The Washington times., 1915-12-27
THIRD INSTALLMENT
"Twenty Years Ago."

-TRHE Red Circle! Goa help US
- nuttcred the nurse once more,
as June looked at her. dazed.
lncredulous.
The ray of garish sunlight that had
streamed 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
room suddenly became gray. She crept
closer to her old nurse and threw her
arms around her. Her right hand
clutched the black-covered shoulder
Convulsively.
The whiteness of her flesh, against
the black material, was intensified by
lurid brllliancy 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't you tell me?'
The nurses arm frightened around
the slim young body. Unconsciously
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. 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 we'll :" she said.
You can't lie to me. You are not the
sort that is made to lie we'll, Mary, it
shows so plainly in your eyes-anyone
could see you think you are doing me a
kindness to keep this secret from me-
whatever 1t might be-but you're not.
] know how dearly you love me. and
j ask you, on account OF that love, 10
tell me what you know of this brand
that Is upon me. Won't you?"
Trying desperately to evade the tor
rent Of questionings, the nurse reached
up, unclasped the clinging arms and
rose from the chair.
Her face took on the haggardness of
one who is awakened from what seemed
TO be a gruesOme nightmare only TO
find that II is grim truth. The vague,
haunting dread that had pursued hcr
for twenty years was no longer pur-
suer-huge and real Il blocked her
path.
She turned from the kneellng 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 a reflection before her, not
realizing that it was hers. The eyes
were dull and wide, the lips parted
StuplQly. ODeulenI 10 ndOilJ ShC IdAoCu
a hand to smooth her dlsarranged hail
the mirror flashed back the red
circle, on its white background.
At sight of it June jumped to her feet
and ran from the room. At the top OF
the stairway she stopped suddenly. lean
ing against the balustrade. On the low
er floor. in the library. sat her mother
Whatever the secret. It must be kept
from her. Mary had made that clear
But what could the secret De thst ,SSIL con
cerned June and not her mother? They
had never had any important secrets
from each other. they two. And yet =
In a moment she had decided. Hum,
ming softly. she ran down the steps and
into the library Mrs. Travis looked up
from her paper and smiled tenderly as
the mischievous face bent over her
"Still reading, mumsie? Regular OLD
@Ses daad dear Sa only HKones Ses can't
find a thing OF interest in the old dailies
except perhaps news OF the splendid
work they're doing in the prisons. Poll.
tics and war news are so much Sanskrit
to me. Where's Mary? Have you seer
her? Where did she Ro?"
NV darling giTr'-Mrs. Travis raised
her hands In mock horror. will you
ever cultivate the habit OF waiting to
have one question answered before you
ask Ave others? Mary went through
that door there into the garden. not ter
minutes ago. Maybe she wants to rur
away from YOU ana hlue. don't blamt
her. II you lombard her/with questions
the way -"
I'm going to catch her.
She blew her mother a kiss from the
tips of her fingers and ran out through
the long window. on the veranda she
scanned the grounds in search of the
nurses trim, black-garbed figure. Dowr
side path, in a little clump of bushes
was a stone bench Sitting on thii
bench. swaying to and fro, with tightly
clasped hands, was Mary.
June ran down the steps and reached
her side, breAthless and alarmed. Al
she approached Mary looked up IN
piteous supplication.
Don't ask me, precious, Don't ssl
me, dear! don't know. / couldn't tel
YOU blessed" she moaned. and raiseC
her hands 10 ward off June's embrace.
The girl sat down and put a loving
arm across her shoulders,
People who bring up children anC
love them" she began slowly, "alwayl
forget those children are grown. One
= baby. always "A baby. to loving moth