Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-25
CHAPTER X.

A few days after Wilson's recogni
ton of K, two most exciting thi2gs
happened to Sidney. One was tina,
Christine asked her to be maid OF
honor at her wedding. The other was
more wonderful. She was accepted
and given her cap.
Because she could not get home that
night, and because the little house had
no telephone, she wrote the news to
her mother and sent note, to lie
Moyne.
X. found the note on the hall table
when he got home that night, and car
ried Ii upstairs to read. Whatever
faint hope he might have had that her
youth would prevent her acceptance
he knew now was over. With the let
ter in his hand, he sat by his table
and looked ahead into the empty years.
Not quite empty, of course. She would
be coming home
But more and more the life of the
hospital would engross her. He sur
nRsed, too, very shrewdly, that, had he
ever had hope that she might come
to care for him, his very presence In
the little house initiated against him.
There was none of the illusion of sep
aration; he was always there, like Ka-
tie. When she opened the door, she
called Mother" from the hall. II
Anna did not answer, she called him,
in much the same voice.
Sidney's letter was not the only one
he received that day. When, I'm re-
Spouse to Katle's summons, he rose
heavily and prepared for dinner, he
found an unopened envelope on the
table. 1t was from Max Wilson:
Dear lie Moyne-I have feeling OF deli
cacy about trying to see you again so
soon. I'm bound to respect your seclu-
sion. But there are some things that have
got to be discussed.
II takes courage to step down from the
pinnacle you stood on. SO it's not cow
ardice that has set you down here. It's
wrong conception. And I've thought OF
two things. The first, and best. b for you
TO 20 back No enc has taken your place,
because no one could do the work. But
IL that's out OF the question-and only you
know that. for only you know the facts
the next best thing Is this. and In all hui
manity make the suggestion.
Take the State exams under your pres
ent name. and when you've got your GER
tihcate come in with me. This isn't mag
nanimity. I'll be getting much more than
! give.
Think It over. old man. NJ w.
II Is a curious fact that man who
Is absolutely Enthusiastically about
women Is often the soul OF honor TO
other men. The younger Wilson. TAX
ing his pleasures lightly and not too
discriminatory. was making an offer
that meant his ultimate eclipse. and
doing 1t cheerfully, with his eyes open.
X. was moved. 1t was like Max to
make such an offer. like him to do II
as II he were asking favor and not
comforting one. But the offer left him
interrupted. lie had weighed himself
In the balance. and found himself
wanting. No tablet on the college wall
could change that. And when. late
that night, Wilson found him on the
balcony and added appeal to argu-
mcnt, the situation remained I'M
changed. He realized To hopclcssness
when X. lapsed INTO whimsical humor.
''Tm not absolutely useless where
am, you know. Max" he said. "rve
raised three tomato plants and fam.
lily OF kittens this summer, helped to
plan trousseau. assisted In selecting
wallpaper for the room Just inside
did you notice iti-and developed
boy pitcher with ball that twists
around the bat like COLES fracture
around u spllntl"
Wilson rose and flung his cigarette
Into the grass.
II wish understood youl" he said
lrr,nbly.
X. rose with him, aud all the sup
pressed feeling Of the interview was
crowded into his last words.
"rm not Ms ungratcful ms you think.
Max" he said. "I-you'vc helped n
lot Dua't worry about me. I'm rs
well on rs deserve TO he. aud better.
Good night"
Good night"
Wilson's unexpected magnanlmlty
put X. In curious position-lcft
him, as Il were. with n divided allie.
glance. Sldncy's frank infntuation for
the young surgeon was growing. lie
was quick to see Il. Aud where before
he might have felt justified In going
TO the length OF warning her. how his
hands were tied.
sidney went on night duty shortly
after her acceptance. She tumhlcd
Into her low bed ut nine O'Clock In the
morning. those days, with her splCn.
did hair neatly braided down her back
and her prayers said, aud lu.;i, diatCly
her active young mind filled with
Images Christine's wedding, Doctor
Max passing the door OF the old ward
and she not there. Joc-and she puE.
Eled over Grace aud her kind.
on her first night on duty girl
had been brought In from the Avenue.
She had taken polson-Gobody knew
Just what. When the lnternes had
tried to find out. she had only said:
''whats the user
And she had dlej. .