The Washington times., 1915-12-27

-@UF Fed Circle. GOD help us
- nuttcrcd the nurse once more.
as June looked at her, daZed,
lncredulous.
The ray of garish sunlight that had
strcamed in at the open French window
making a path of gold across the floor
of the boudoir. lost its radiance.
June, on her knees beside Mary.
watched the light shrink and fade, Tho
loom suddenly became gray. She crept
closer TO her old nurse and threw her
arms around her. Her right hand
Clutchcd the black-covered shoulder
Convulsvely.
The whiteness OF her flesh. against
the black material, was intensified by
the circle of scarlet. 1t gowed with a
lurid brilliancy under her terrified gaze.
You know about the Red Circle?
Won't you please tell me?" she en-
treated. You must know, because 1
can see you recognize 1t. Don't you
see how horrible it Is for me Mary,
won'l you tell me-
The nurses arm frightened around
the slim young body. Unconsciousy
she lapsed into the soothing. automatic
patting that she had used so often to
put the baby June to sleep.
Il don't know, lamb I don't know
anything. precious" she stammered.
June drew back within the circle of
her arms and looked at her reproach-
fully.
Dear. know you so well :" she said.
You can't lie to me. You are not the
sort that is made to lie well, Mary, it
shows so plainly in your eyes-anyone
could see YOU think You are doing me Il
kindness to keep this secret from me
whatever ii might be-but you're not
J know how dearly you love me. and
] ask you, on account of that love, 10
tell me what you know of this brand
that is upon me. Won't you?"
Irving ate1v tn do hn
rent Of questionings, the nurse reached
up, unclasped the clinging arms and
rose from the chair.
Her face took on the hasgardness Of
one who is awakened from what seemed
TO be a gruesome nightmare only TO
find that 1t Is grim truth. The vague,
haunting dread that had pursued her
for twenty years was no longer pur-
suer-huge and real It blocked her
path.
She turned from the Kneeling figure
and went quickly through The door and
down the stairway, one hand pressed to
June looked after her. stunned oy a
swift, certain fear. Then. slowly she
rose from her knees. walked over to
her dressing table and sank into the
little chair before the mirror.
For several seconds she stared blank
ly at reflection before her. not
realizing that it was hers. The eyes
were dull and wide. the lips parted
stupidly. Obedient to habit, she raised
= hand to smooth her disarranged hail
the mirror flashed back the red
circle, on It's white background.
At sight Of it June jumped to her feet
rnd ran from the room At the top OF
the stairway she stopped suddenly lean
ing against the balustrade. On the low
or floor. in the library. sat her mother
reading.
Whatever the secret. 1T must be kept
from her. Mary had made that clear
But what could the secret be that CON
Cerned June and not her mother? They
had never had any important secrets
from each other. they two. And vet -
In a moment she had decided. Hum,
ming softly. she ran down the steps ano
into the library. Mrs. Travis looked ur
from her paper and smiled tenderly as
the mischieVous face bent over her.
'Still reading. mumsie? Regular ole
hluestocking! Oh. only the newSpapeT..,
who's dead, dear Honestly, | can't
except perhaps news OF the splendio
work they're doing in the prisons. Poll
tics and war news are so much Sanskri'
to me. Where's Mary? Have you seer
her? Who're did she go?"
NV darling girr'-Mrs. Travis raised
her hands in mock horror. will you
ever cultivate the habit OF waiting tc
have one question answered before yo,
that door there into the garden. not ter
minutes ago Maybe she wants to rur
away from YOU and hide. ] don't blame
her. If you lombard herewith question:
the way ---'
I'm going to catch her
She blew her mother kiss from the
lips Of her fingers and ran out through
the long window. on the Veranda she
scanned the grounds in search of the
nurse s trim, black-garbed figure. Dowr
side path. in little clump of bushes
was a stone bench. Sitting on thi
bench, swaying to and fro, with Tight!
clasped hands. was Mary.
June ran down the steps and reachet
her side, breathless and alarmed. A
she approached Mary looked up IN
piteous supplication.
Don't ask me, precious, Don't asl
me. dear! ] don't know. ] couldn't tel
YOU, blessed" she mosned. and raiseC
hcr hands TO ward off Junes emora ce.
The girl sat down and put loving
arm across her shoulders.
People who bring up children ant
love them" she hegan slowly. "alwav
forget those children are grown. O1c
baby. always "a baby, TO loving moth
old IL,