The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-05
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

!
| Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)
When / went to take charge OF Mrs.
| Darrei's case, l was tired and half
sick. | had been up for nights with
! a pene1sH,eflia- patient tried TO beg
off, when DR.. Hearn telcphoned that
! he wanted me. but he was insistent
| No one else Will do" he said. i
| need some one VINO has IMAGINATION.
! / saw his reasons for wanting me,
as soon an caiue mao the ois room
and looked mt the little woman lying
among the pillows.
! The bed was so big and she was
30 thy mat sac was airnust lost IN
tan The WhTteness- There were PINK
silk curtains coming down from the
| mahogany canopy. but even these
gave no color to the thin face with
the big eyes.
tie uoesns love ME any more.
I was the statement made hy the pale
! lips. as | bent over her.
ON, I'm very sue ne does. said
soothingiy. but he can't tell you.
/ cant he?" she asked eagerly.
How do YOU know p
The fairies told me-" I said. now
you go to sleep and don't think any
more about II"
! / saw at once that she was like a
/ child, and so | talked more about
| fairies. and how they always made
everything come out right and at last
/ | saw her eyes close. and when pr.
Hearn came she was asleep.
How did you do 1T" he demanded.
! She needed comfrung, / said. is
! ii her husband?"
f. The doctor nodded. II can't make
il out He seems to be perfectly de-
voted but she says that he's hiding
something from her. And she isn't
| very strong. She Is in neurasthcnic
condition.. and L thought your whore
someness was what she needed.
/ That's why l got you here"
| saw the husband tina, night. He
| was tall and dark and strong. and
when he bent over my little pale lady
and kissed her 1t seemed as II she
must again help from his vivid per-
sonality.
l3ut she turned from him. Please
don't she walled.
He drew back and ] saw the des-
peration in his eyes. What shall
/ do with her. nurse was the ques-
ton othse eyes seemed to ask, though
I hts Hips did not move.
My eyes answered his, and l gave
/ a little UIu. flICu SS6luSu W kCdSOoa V
| him. "All right. dearest" he said.
| but tomorrow morning I shall come
| again, and then---you'il let me kiss
you?''
She looked tip at him sharply.
What makes you say that she
asked.
interposed ut will be the happy
| ending of the fairy ,ale."
She put her hands over her face
and began to cry. weakly. There can
| never be happy ending" she walled
| l motioned to him to 20 away and
ii took me an hour to get her quiet.
l gave her an alcohol rub and glass
| of warm milk and put hot water bags
around her. and still she shivered and
shook. and 1T last ! thought I'd try
mental suggestion. So I took both
| of her hands in mine and said
quietly: Now you are going to sleep"
How can | sleep" she cried.
! when he loves some one else?"
Then saw what Was trnuhlng her
| and l bent over her and whispered.
/ He's under spell and you mus,
| help him to break the charm.
/ She sat up In bed. How can
help" she asked. feverishly.
| You must kiss him three times in
| the morning, and every time you
| must say I love you"
ana tIlen VIII ne De just tne
same" she asked. "as he used to be
when he wasn't hiding anything from
me?"
HE Will be Just the sanle.''
In little while she was asleep and
there was the faintest shadow of a
smile on her lips.
Then l went to look for her hus-
band and found him sitting In front
of dying fire In the library.
I sat down opposite him and asked
abruptly. What are you keeping
from her?'
For a moment he stared at me. and
then he said. somewhat haughtily.
why should tell vou?"
Because am here to help cure
your wife, and cannot euro her
until know the TRUTH"
He gripped the arms Of his chair
with tense fingers. II haven't told
a soul" he said. but every one will
know. presently. am a ruined
man."
You mean that you have lost you,
money!"
Yes"
go to her tomorrow morning, and
tell her." said.
And KIN her? She has never
known what 1t was to live without
luxury. And when the truth comes
cut shan't have a cent"
"You have youth and strength" I
said.
He drew long breath. as II he.
SQUARED his shoulders to meet the
future.
yAnd you have love- continued.