
Il did not send for you," she said, in a
muff1ed voice; there is nothing the mat
ter
You haven't had any breakfast" said
William King. Sarah, bring Mrs. Richie
some coffee"
II don't want"
You must have something to eat"
Helena drew a long. auivering breath
Il wish you would go away. There is
nothing the matter with me-
II can't go until you feel better. Mrs
Richie
She was silent. Then she turned a lit
tie. gathering up the two long braids so
that the II on each side of her neck and
down a,r her breast; their soft darkness
made th~ .sdllor of her face more marked.
She was so evidently exhausted that
when Sarah brought the coffee. the doctor
slipped his hand under her shoulders and
lifted her while she drank it.
Don't try to talk: l want you to sleep"
'Sleep, I can't sleep
You WILL he assured her
She lay back on her pillows. and for
the first time she looked at him. "Dr.
King. he has quarreled with me-
William fiinched. as though some wound
had been touched; then he said, Don't
talk of it now
She turned her face sharply away from
him. burying it in her pillow.
Mrs. Richie. you must try to eat some
thing. See. Maggie has sent you some
very nice toast" =
| Il won'tea 1 wish you would CO.
There was silence for moment. Then
suddenly, she cried out, We'll? What
are you going to do. all of you? What
did DIR. Lavendar say?'
"Dr. Lavendar doesn't know anything
about it,
II don't know why told you. l was
out of my head, l think. And now you
despise me-
II don't despise you
She laughed. .Of course you do"
Mrs Richie. I'm too weak myself to
despise anybody
Il wish you would go away" she re-
peated.
7 will; but you must have sedative
"David's bromide?" she said, sarcastic
| ally. "A broken finger or broken-well.
anything. DR.. King-you won't tell DR..
| Lavendar?'
Tell? What kind of a man do you sup
pose | am! / wish you would tell him
yourself. though"
Tell him myself?" she gave him an
other swift look that faltered as her eyes
met his. "You are crazy! He would
! take David away.
Mrs. Richie" said William. mserably,
you know you can't keep David
| Not keep David.'
She sat up in bed, supported on each
side by her shaking hands: she was like
wild creature at bay: she looked him
| full in the face. do you think / would
give him up. just TO please you or DR..
Lavendar when j quarreled with Lloyd
| to keep him? Lloyd wouldn't agree that
/ should have him. Yes. If it hadn't been
| for David you wouldn't have the right
to despise me. Why, he's all I've got in
the. world -
William King was silent.
You think / am wickedt But what
harm could ] possibly do, him." Her
supporting arms shook that the doctor
| laid gentle hand on her shoulder.
Lie down. he said, and she fell back
among her pillows.
WHO could do more for him than l
can? Who could love him so much? He
| has everythng.' she said. family.
please take this medicine William in
| terposed, and his calm, impersonal voice
| was like a blow.
| .'Oh. you despise me. But if you
knew
Il don't despise YOU" he said again
And added, Il almost wish | did,
But this she did not hear. She was
| saying desperately. Il will never give
| David up I wish hadn't told yon; bit
l will never give him up!'' -.t.
Il am going now" the doctor said. but
| sometime ! am afraid / must tell you
! how I feel about David. But I'll go now.
| l want you to try to sleep
| When he had gone she took from under
| her pillow that letter. which had made
| her faint like" 1t was brief, but con-
| elusive:
| THE matter of the future has seemed
| to settle ftself-I think wisely, and most
earnestly hope. happily. for you. The
other proposition would have meant GER
| tain unhappiness all round. Keep your
boy; 1 am sure you will find him a COM
fort. ] am afraid you are little too ex-
| cited to want to see me again imme-
! diately. But as soon as you decide where
| you will go. let me know, and let me be
of any service in finding a house, etc.
| Then. when you are settled and feel equal
| to visit I'll appear. l should certainly
| be very sorry to let any little difference
of opinion about this boy interfere with
our friendship. l.. p
Sitting up in bed she wrote in lead
| pencil two lines:
| Il will never see you again. l never
| want to hear your name again..
| She did not even sign her name.