The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-22

bright And sou are sure you are
conscientious
Al this point Phyllis stopped the
flow OF Mrs. lIarrington's CONVEX
antion firmly. II sweetly.
Yes. indeed" she said cheer
fully. But you know. n I'm not
Mr. DE Guenther can stop all my
allowance. IL wouldn't be- 10 my
own interest not 20 fulfil my duties
faithfully"
Yes. that r. true" said Mrs
Harrington. THAT was n good
thought Of mine My husband al
ways said was an unusual woman
where business was concerned
And now you'd better see
poor Allan. This is one OF his good
days. Just think. dear Isabel. he
spoke 10 mo twice without my
speaking 10 him this morning."
oh must II" asked Phyllis. dis
mayed. Couldn't | wait tlll--tiil
IL happens
Mrs. Harrington actually laughed
little NJ her shynesa. lighting un
like n girl Phyllis felt dlmly. tho
she tried not 10. that thru Il all her
mothcr.in.lnw.cleet was taking
pleasure In the dramatic side Of the
situation she had engineered.
"Oh. my dear. you must see him.
He expects YOU" she answered, al.
most gAyly. The procession OF
three moved down the long room
towards door. Phyllis hand guild
ing Mrs. Harrington'a wheel chair.
A Crusader on a tomb. Yes. he
looked like that. In the rooms
half dusk the pallor OF HIS Htill.
ciearfeaiurcd face and bis long.
eiear-cut hands WAS nearly the
same as the Wilderness OF the couch
draperies. To Phyllis bcauty-loy.
ing eyes he seemed 80 perfect an
image THAI she could have watched
him for hours.
Here's Miss Dralthwaite, my
poor darling" said his mother.
The young lady We have been talk.
Ing about so long"
The Crusader lifted HIS eyclids
and let them fall again.
Ia Ehe7" he said lisileasiy.
Don't you want 20 talk 10 her.
darling boy7' hla mother persisted
no" said the Crusader. Hiill ia
those empty. lisiless tones. I'D
rather not talk. I'm tired"
liIs mother seemed not nj all put
out.
"Of course darling" Ahe said,
kissing him. She sat by him stlll.
however. and poured out sentence
after sentence OF question. insist.
ence. imploration and pity. elicit.
Ing no answer al all Phyllis won.
dsred how I, would feel 20 have 10
lie S'iil and have that done 20 you
for term Of years The result Of
her wonderment VAS decision 10
forgive her unenthnsiastlc future
bridegroom for what she had at
first been ready to slap him.
Presently Mrs. Harring,on's
breath tagged, and the three won.
en- went away. back 10 the room
they had been in before. Phyllis
sat and L., herself be talked 20 for
a little longer. Then sho rose i'm,
pulsively.
May 30 back and see your son
aeAin for Just minu,e'" abe asked.
and had gone before Mrs. Harring.
ton Ind finished her permission.
She darted into the dark room be.
fore her courage had time TO fail,
and stood By the white couch again
"Mr. Harrington she said
clearly. I'm sorry you're tired. but
I'm afraid ] I'm going To have TO
ask you 20 listen TO me. You know.
cont you. that your mother plans
to have me marry you. for n sort
OF Interested head nurse. Are you
willing 10 have Il happen"
The heavy white lids half lifted
again.
Il don't mind" said Allan Har.
rington lisiiessly. Il suppose you
are quiet and trustworthy. or De
Guenther wouldn't have sent you.
II will give mother little peace
and II makes no difference to me"
He closed his eyes and the sub.
Jet at the same time.
We'll. then. that's all right" said
Phyllis cheerfully. and started TO
go. Then. drawn back by a sudden.
nervous temper impulse. she moved
back on him. And let me tell
you, she added half laughing. half
impertinently. that II you ever get
into my quiet. Trustworthy clutches
you may have an awful time. You're
n very spoiled invalid"
She whisked out of the room be.
fore he could have gone very far
with his reply. apparently. He lay
unmoved and unmovlng.
Phyllis discovered. posing breath.
less on the threshold. that some.
how she had seen his eyes. They
had been little like the wolf.
hounds. a sort OF wistful gold.
brown.
For some reason she found Tim,
Allan Harrington's attitude OF alb.
solutc detachment made tho whole
affair seem much easier for her
And when Mrs. Harrington slinned
a solitaire diamond into her hsnd
as she went. instead of dislikinr I,
she enjoyed its feel on her finger
and the flash OF Il I'm the lIgh,
She thanked Mrs. Harrington for II
with real gratitude. But Il made
her feel more than ever engaged 10
marry her mother-in-law.
She walked home rather silently
with Mrs. De Guenther. Only at
the foot OF the De Guenther stems
she made an absent remark:
He must have been delightful"
she said. when he was allyel"