Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-12-01
CHAPTER XIV.

At something after two o'clock that
night, X. put down his pipe and lis
tened. He had not been able to sleep
since midnight. In his dressing gown
he had sat by the small fire, thinking.
The content OF his first few months on
the Street was rapidly giving way to
unrest. He who had meant to cut him
self off from life found himself again
In close touch with 1t; his eddy was
deep with 1t.
And there was new element. Ho
had thought, at first, that he could fight
down this love for Sidney. But 1t was
increasingly hard. The innocent touch
Of her hand on his arm, the moment
when he had held her In his arms after
her mothers death, the thousand small
contacts of her returns to the little
house-all these set his blood on fire.
And 1t was fighting blood.
Under his quiet exterior X. fought
many conflicts those winter days-over
his desk and ledger at the Office, In his
room alone, with Harriet planning fresh
triumphs beyond the partition, even by
Christine's fire, with Christine just
across. sitting In silence and watching
his grave profile and steady eyes.
He had n little picture OF Sldney-a
snapshot that he had taken himself,
her hair blowing about her, eyes look
Ing out, tender lips smiling. When she
was not at home, 1t sat on KS dresser,
propped against his collar-box. When
she was In the house, 1t lay under the
pin-cushion.
Two O'Clock In the morning, then,
! and X. In his dressing gown, with the
picture propped. not against the col
lar-box, but against his lamp, where he
could see II.
He sat forward In his chair. his
hands folded around his knee. and
looked ut II. He was trying to picture
the Sidney Of the photograph In his
old llfe-trying to find place for her.
But II was difficult. There had been
few women In his old life. His mother
had died many years before. There
had been women who had cared for
him, but he put them impatiently out
OF his mind.
Then the bell rang.
Christine was moving about below.
He could hear her quick steps. Almost
before he had heaved his long legs out
Of the chair. she was tapping ut his
door outside.
"It's Mrs. Rosenfeld. She says she
wants to see you"
He went down the stairs. Mrs. Ro.
senfeld was standing In the lower hall.
shawl about her shoulders. Her face
was white and drawn above II.
"Tvc had word TO go TO the hospital"
she said. II thought maybe you'd 90
with me. II seems us II can't stand 1,
alone. oh. Johnny. johnny
"whcre's Palmer?" X. demanded OF
=, | Christine.
"iIc's not In yet"
care you afraid to stay In the house
: aloncl"
"No; please co."
He ran up the staircase TO his room
and flung on some clothing. In the
lower hall, Mrs. Rosenfclds sobs hat
become low means. Christine stood
hclplcssly over her.
IL am terribly sorry" she said
terribly sorryi When I think who's,
: fault all this isl"
Mrs. Roscnfcld put out work.hard
cncd hand and caught Christmas I'm
!. gers.
"Ncver mind that" she said. -"Yo,
= didn't do II. I guess you and under
u stand each other. Only prny God 20,
never have child"
X. never forgot the scene In the small
emergency ward TO which Johnny hn,
!. been taken. Under the white lights hi
: boyish figure looked strangely Ions
: There was n group around the bed
n Max Wilson. two or three lnternes, tn
r. night muse on duty, and the Head.
e Sitting Just inside the door on
a struight chair was Sldney-such Sid
n ney ms he never had seen before, he
A. face colorlcss. her eyes wide and un
pr seeing. her hands clenched In her lar
at whep he stood bcslde her. she did no
n. move or look up. The group aroun
ID the bed had parted to admit Mrs. Rs