The Washington herald., 1916-11-27

I lowed. Helen helped her dress ana got
her down to q taxi.
You'll come with mef" piteously.
| clinging to her. "oh, don't leave me-"
don't cave me nowl'
The drive to the hospital was through
streets crowded black with the home
going throng that poured from offices and
shops. The taxi, held up at every cross
Ing, seemed only to crawl
Cant he 20 faster?" with conyulsive,
clasped hands. Tell him TO get ON a
clear street," Then hystericaily, "oh,
you don't think it's serious? Say YOU
don'tl You don't think this is my pun
ishmentT'
mo. no; don't think of It that way"
soothed Helen. TITS Just an accident.
There're 50 many street accidents now
| Il may be only slight. Don't work your
self up; you mustn't excite him"
"oh. he's unconscious holding Helen's
arm with painful grip. IF he's never
conscious again.! II can never have
another chancel This mornipg-when he
left-I was fiendish! I wouldn't even let
him kiss me-"
AZ the hospital a perfunctory white
coated onicial informed them that Mr..
Wilbur was still In the operating room.
They were taken up to the private ward
to which he would be brought inmedi-
ately after the operation.
| n.
white. cheerless. and permeated with dis
infectants. The moments they waited
there seemed interminable
Mrs. Wubur's hysteria had subsided to
q forced calm, which was even more
pitiable. Not wanting to leave her, Helen
had nurse telephone Warren, explain
ing where she was. and asking him TO
{ come for her about ..
why are they so long? Oh, why are
they so longr' with quivering reiterancy,
IF the operation Is longer does that
means it's more serious?
They may be waiting for him to come
out Of the ether" Helen tried to reas-
sure her.
mo, it's fate" with q terrifying calm.
II said I didn't love him. that I-oh. You
know al! the things 1 said! / even said
wanted to be free. and now fates grant
ing my wish!'
A sound from the hall The door open-
ed, and q stretcher was rolled in, fol-
lowed by the white-garbed surgeon and
nurses.
He was still unconscious Helen's first
fearful glance told her that She held
Mrs. Wilbur back while they laid him on
the bed. One arm and his chest were
swathed in bandages
With a broken. Frank! FrankP' Mrs.
Wilbur dropped by the bed, her face
Only one nurse remained The tense
quiet OF the room was unbroken, save for
| an occasional step from the hall or q
faint trilling Of distant telephone. A
sickening odor Of ether and iodoform
weighted the air.
At intervals the patient would stir and
| turn his unpillowed head with q faint
moan. but there were no signs Of con-
sciousness.
At nine an orderly came to the door
with the announcement that Mr.. Curtis
was waiting in the reception room. Hell
en-. feeling she could not leave Just then,
sent word that she would be down in
half an hour.
mo. you needn't wait There's nothing
you can do" whispered Mrs. Wilbur, who
had heard the murmured messages.
But It as almost ten before Helen,
promising to come the first thing In the
morning. finally went down to Warren.
Hes still unconscious. They've given
her quiettng powder. I couldn't leave
before"
why. you're all unstrung, Kitten, And
take you to Sherley's."
"oh. no. couldn't eat. I want to get
nome. Let's take a taxi. don't often
want one. but do tonight"
Got one outside. Knew you'd be up
set"
As they went out through the chill
marble corridor. the friendly headlights
Of waiting taxi cleaned from the curb.
In the cab Warren took both her cold
tremulous hands in the reassurinr
warmth Of his strong firm grasp.
Tough luck about Wilbur! But he's
going to pull through; I saw one Of the
surgeons"
So he was going to get we'll. Mrs. Will
bur would have her chance! Then Helen's
thrilled selief was tempered by a shadow
ing doubt. 80
Would this re-awakened love be per-
mament? Was IL love-or only a fieeting
remorse that would barely outlast his
convalescence?
Stop breeding over It'll You've done
all you can" His arm about her. Warren
drew her head to his shoulder. There,
that rest you?"
But even the dear familiar roughness
Of his coat under his cheek failed to d.
vert Helens thoughts from the disquiet-
ing questions that haunted her.
What would Mrs. Wilbur do with her
chance? What would be her atonement?
II 1t were only a conscious-stricken rep
aration, how long would It last? She
recalled her bitter. "If I should pretend
that loved him, it wouldn't be true and
I couldn't keep It up"
Could she keep 1t up now? When again
they returned to the routine life she
had found SO monotonous would her con-
Would she not soon drift back to her sell
fish rebellion? Was any emotional re-
pentance ever enduring?
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