The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-23

tho mousse seemed 10 nhNc nffFTn
ON edge. n was no wonder about
Allnn--he wanted his mother. OF
course, poor boy She opened the
door and entered swiftly into his
room.
From what the man had said
Phyllis had thought Allan was de.
lirious. but she saw nj once that
he was only In severe pain. and
talking more disconnectediy. per
haps. than the nlow.minded Eng
liahman could follow.
They're all dead" he muttered
Father and mother and Louise and
I-only I'm not dead enough "a
bury. oh. God. Wish I was'"
That wasn't deiirium. II war
something more like heartbreak
Phyllis moved closer to him. and
dropped one Of her ricep-wnrm
hands on his cold. clenchod one.
"Oh, poor boy," she said. I'm
30 sorry-so sorry" She closed
her hands tight over his.
Some OF her strong young vital
ity must have passed between them
and helped him. for almost immedi
atsly his tenseness relaxed q little
and no looked nj her.
"You-you're. not nurse" he
said. They go around--iike--iiks
a-vauit--"
She had caught his attention
That was good deal. she felt
She forgot everything about him
except that he was nome one q
be comforted. and her charge. She
sat down ON the bed by him. still
holding tight TO his hands.
NO. indeed" shc said. bending
nearer him. her long. loose hair
falling forward about her resoiute
~ smiling young face. Don't you
remember seeing me, ] never was
a nurse"
"wha,-sre YOU he asked,
fecbiy.
'I'm-why. tho children cali me
the Liberty Teacher" she an.
swer~d. II occurred 10 her that II
would be better 10 talk on brightly
al random than 60 risk speaking
Of his mother to him. ma she must
In nhe reminded him Of their mar
rage. Il spend my days In a base
men,. making bad little boys gc'
so interested in the Higher cui.
turs that they'll forget to shoot
craps and smash windows"
One OF the things which had
aided Phyllis to ria. from desk.
assistant 20 one OF tho childeen's
room librarians was n very sweet
and carrying yoic@--a voice which
arrested even a chiid's attention
and held It's interest II held
Allan now: merely the sound Of IL,
seemingly.
Go on--,aikinR." he murmured
Phyllis smiled and obeyed
Sometimes the Higher Culture
doesn't work" sho said. "yestrr.
day one OF my imps got hold OF
q volume OF shaw, and IN half an
hour his aun, marched IN on me
and threatened I don't know what
To . library that taught children
to disrespecs their lawful guar
deems.
Il remember now said Allan.
-you ara the gfri In the blue drcss
The Girl mother had me marry. !
remember
-Ycs." said Phyllis. scothinsiy,
and little apoiogeticaiiy. II
know. But that--oh. please. n
needn't make a bit OF difference.
II was only no ! could SEQ tina,
you were looked after properly.
you know. Ill never be In the
way. unless you want mo TO do
something for you"
Il don, mind" he raid. iistiessiy.
as he had before. "Oh. this
dreadful darkness. and mother
dead In II somewhere" v
Wallis" called Phyllis. swiftly.
turn up the lights"
Tho man slipped the close green
silk shades from tho electric bulbs
Allan shrank as II he had been
hurt.
Il can't stand the glare he
cried.
Yes. you can. for a moment she
said. firmly. ''it's better than the
CHASTITY green glow"
IL probably was the first time
Allan Harrington had been con-
tradicied since his accident. He
said nothing more for n minute.
and Phyllis directed Wallis 10
bring n sheet of pink tissue paper
from her suit case. where she re-
membered Il lay In the folds OF
some new muslin thing. Under
her direction still. he wrapped the