The Irish standard., 1916-12-16
He reached out a square, compete

Salu. lCS all SOfC Oh Qeau tnefe since
you left"
He went out and down the corridor.
He had known Sidney all his life.
During the lonely times when Max
was at college and in Europe he had
watched her grow from child to q
young girl. He did not suspect for
a moment that in that secret heart Of
hers he sat newly enthroned, in a
glow of white light, as Max's brother;
that the mere thought that he lived
In Max's house lit was, of course, Max's
house to her), sat at Max's breakfast
table, could see him whenever he
wished, made the touch of his hand on
hers benediction and a caress.
Carlotta Harrison, back from her
vacation, reported for duty and was
assigned to e ward, which was Sid
ney's. She gave Sidney curt little
nod, and proceeded to change the en-
tire routine with the thoroughness of
Central American revolutionary
president. Sidney, who had vet to
learn that with some people authority
can only assert itself by change,
found herself confused, at sea, half
resentful. She got the worst off-duty
of the day, or none. Small humilia-
tions We're hers: late meals, disagree
able duties, endless and often unnec.
essary tasks. Ignorant of the cause
of her persecution, she went steadily
on her way.
And she was gaining every day. Her
mind was forming. She was learning
to think for herself. On the whole,
the world was good, she found. And,
of all the good things in it, the best
was service. True there were hot
days and restless nights, weary feet,
and now and then a heartache. There
was Miss Harrison, too. But to offset
these there was the sound of Doctor
Max's step in the corridor, and his
smiling nod from the door; there was
q "God bless you' now and then ior
the comfort she gave; there we're
wonderful nights on the roof under
the stars, until KS little watch
warned her to bed.
=
X. was having his own troubles In
those days. Late at night, when Anna
and Harriet had retired, he sat on
the balcony and thought of many
things. Anna Page was not we'll. He
had noticed that her lips were rather
blue, and had called in Doctor Ed. 1t
was valvular heart disease. Anna
was not to be told, or Sidney. It was
Harriet's ruling.
Sidney can't help any," said Har-
riet, "and for heavens sake let her
have her chance. Anna may live for
years. You know her as well as
do. If you tell her anything at all,
she'll have Sidney here, waiting on
her hand and foot"
And LIE Moyne, fearful of urging too
much because his own heart was cry
Ing out to have the girl back, assented.
Then, X. was anxious about Joe.
The boy did not seem to get over the
thing the way he should. Now and
then LIE Moyne, resuming his old habit
OF wearying himself into sleep, would
walk out into the country. On one
such night he had overtaken Joe,
tramping along with his head down.
Joe had not wanted his company,
had plainly sulked. But LIE Moyne
had persisted.
'tIll not talk" he said; "but since
we're going the same way, we might
as well walk together"
But after time Joe talked, after
ish complaint about the heat, and that
If there was trouble in Mexico he
thought he'd go.
"Wait until fall, if you're thinking
Of it," K. advised. "This is tepid corr
pared with what you'll get down
there"
"Ive got to get away from here"
K. nodded understandingly. Since
the scene at the White Springs hotel,
both knew that no explanation was
necessary.
For almost twenty minutes they
tramped on without speech. They
had made circle, and the lights Of
the city were close again. K. stopped
and put kindly hand on Joe's shoul-
der.
"A mans got to stand up under a
thing like this, you know. I mean, it
mustn't be a knockout. Keeping
busy is darned good method"
Joe shook himself free but without
resentment.
I'LL tell you what's eating me up"
he exploded. cts Max Wilson. Don't
talk to me about her going to the
hospital to be useful. She's crazy
about him, and he's crooked as dogs
hind leg.'
perhaps. But it's always up to the
girl. You know that"
He felt immeasurably old beside
Joe's boyish clustering old and
rather helpless.
"I'm watching him. Some of these
days I'll get something on him. Then
she'll know what to think of her
hero!''
"That's not quite square, is it?"
"He's not square,
Joe left him then, wheeling abrupt
~ off into the shadows. X had gone
home alone, rather uneasy. There
seemed to be mischief in the very air.
=
Harriet's business instinct had been
good. She had taken expensive
rooms in a good location, and fur
nj shed them with tho oSSi ictancn of a