Middletown transcript., 1916-12-16

the oven of the kitchen stove sat her
two small white shoes, stuffed with pa
per so that they might dry in shape.
Back in a detached laundry, sympa-
thetic maid was ironing various soft
white garments, and singing as she
worked.
Sidney sat In rocking chair in a
hot bedroom. She was carefully
swathed in sheet from neck to toes,
except for her arms, and she was being
as philOsOphic as possible.
Someone tapped lightly at the door.
TITS LIE Moyne. Are you all rightT'
Perfectly. How stupid it must be
for your
I'm doing very well. The maid will
soon be ready. What shall order for
Supper?"
Anything. I'm starving"
Il think your shoes have shrunk."
"Flatterer!" She laughed. "Go away
and order supper. And can see fresh
lettuce. Shall we have a salad?"
K. LIE MOyne stood for a moment in
front of the closed door, for the mere
sound of her moving, beyond it. Things
had gone very far with the Pages
rOOmer that day in the country; not
so far as they were to go, but far
enough to let him see on the brink of
what misery he stood.
He could not go away. He had prom
lsed her to stay: he was needed. He
thought he could have endured seeing
her marry Joe, had she cared for the
boy. That way, at least, lay safety for
her. The boy had fidelity and devotion
written large over him. But this new
cOmplicatiOn-her romantic interest in
Wilson, the surgeons reciprocal inter-
est in her, with what he knew of the
man-made him quail.
From the top of the narrow stair
case to the foot, and he had lived a
years torment! At the foot, however,
he was startled out of his reverie. Joe
DrummOnd stood there waiting for
him, his blue eyes recklessly alight.
'YOu-yOu dog!' said Joe.
There were people in the hotel par
lOr. LIE MOyne took the frenzied boy
by the elbow and led him past the
door to the empty porch.
"NOw," he said, "if you will keep
your voice down, Ill listen to what
you have to say"
''YOu know what I've got to say"
This failing to draw from K. LIE
MOyne anything but his steady glance,
Joe jerked his arm free and clenched
his fist.
"What did you bring her out here
fOr?"
Il do not know that l owe you any
explanation, but l am willing to give
you one. l brought her out here for a
trolley ride and picnic luncheon"
He was sorry for the boy. Life not
having been all beer and skittleS to
him. he knew that Joe was suffering,
and was marvelOusly patient with him.
'Where is she now?"
"She had the misfortune to fall in
the river. She is upstairs" And, see
ing the light of unbelief in Joe's eyes
IF you care to make tour of inveSti-
CATION, you will find that I am entire
ly truthful. In the laundry a maid"
''She is engaged to me"-dOggedIy
Everybody in the neighbOrhOOd knows
it, and yet you bring her out here for a
picnic! It's-it's damned rotten treat
ment.'
His fist had unclenched. Before K.
LIE MOyne'S eyes his own fell. He felt
suddenly young and futile; his just
rage turned to clustering in his ears.
Il don't know where you came
FROM" he said, but around here de-
cent men cut out when a girls en-
gagged"
81 see"
whats more, what do we know
about you? You may be all right, but
how do l know it? You get her into
trouble and I'll kill you"
1t took courage, that speech, with K.
lie MOyne' towering five inches above
him and growing a little white about
the lips.
"Are you going to say all these things
to Sidney?"
Il am. And am going to find out
why you were upstairs just now."
Perhaps never in his twenty-five
years had young DrummOnd been so
near a thrashing. Fury that he was
ashamed of shook LIE MOyne. For
very fear of himself, he thrust his
hands in the pockets of his Norfolk
coat.
"Very WE'LL" he said. "YOu go to her
with just one of these ugly insinua-
tiOns, and I'll take mighty good care
that you are sorry for it. If you are
going TO behave like bad child, you
deserve Il licking, and I'll give it to
yOu."
An overflow from the parlOr poured
out on the porch. lie MOyne had got
himself in hand somewhat. He was
still angry, but the look in JOe's eye
startled him. He put a hand on the
boys shoulder.
You're wrong, old man." he said.
you're insulting the girl you care for
by the things you are thinking. And,
if it's any comfort to you, l have no
intention of interfering in any way.
You can count me out. It's between
you and her."
Joe picked his straw hat from
chair and stood turning it in his hands.
even If you don't care for her, how
do l know she isn't crazy about your"
MY word Of honor, she isn't"