Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-10

time ago they had stood face to face
while he had told her the awful truth. 1t
was harder, strangely harder, to watch
her now.
why. doctor, you look simply muir
derous-'
He did not hear the joke; he didn't
even know which OF the titles had spoken.
He was staring fercely across the table
She met his eyes, and she gave him q
queer little defiant nod, as II saying. Il
win do what / like with my own life.
DOCTOR"
And Kennedy. sitting opposite. with q
strange unhappiness at his heart dared
not lean forward and cry; And mine:
The dinner was over at last; and at last
the men went to the waiting ladies' The
hostess gave a gasp OF relief as the door
opened, and sat back smiling. DR.. Ken
nedy marched into the room like Fate.
The hostess made room for him by he:
side. Several smiled on him in passing.
but he kept on his way unmoved.
There was great 1eweled curtain
hanging to the floor at theNupper end Of
the room; it had been flung back little,
betraying a room beyond. Kennedy saw
it and passed within.
He had guessed right. She was there,
her hands at her heart, her cheeks hag-
gard,
How dare your said Kennedy, sternly.
She looked up. startled, and flung out
her hands for support. He caught and
held her.
Tim all right" she said. 1T was
only bad for minute. Now III
go back"
You WON'T he said, grirly. Il under
stand that you're staying with Mrs. Van
Dam. You will go to bed now, and will
tell her
He was turning as if to go, but she
caught suddenly at his arm.
Don't she cried. her voice eager in
its beseeching. II know you will think
I'm vain. gay woman who cannot grasp
things. I saw the horror in your face
tonight; but it's not that. I saw you
thinking, Well. 1t will kill her-perhaps
tonight and 1t frightened me little
But that is all ask. I would rather die
so, because She paused. Her ho.u
frightened on his arm.
Doctor, you don't understand! I'll tell
you. If you go to Mrs. Van Dam and
say-it she will get in a panic and send
me away. am only paid compani n.
In all the world ! have nowhere to go,
save to an invalid sister. who would lack
food if she had to share with me Look
at my clothes. il you like-my employer
dresses me for the part have to play.
I've got to talk and smile and be brilliant
for two of us-Mrs. Van Dam is such a
stick. She's been a success this season
with my help. but all the same. if You
told her she'd turn me out at once. Afraid
of illness and-and death. You know, doc
tor''-with a brave smile-''if l were a
factory girl I could just draw my insur-
ance money and have a rest: but as it is
well. kings of old had their testers. l
dare say the testers had to die at their
posts
you NUT not" said Kennedy. His
voice, to himself, sounded hoarse.
II don't know why I'm bothering you.
DOCTOR she went on, wistfully; only
you know SO much, and one trusts doc
tor. Did you see the man on my right
tried to be nice to him-he is governor
Of home for the dying. And so I tried
to be brilliant, and all the while kept
But hadn't the pluck to ask.
The little laugh with which she ended
was almost like a sob. but all the same
she was smiling dauntlessly in his face.
Across the doctors mind there flashed
q recollection of Lady Mary Campbell
an old woman. a good woman, who had
the strangest notions about her health
and who had been trying to persuade her
dear doctor to go away with her to the
south and watch over her in the sun.
IN do anything-anything for you.
doctor. if you'll only come"
That was what she had said. and Ken
nedy had replied that he could not posi-
bly, leave his practice.
He felt in his pockets for a slip Of paper
and hurriedly scrubbed a telegram.
We'll do what you ask on one conda-
ton. Will call tomorrow" :
He already saw Lady Mary's satisfac-
tion-her thankful willingness to allow
another patient to travel southwark un-
der her wing.
Then he turned to his patient. She was
standing there, haggard and very sweet