The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-02-27
tableau choefed me.

tableau cheeied me.
Evelyn Grayson wal standing in the
doorway. She wore = clinging house
gown Of pale blue, cut low at the
throat. and bordered with q deep col.
lar Of Irish lace. The rose flush Of
youth and health tinted the cream Of
her complexion and q shaft Of sunlight
from q near window made = %glittering
golden nimbus of, her hair. With wide.
startled eyes she vas gazing at Bryan,
or. to be more exact, at the snowy
linen duck In which he was clad. and
which must have held for her q per-
picking significance.
The nurse had halted. deferentially
standing aside at sight Of the girl
whose young beauty seemed to dazzle
him:
For . moment the stiffness and ST.
lence were absolute. Then Evelyn
turning her gage upon me advanced
quickly. with a little questioning cry:
"Philip!"
you're surprised to find me here"
l interpreted. with hands outstrstched.
And to-. she began. laying her
myers against my palms.
ITO find q nurse here. as we'll" I
finished for her. LET me introduce
Mr.. Bry-" But when I would have
presented him he had already gone.
But who is iii" she questioned in
| nervous haste. what"
It were well. ! thought. to have the
revelation v and done with as
speedily as possible.
Your uncle. l brought him homo
at two o'clock this morning."
do not know what I expected, but
I am sure I waa not prepared for what
ensued. Her fingers. suddenly releas.
Ing themselves from my fond but
feeble support. clutchsd wildly at the
lapels of my coat for support. as she
burst into q passion df sobs. In vain
made efforts to comfort and quiet
her. She became h~ysterical. She
laughed and cried by turns. while I.
making bold to regard her az q sorrow
Ing child rather. than the woman she
was. held her close and murmured all
the soothing. encouraging words and
phrases I could conjure.
"l-1-am 10 glad" she whispered
at last. her big liquid blue eyes swim.
ming. her fair face wet. with the tor.
rent Of her emotion. I'll am so
happy"
Presently !, placed her in q great,
cavernous leathern chair. and lent her
my handkerchtef-essisted her, in
deed-t0 remove the evidences of her
tumultuous Joy. After which / sat
down opposite her and answered a
hundred questions. still marvelling at
the co%ntrariety of the feminine TEN.
permanent which deles disaster dry.
eyed and over good tidings ia like Nj.
ODE an tears.
Eyelyn's emotions alone considered.
1t was. therefore. Just 90 well that
! Cameron had not returned robust and
of sane mind. Her rejoicing undiluted
might have resulted In nervous break
down. As It. was. the mere fact that
he was weak and . tribe distraught-
which was the mildly eQuivocal way in
which / softened the truth for her
had for her fortituds the revivifying
potency of a tonic. It 20 balanced her
Joy with anxiety that she grew strong
In surprisingly short space.
I Il do not see why q nurse is at all
necessary" she objected, at once. Il
shall nurse him. myself. Louis and I
can do everything that 10 required"
"But DR.. Massey" I began. Where
upon she interrupted mo:
"Dr. Massey probably thinks l am
' q foolish. frivolous child. I shall nurse
Uncle Robert even IL l have to dismiss
DR.. Massey and get anothsr ply.
sician."
There was nothing to be gained by
opposing her at this time, so I held my
non-committal peace. doubling. never
theless. the practicability Of her prop
osition. But to her next proposal 1
must needs interpose the obstructive
truth.
Come" she commanded. brushing
back from her temples with both
hands the encroaching golden halo.
with the gesture of one who prepares
for conquest, wiping away, as 1t were.
S~0 AooI @A106Au6 V0OL8eo VI Q0T emo.
uonal weakness. "Come. let US go to
him, together"
She wal on her feet before l could
restrain her.
mot now, Evelyn" I said. quietly.
and, at the risk Of seeming rudeness,
sat still.
"But, whyi" And there was a hint
Of suspicion In the look she gave me.
"He Is asleep" I told her. And
when she had relaxed into the great
chair again, I added. temporiMng, "Mr.
Bryan will let US: know when he
wakens."
|. Her disappointment was undis.
J guised, and in secret I sympathized
with her. She raj experiencing some.
thing Of that which had come to me
when Bryan had refused me converse
with his patient. But 1t were better
to divert than to commiserate. and so l
said: -:
: "fhts is the day I am to hear from
Miss Clement
y: "1s IT." she asked. d~t1srsntly, the
disappointment stu ranking. II didn't
know"
M -