The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09

gan to get better and better. A good
deal of the Young Doctors practice was
scattered up and down the coast, and
after the dust and sweat and glare and
rumble of his long day he would come
back to the sleepy village In the early
evening, plunge for a freshening swim
into the salt water, don his white clothes
and saunter round 10 the quaint old
house at the edge of the ocean.
Here in the breezy kitchen he often
sat for as long as an hour. talking with
the Old Housekeeper till the Sick-a Bed
l.ady's tiny silver bell rang out with
absurd peremptoriness. Then for as
much timeoas seemed wise he went and
sat with the S!ck-a-Bed Lady.
One night, one full moon night, he
came back from his days work ex-
traordnarily tired and fretted after a
series of strident experiences, and hur-
ried 10 the old house as to a veritable
Haven of Refuge. The Housekeeper
was busy with village company, so he
POSTPONED her report and went at once
TO the Sick-a-Bed Lady's room.
Only fools III lights on such n night
as that, ana he threw himself down in
the big chair by the bedside and fairly
] phShtu ia ptdNtlulHtSS anu llbbIl4Su
and content. while the Slck-a-B Bed Lady
leaned over and stroked his hair with
her little white fingers, Grooming some
pleasant, childish thing about mice
smoky Boy" There was no fret or fuss
or even sound in the room. except the
drowsy murmur of voices in the Gar
den. and the chunky splash of little
waves against the shore.
Hear the French Verbs" said the
Sick-a-Bed Lady at last with deliberate
mischief. Then she shut her lips tight
and waved her hands distractedly after
a manner she had when she wished to
/ imply that she was suddenly stricken
dumb The Young Doctor laughed and
reached over and kissed her.
Jaime" he said.
Jaime" the Sick "a Bed Lady re-
peatcd
"Tu almes," he persisted.
"Tu aimes," she echoed on his lips.
Then-"There'll be no he loves to
our story" he cried suddenly, and caught
her so fiercely to his breast that she
gave a little quick gasp of pain and
struggled back on her pillows. and ihc
Young Doctor jumped up in bitter
!
room. just across the threshold he me
the Old Housekeeper with a Gathering
| tray of dishes.
I'm going down to the Library t.
smoke" he said huskily TO her. "Com,
! there when you've finished. / want t
talk with you"
His thoughts of himself were not kind
as he wandered into the library and set
tied down In the first big arm chair thai
struck his fancy.
Then he fell to wondering whether
there was anything gross about his love
because 1t took no heed of mental quail
hcations. He thought of at least tire,
houses in the village where that yer,
night he would have found lights an,
laughter and clever talk and the prod
ding sympathy of earnest women VIII,
made the earnest happening of the day
seem nothing mo"c than dress rehear
sal for the evenings narration of II
| Then he thought agaln of the big, quie
room upstairs, with its unquestionin.
peace and love and restfulness and con
| tent.
What was the hest thing after all tina
woman could bring to man? Yet
year ago he had Dragged of the blatan
braininess of his best woman friend IL
began to laugh at himself.
Slowly the incongruities of the who'll
situation bore in upon him and he sa
and smoked and smiled in moody silence
stating with quizzical interest at tn
d!mly lighted room around him. 1t wa
certainly the old Doctors private study
and realization Of JUST what that mean
came over him ironically.
The Old Doctor had been very sting,
With his house and his books and hi
knowledge and his patients. II was nat
nral, perhaps, under the professional cir.
cumstances of waning age and waNin
youth. Yet the fact remained.
Never before in five years OF villag
association had the Young Docto
crossed the threshold Of the Old Doctor
! home, yet now he came and went lik