Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-14
when Gwen suddenly asked. 'How's

Philip"
"Oh. finey'
"And the romantic home YOU wrote me
pages and pages about?'
We'll. it is romantic in the summer,
but rather lonely in the winter
Il see. But Phil told you that before
he married you. I'm sure, because he's
too big to mislead YOU
Ovens tone was challenging. Cath
crime looked at her sharply Once peo-
pie had said Gwen was fond of Philip.
of course he told me-" Catherine re-
piled. coldly. He insisted on my visit
ing Bob. 1 didn't want to leave him,
butt
did you?" Ovens eyes crinkled in
a beautifully unselfsh husband, Cath
crime Coming down.
enough of the reception, and of old
family friends and candid young ones.
She would go home to Bob and have
quiet twilight hour with him
She told him about mothers friend
and Gwen. He listened silently. his
hand shading his face from the glare
of the fire. His eyes cleaned queerly,
his lips twitched slightly as she talk
ed. Finally he said: Certainly Gwen
was presumptuous. and in my estima-
ton away off in her opinion of your
husband" Suddenly he faced her
squarely. do You know. Catherine,
In beginning to believe you have an
abominably selfish husband" he said
"Beastly trick taking You up to that
forsaken hole, I've wanted to tell you
SO for some time. but
catherine was on her feet in front
of him. stop. Bob. 1t seems to me
friend this way. and to his wife, to
whom he has been a perfect angel
TO whom But you wouldn't under
stand" She threw cut her hands eN
pressively and left the room
Bob did not look crestfallen. His
eyes held CLINT of humor. When
they met at dinner from all appear
ances he had forgotten the tempest
of their twilight hour. Catherine was
very quiet and begged to be excused
from theater engagement. She was
tired. she said. and would retire early
Yet Bob found her hours later staring
wistfully out the library window. A
slashinR snowstorm was raging. "A
tough night" he remarked
II wonder. she said slowly. eff
it's storming dreadfully up north. 1t
will be SO lonely"
,,t After that hat she rarely mentioned
harsh criticism. She was very quiet
until time drew near Christmas, which
was to bring Philip. Then she was
bright and happy. But in the week
his return from the office with a let
ter in her hand. She was the picture
of detection. Philip is not coming
she said duly.
NO" Bob's tone was Indifferent.
He looked through some letters leis-
urely: Then. as though it was quite
an afterthought. Why"
Mrs. Brant, wife of the foreman,
is very ill. Mr.. Brant has to take
her away to hospital Philip can't
We'll" he smiled cheerfully, I'VE can
probably manage very co1lforta bly,
without your wonderfully busy hus-
band. He hasn't suggested. selfishly.
quietly.
Her figure Strengthened. ASKED
me-to go to-him.' she whispered.
No. no--he hasn't; but--he doesn't have
to-Im going,'
She did not wait for Bob's objections,
but hurried from the room. Ten min
utes later he followed her and, in his
own apartment, hunted up suit case.
all the while whistling cheerfully.
Three days later they arrived at the
little station five miles from the mines
Philip knew nothing of their arrival.
Catherine had asked for silence, and
Bob appeared willing to fall in with
any wish of hers just then. His old
returned.
AS they drove rapidly over the snow
crusted road the dusk of the winter
afternoon had fallen. 1t was cold, but
catherine Qlu not seem TO nina. Her
eyes. her lips. her whole person breath
ed eagerness. When they caught sight
of the ice-bound lake. cleaning beau
tifully like a great field of precious
stones. she cried happily: isn't it per
feet, Bob?"
They left the sleigh on the edge of
the little village. She went ahead of
Bob on run until she came to their
cottage. When he overlook her she
was looking with her whole heart in
her eyes through window into fire.
lit room. Bob's head came close to
hers. He saw his old pal sitting be
fore a fireplace, holding a little chap
on either knee.
THE Brant children" Catherine
whispered. HE is caring for them"
She was very pale. and her eyes were
beautiful. Looking at that quiet home
picture, she saw visions. Bob stole
away quietly. He would not mar that
meeting. He would tramp up and
down until he was thought Of
"Phil," he murmured once, "it was
wise move sending the little girl away
from your
High up in the snow capped pines
something seemed to answer: And
you followed it up with another
equally as wise, Bob, old man"
(THE END)