The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-16
Continued from Yesterday
CHAPTER TX.


The most charitable thing would he
to say nothing about the firxt day. We
were BADLY brutal--taats the only
word for IT, And MIR HARRISON, with
his beautiful couTtesy--the really SIN
cere kind-tr TO patch up one
quarrel sitter another and failed. lie
rose superbly 10 the occasion. and
made something that he called d
South American goulash FOR luncheon.
although It was took salty. ana every
one was thirsty the rest uf The day.
Bella was horrid. OF course. She
froze Jim until he said he was gong
to SIT in the refrigerator and cool the
butter. She locked herself IN the
tressfflg ruunl-it had been assigned 10
me. but that made no difference TO
Bella--and did her nails, and took
three different baths. and refused To
come 10 the table And OF course
Jimmy was wild, and said she would
starve. But l said, Very well, let her
starye. Not a tray shall leave my
kitchen" II was a comfort to have
her shut up there anyhow. II post
poned the time when she would come
face to face with Flanagan,
Aunt Selma got sick that day. as l
have satti / was not So bitter as the
others. l did not say that | wished
she would die. The worst | ever wish
Ill for some time, and yet, when she.
began to RECOVER, she was dreadful
to me. She said for one thing, that.
II was the hard boiled eggs and the
state of the house that did 1T. and
when | said that the grippe was a
germ. she retorted that had probably
brought II TO her on my clothing.
You remember that Betty had drawn
the nurses slip and how pleased she
hAH hEA nj ha rnf artt
the morning Of the first day and made
herself lawn cap and telephoned out
for a white nurses uniform--that is,
of course, for ~, white uniform for a
nurse. She looked very fetching. and
she went around all the morning with
red cross on her sleeve and a Saint
Cecilia expression, gathng up bottles
of medicine--most of 1t flesh reducer.
which was pathetic. and closing win
dows for fear Of drafts She refused
to help with the house work. and
looked quite exalted, but by after
noon Ii had palled on her somewhat.
and she and Max shook dice.
Betty was really pleased when Aunt
Selma sent for her, She took in a
bottle Of cologne to battle her brow.
and we all stood outside the door and
listened Betty tiptoed In In her pretty
cap and apron, and we heard her eau
What are you doing that for ?''
Aunt Selma demanded. Il like the
light"
Its bad for your poor eyes Betty's
tone was exactly the proper bedside
pitch, low and sugary.
Sweet and low, sweet and low.
wind of the western seal Dial humm-
ed outside.
Put . up those window -shades!"
Eaftn9se x>aIou ct
whats in that bottle?"
Betty was still mild. She swished
to the window and raised the shade.
I'm so sorry you are Ia" she said
sympatheticaily This is for your
poor aching head. Now close your
!, eyes and lie perfectly still. and I
will cool your forehead"
There's nothing the matter with my
head" Aunt Selma retorted And
have not lost my faculties; | am not
q child or sick COW. II that's per-
fumery, take II out"
We heard Betty coming to the door.
but there was no time to get away.
She had dropped her mask for a min
ute and was biting her lip. but when
she saw us she forced a smile.
.'She's i'll. poor dear" she said III
you people viii go away, ! can bring
her around all right, In two hours
she will eat out OF my hand"
Eat q piece out of your hand" Max
scoffed In whisper.
We waited little longer, but IT was
too painful. Aunt Selma demanded a
mustard foot bath and a hot lemon
ade and her back rubbed with lini-
inenf and some strong black tea. And
In the intervals she wanted to be read
to out OF the prayer book Ana when
we had all gone away, there came
the most terrible noise from Aunt
Seiinas room. and every one ran. We
found Betty In the hall outside the
door, crying, with her fingers In her
ears and her cap over her eye. She
said she had been putting the hot
water bottle 10 Aunt Selina's back
and II had been too hot Just then
something hit against the door with
soft thud, fell to the floor and burst.
for trickie of hot water came over
the sill.
"Ghe won't let me hold her hand"
Betty walled "or battle her brow, or
smooth her pillow She thinks OF
nothing but her stomach or her ba ckl
And when ] try to make her bed look
decent, she splits at me like A cat