Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-08-20

90
sAw THE LADY SHAKE WITH HER
@
eyes never leaving his.
Eyes, he answered so gently that
she almost smiled at him, that Is
what | mean"
"And-how many years will it take?f'
she asked. and she noticed how still
her own voice was, how her heart thai
had bounded widely a second before
was now beating quickly, "or-will 1t
perhaps be-a shorter timer
She could Utmost have sworn that the
gray eyes watching her grew dim. She
realized that the figure by the window
seemed to be rigid in its stiffness.
at will be a shorter time thar that,
The great doctors voice trembled.
She was SO very pretty-so very
young and pretty and fair-and 10
beautifully dressed. 1t was absurd ITO
think of her clothes at such a moment,
but it would have been easier to tell
her If she had worn n shabby gown!
1t flashed into his mind that 1t wis
like killing a butterfly that was dam &C.
inf4in the sunlight, and yet
his thoughts.
He leaned forward and laid his hand
upon her arm.
YES" he said. 81 know you will
face it bravely." His voice broke
again. IT do not think-it-will be
more than-a week-and we can do
nothing"
The silence In the room was like
something tangible, made more en-
phatic by the chirping of the sparrows
In the tree without and the rumble OF
the busy New York streets.
It was the little lady herself who
broke the silence.
"That was a hard thing for you to
tell me-" she said gently. Then she
glanced down at her own clinched
hands. 'Do you know she went on,
and a queer little smile fitted across
her face. II have torn my handker-
chief into ribbons-while l sat here.
But-but 1t won't matter now-wil tt
If it is only to be a weekT"
There was no answer from either of
her listeners. Words were impossible
to them. Only a great admiration
dawned Il DR.. James eyes as he look
ed into the bright, resolute ones that
faced him.
, ''Thank you very much for breaking
1t to me $3.50 gently" she said In
that smooth, even tone that
trembled or changed. ut is-a very
great surprise. A-a-week-you say?'
The great man bowed his head. OBJ
viously h could not trust himself to
speak.
How stranger she said. Next week
there is a big ball-and lam going-l
mean l was going-my dress will come
homeland L How stranger"
DR.. Bryant turned abruptly from the
window. She saw that his yes were
full of tears.
at is so hard quite to realize" b
went on. that things will go on just
the same-and mot be here She
paused, glancing out at the green tree
and the sunlight.
"But-I ought not to take up your
time" She rose and turned courteous
" to DIR. James. You have other peo-
pie to see, and l hope-I hope you will
not have another verdict to give-like
mine
For the FIRST time her voice shook a
little. but her eyes were still steady.
"Will you have a cab called for me.
DR.. Bryant? / should like to go
straight-home."
She walked from the great mans
room with head erect and unfaltering
steps. and, watching her, he said soft
ly to himself: ut is the ONE who go
up to the lannon's mouth without turn
ing a hair. What a plucky soul! Ny
God. what a piucky souli~
looking from the window of the sit
ting room. the shabby woman saw the
little lady shake hands smilingly with
Ter doctor and drive away. And the
shabby woman said to herself. How
young and happy she is. with all her
life before her-and such a happy life!'
But the shabby woman never NEW
what the verdict had been which the
little lady had waited for so long!