The Holly chieftain., 1911-12-01

light sift1ng through closed blinds
In the parlor there was no sign Of
any living presence. SO Stephen as
cended the carpeted stairway and
came to the landing without having
made a sound And 1t was there he
stopped. listening. Somewhere on
that upper floor someone was cough
ing! He made his way to the end
room. As he approached the open
door he saw a little figure swathed
in blankets sitting in a big chair by
the window.
lie spoke softly: MARY"
She gave little cry and stood up.
The heavy covering fell at her feet
and showed hre in a street suit and
coat. hhiverins and shaking. her
cheeks flushed. her eyes bright
"Oh. Stephen" she said. what will
you think Of met"
He went up to her and took her
hand Il think this" he said kindly.
that you are very cold and that you
must come down and sit by my fire."
81 sat there last night" she said
eagerly. ut was so bitter up here
that when l heard you go to bed |
crept in and shared the warmth with
the pussy cat"
The tears came In her eyes as she
said 1t. and he saw how weak she
was.
You must come right down." he
said with authority. You'll freeze
here. Mary"
She broke down and sobbed "Oh.
nobody has taken care OF me for
years." she said. when my hus-
band died l tried to get work. and
then l was Ill, and at last I came
back in the storm. and when passed
here ] saw the light shining out. and
l wanted to stop and ask your
mother to take me in; but l watched
and saw she wasn't here. and SO
crept into the other part of the house.
l remembered the way we used to
get in when we were children. Ste
phen."
And 1t was your handkerchief I
found on the hearth" he said. Some
how felt that 1t was yours. Mary"
He helped her down the stairway
and put her into his own big chair.
Then he went for Mrs. Brinkley.
MARY Dean has come back. She's
sick with cold and she needs i'm
mediate attention" he stated. You'll
come, won't you?"
Mrs. Brinkley's chocolate cake
burned to crisp while she went on
her errand of mercy. but she did not
care.
She sent Stephen for the doctor.
Then she kissed Mary and cried over
her and lectured her. and ended by
saying. Stephen is the very best man
in the whole wide world"
"Oh. don't know it?" Mary asked.
"It seemed to me. Mrs. Brinkley.
that II could only get back here and
see Stephen once more wouldn't
care If died"
"But you are not going to die" said
Mrs. Brinkley briskly. You're 60
ing to get well and marry Stephen"
"Oh. MOI" Mary's face famed.
He'll never forgive me. Mrs Brink
ley"
You get WE'LL" said Mrs. Brinkley.
"anQ see now quickly, ne lor6So
you. Stephen needs you. He's
lonely man-lonely because of his love
for YOU"
In the days that followed Stephen
and Mrs. Brinkley and the doctor
fought for Mary's life. One morning
Stephen brought her out and put her
into the big chair on the hearth.
you'll be perfectly well in a few
days." he said. heartily.
Mary looked at him listlessly And
then" sne said. Il must go away"
"You are going to marry me-" he
said, quietly
She would not. she protested. not
after the way she had treated him.
He urged and argued until at last he
brought Mrs Brinkley In to convince
her
Tell her how need her." he said.
MARY Dean" said Mrs Brinkley.
severely "are you going to condemn
Stephen Strong to keep house with
pussy cat for the rest Of his days!
And then Mary gave in. and Mrs.
Brinkley baked the chocolate cake
S,r tba;r 1veddinp feast