Evening star., 1915-06-05

library. the handsome reception rooms
and down the length Of the hall to the
room done in soft tans and green's.
her own particular den. She hurried
there, dropping Imply into the depths
of her favorite chair. She tried to call
up tender memories the room held. all
| centering around Barry; but the effort
was vain: her skyline just then was q
an hurrying baby clothes into the
| house.
| She shut her eyes tightly with .
stifed moan. her small hands clinched
For an interminable stretch of time
| her better self fought for supremacy.
When at length her figure Strengthened
| her eyes. her pretty mouth. her whole
mobile face had hardened. She rose
her mother. You win." she said, col
orlessly. II find I'm not of a self
sacrificial nature. You sized me up
splendidly. ] want you to tell Barry
SO. because I've acquired another at
tribute-Tm a coward. VIII you tele-
phone him now? He mustn't come this
evening"
Without waiting for any comment
| she sought the privacy of her bed
| room. locked the door and crumpled
up on couch. She did not shed a
! tear-it was not her nature so to do.
but lay staring with eyes of misery
out the window. Time passed unheed-
ed as she brooded. The dinner bell
stir until her mother called outside
her door, Il don't want dinner" she
answered
Mrs. Jordan's voice came hurriedly.
Joan. you're wanted at the Kemp
tons. Jim has met with an accident .
She opened the door swiftly, all
thought Of self vanishing in the need
for action. She did not refer to her
own trouble until she was ready to
go: At the door she hesitated.
Mother she fumbled. did you-did
Mrs. Jordan's eyes refused to meet
hers. Barry telephoned for Muriel
| about Jim" she evaded
An hour later Murie1 sat in the
| kemptons' parlor. holding Muriel:s
baby. Muriel. white. still, pitifu,,v
brave. she had seen only for a mo-
| ment. The tears brimmed rs she
thought Of her and she held the baby
closely. The house was So still, Now
and then the doctors voices came TO
her and she shivered. After a time
they came closer and the outer door
| closed.
Then suddenly Muriel came into the
room, her white face quiverinK with
| joy. JOAN" she breathed, .oh. loan
it's going to be all right. 1t isn't al
bad as the doctors thought And jim
spoke to me and smiled a me. Think
| Of it. Joan. he smiled. And thought
I was SO afraid" She took her ba by
| and hid her face in his fat, wrinkled
| neck. When she raised it, it was ra
! diant with great thankfulness
Joan. she cried. as she put the baby
back in her arms, "if it had been Barry
you would understand how feel now.
She left the room and Joan stood like
a statue. II it had been Barry! II she
were to lose Barry that way, If she
were to see him as she had seen Jim
so frightfully silent. If she were tc
call and he could not answer. Oh, II
she were to lose him that way. Bar
ry.' she moaned. "Barry-Barry,"
And then she heard his voice and hel
mothers in the hall. She stood with
the baby pressed close to her, looking
with all her heart in her eyes at the
closed door. Her mother came ir
alone.
Barry" Joan began.
DO you want him. Mrs. Jordan.
tone was gentle.
money that counts-that it's-mother
mother, it's love. If Barry will forgive
me-
For what. Joan?" Mrs. Jordan took
the baby from arms beginning to trem.
BILE
Didn't you tell him, mother?"
"I was a bigger coward than you
Joan. I didn't! I couldn't! I like Barry
so much. And before he comes in youl
father and I were talking at dinner
about you two. He's taking a part.
ner into the business shortly, and he's
might have spared ourselves some un-
happy hours
Joar's eyes glowed. "As long a.
Barry was spared don't care, because
know now, for all time, what counts
(THE END.