The Irish standard., 1916-12-02

7dVent PROMISED 10 marry Him."
leaves and the bit OF blue heaven over
head. He did not reply at once.
"Good gracious, I believe he's
asleep!" said Sidney.
But he opened his eyes and smiled at
her.
1--WE been around hospitals little. I
suppose now there is no question about
your going?"
"The superintendent said I was
young, but that any protegee of Doc
tor Wilson's would certainly be given
q chance"
1T is hard work, night and day."
'DO you think am afraid Of work."
"And-Joe?"
Sidney colored vigorously and sat
erect.
HE is very silly. He's taken all sorts
Of idiotic notions in his head. haven't
promised to marry him"
"But re thinks you mean to. If you
have quite made up your mind not to,
better tell him, don't you think? What
what are these idiotic notions?"
Sidney considered. "For one thing,
he's jealous of you'll"
II see. OF course that is silly, al
though your attitude toward his sus-
picion is hardly tlattering to mel"
He smiled up Mt her.
II told him that I had asked YOU to
bring me here today. He was furious.
! And that wasn't ALL"
"No?"
"He said was flirting desperately
with Doctor Wilson. You see, the day
we went through the hospital, it was
hot, and we went to Henderson's for
soda water. And, Of course, Joe was
there. 1t was really dramatic"
X. LIE Moyne was daily gaining the
ability to see things from the angle Of
the Street. A month ago he could have
seen no situation in two people, man
and girl, drinking soda water to-
gethcr, even with a boy lover on the
next stool. Now he could view things
through Joe's tragic eyes. And there
was more than that. All day he had
noticed how inevitable the convcrsa-
ton turned to the young surgeon.
Sidneys active young brain, turned
inward for the first time in her life,
was still on herself.
Mother is plaintively resigncd-and
Aunt Harriet has been u trump. She's
going to keep her room. It's really up
to you"
"To me?"
ITO your staying on. Mother trusts
you absolutely. hope you noticed
that you got one of the apostle spoons
with the custard she sent up to you
the other night. And she didn't object
to this trip today. OF course, us she
said herself, it isn't us If you were
young, or at all wild"
In spite Of himself, X. was rather
startled. He felt old enough, God
knew, but he had always thought Of it
as an age Of the spirit. He rose to his
feet and threw back his fine shoulders.
"Aunt Harriet and your mother and
Christine and her husband-to-be, what
ever his name is-we'll be happy
family. But, warn you, If ever hear
of Christmas husband getting an apos-
tie spoon"
She smiled up at him. "You are
looking very grand today. But you
have grass strains on your white trou-
sers. Perhaps Katie can take them
/ OUT
Quite suddenly X. felt that she
thought him too old for such frivolity
Of dress. 1t put him on his mettle.
"How old do you think I am, Miss
Sidney7"
"Not over forty, I'm sure"
"1'm almost thirty. It is middle age
Of course, butt is not senility."
Clearly the subject Of his years did
not interest her vitality, for she harked
back to the grass stains. j..
I'm afraid you're not saving, as you
promised. Those are new clothes, aren't
they?"
mo, indeed. Bought years ago in
England-the coat in London, the
trousers in Bath, on motor tour. Cost
something like twelve shillings. Awful-
ly cheap. They wear them for cricket"
That was wrong move, Of course.
Sidney must hear about England; and
she marveled politely, in view Of his
poverty, about his being there. Poor
lie Moyne floundered in a sea Of men.
dacity, rose to truth here and there.
clutched at luncheon, and achieved
safety at last.
ITO Think" said Sidney, "that you
have really been across the oceanl 7
never knew but one person who had"
been abroad. It is DR.. Max Wilson,"
Back again to Doctor Max! LIE
Moyne, unpacking sandwiches from q,
basket, was aroused by sheer resent.
ment to indiscretion.
"You like this Wilson chap pretty
well, don't you?''
"What do you mean?"
"You talk about him rather lot"
This was sheer recklessness, of
course. He expected fury, humiliation.
He did not look up, but busted him
self with the luncheon. When the ST.
lence grew oppressive, he ventured to