Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-28
quite a hand to change her mind" the

girl said.
We'll. it doesn't matter, of course"
Linda replied. She got away as grace
fully as she could. II had so counted
on that money she thought desper-
ately. "Now 1 shall have to get along
as well as I can without it, for 1 can't
go in debt even for the sake Of making
a good appearance"
The day of the guests arrival the
doctor went to the station to meet
her, while Linda stayed at home to
get the dinner. AS soon as he was out
Of the house Linda dropped into a
chair and took Ben's head between
her hands. Her p%erplexity must have
one last outburst.
She's coming, Ben she confded.
She's nearly here. And ! dread her
as 1 never dreaded anything human
before. I'm tired out with the strain
Of preparation, and there's worse be-
fore me. Ben, I know what she's go
ing to think. I can't bear that she
should look at us-Robert and you
and me, Ben, and feel that we are
can't tell her what has gone to make
us failures-how Bobby died and the
doctor has worked for the love of
mankind rather than greed for money,
how I gave up a promising career as
an artist and married him because 1
loved him; how o poor old Benny,
represent all the pay he got for the
though when old Billy Liddle gave
you and the gratitude of his heart he
gave all he had to give. We took you.
Ben, not because we wanted you or
could afford to keep you. but because
you came to us as you did. And now
! we love you, for you're of u.s."
Presently the old dog slipped away
and went to the door. He heard his
masters. step in the street. His sharp
bark of welcome and the opening of
the door came simultaneously. The
doctor I'M his guest entered.
We'll. dear, here's your friend" his
big voice rang out. Pretty tired, I
guess, for she's had quite a journey.
That makes me feel she wanted to
see us. Here's my girl. Alice. See
what you think of her"
Linda" Alice said. Their hands
met. then their faces. then their eyes
in a long, inquiring gaze. why, you
haven't changed at ALL"
Linda smiled. She could not say
that Alice had not changed.
After all the dinner was a success.
Alice ate heartily. Moreover. she
gracefully ignored the lack of APP
occasional darn that the chance lift
ing Of a dish disclosed.
After dinner h went to her room
to rest while Linda attended to her
homework. The Afternoon was near
ly done before she came down.
Il slept longer than 1 intended to-"
she apologized. But she looked as if
She had been crying.
THAT little picture Of yours and
mine that hangs opposite the bed"
she said. byand by, How it carries
one back to the old times! ] wonder
II you ever feel, Linda, as / do, how
far we have come from our girlhood
Its hopes and joys and promises.
Life is SO irresistible. ] think, lead
pose somewhere there is light, just as
we find it when we emerge from the
catacombs at Rome" She laughed.
All the same, it's very puzzling and
battling for most Of U.S."
"Ah, she is not happy!" Linda
thought. Aloud she said cheerfully:
Yes. life is puzzling. But you and I
used to like puzzles. Do o remem-
Der how we used to pore yer them
-acrostics and diagrams and the
like? You were always SO much quick
er than at solving them, and 1
shouldn't think the mere puzzle Of life
would bother you much-now. There's
always the right answer. 7 think of
that sometimes when I just ready to
give ~ OH, i expect 10 get my puZ-
zle solved before ! die!'
After all, Alice's visit was in no
wise different from that which Linda
had expected it to be. She was q per-
fectly satisfactory guest as far as
thoughtfulness and courtesy went. She
heard nothing. said nothing and,
above all, saw nothing that she
should not. After that first tiny out
burst she did not again say anything
that a stranger might not have said
with perfect decorum. She never be-
came confidential in the slightest de-
gree. And Linda did not seem to find
out what was SO skilfully withheld.
We do each other no good" she
thought. I'VE have lost each other on
the way. She feels that as much as I
do. I shall not be sorry to have her
60"
At last came the morning Of Alice's
departure. The doctor was almost
respondent.
II hate to have you 60. Alice" he
said.
you've chirked us up wonderfully.
! don't know when my girls acted so
lively before
II he had known what her livel-
ness had hidden. Linda thought, as she
kissed Alice goodby at the station.
From the car window Alice looked
out, wistfully.
II suppose she feels that we shall
never meet again" Linda sighed.
Well. It wac over at last, and It had
been an ordeal. She realized that when
she was back again. She went upstairs
to h room that had been Alice's and
sat on the bed and looked about her
lat the decrepit furniture, the faded
wall paDer and the turned Mathis.