The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-27

town.
by the way, my DEAR" he said to
his wife, a trifle irrelevantly, don't
you think it would be right for you
and Vivian to drop in this afternoon
and see Sara? Just to let her know
that she isn't without"
Its out Of the question, Redmond"
said his wife, a shocked expression in
her face as much as to say that he
must be quite out of his head to sug-
gest such a thing. 1--WE shall be dread
fully busy for several days, unpacking
and-well. doing all sorts of necessary
things"
he.
Hasn't she got nurse?' demanded
his wife
Il merely offered the suggestion in
order"
We'll, we'll see her next week. Any
other news?"
Mrs. Booth, Brandon's mother. was
operated on for something or other
day before yesterday"
"Oh, dear! The poor thing! Where?"
philadelphia, of course"
Il wonder if-let me see, Leslie,
| isn't there a good train to Philadel-
| phia at four o'clock? l could go"
| Really, my DEAR" said her hus-
! band sharply.
You forget how busy we are, moth
en-" said Vivian, without a smile.
"Nonsense!' said Mrs. Wrandall, in
| considerable confusion. WAS it seri-
Gus operation, Redmond?"
| They cut bone out of her nose,
that's all. Brandon says her heart is
weak. They were afraid of the ether.
She's all right, Carroll says"
"Goodness!" cried Mrs. Wrandall
One might have suspected a note Of
disappointment in her voice.
Il shall go up to see Sara this after
noon.' said Vivian calmly. Whats
the number of her new apartment"
You have been up to see her, Of
course" said Mrs. Wrandall acidly.
He f1dgetted. Il didn't hear Of her
illness until yesterday"
III go up with you, WV" said Les
lie.
mo, you WON'T" said his sister fat
ly. I'm going to apologize to her for
something l said to Brandon Booth.
You needn't tag along, Les"
At half-past five in the afternoon,
the Wrandall limousine stopped in
front of the tall apartment building
near the park, footman jerked open
the door, and Miss Wrandall stepped
out. At the same moment a telegraph
messenger boy paused on the sidewalk
to compute the artistic but puzzling
numerals on the imposing grilled doors
of the building.
Miss Wrandall had herself an
nounced by the obsequious doorman,
and stood by in patience to wait for
the absurd rule Of the house to be
carried out: mo one could get in
without being announced from below, u
, said the doorman.
Il en- get in all right, all right" said
for de loidy."
Go to the rear!" exclaimed the
, doorman, with some energy.
While Miss Wrandall waited in
| Sara's reception hall on the tenth floor
the messenger, having tTAversed q
more devious route, arrived with his
message.
, Watson took the envelope and tolG
him to wait. Five minutes passed
Miss Wrandall grew very uncomfort
r able under the persistent though com
f plimentary gaze of the street urchin
He stared at her, wide-eyed and ad
e miring. his tribute to the glorious She
! stared back occasionally, narrow-eyec
and reproving, her tribute to the gro
tesQue.
Will you please step into the draw
room, Miss Wrandall," said Wat
son, returning He led her across the
small foyer and threw open a door
She passed into the room beyond
Then he turned to the boy who stoot
beside the hall seat, making chang,
for a quarter as he approached
Here" he said, handing him the re
ceipt book and a dime, that's TO-
you" He dropped the quarter into hi
own pocket, where it mingled will
coins that were strangers to it up t.
that instant, and imperiously closes
the door behind the boy who failed t.
| say thank YOU" Every man to hi
| trade!
| There was a woman in the drawing
| room when Vivian entered, STANDING
| we'll over against the windows wit
| her back to the light. The visito
| stopped short in surprise. She ha
| expected to find her sister-in-law Il
| bed, attended by a politely superio
person in pure white.
"Why, Sara" she began, Il am 8
:, glad to see you are up and"
The other woman came forward
but l am not Sara, Miss Wrandall,
IS she said, in a well-remembered voice
G. How do you do?"
Vivian found herself looking int
L. the face Of Hetty Castleton. Instant
n she extended her hand
e This is a surprised" she exclaimed
e when did you return? Leslie tol
IL me your plans were quite settled whe
If he saw you in Lucerne. Oh, see! c
IS course! How stupid of me. Sara ser
l for YOU
"She has been quite ILL., said He
d. ty, non-committally. I'VE got in yeste
ID day. / thought my place was her
naturally"
,r Naturally" repeated Vivian, in