The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-03-08

her wing, he thought. Jean was al.
ways doing that sort of thing, openingi
the doors of her Ninth street studio
wide to all heart wayfarers who need
ed cheering up. He could not measured
up all that her faith and cOmradeship|
had meant to him during his own up-i
hill fight In New York. Perhaps the!
only thing about Jean he did not likeI
was that she herself never seemed tol
need help from anyone. He would havel
loved to know she needed him; that hist
presence and companionship were al
strength to her; that she even missed
him when he failed to show up for al
few days. AS 1t was, she merely gave
him the usual smile and happy greet
Ing, and went on with her work.
1t was week later when he got the
tickets to Savelli's musicale. There was
splendid 'cellist and good soloist,
young soprano who sank folk songs
He thought Jean might like to go. But
instead she told him over the phone
that she was too busy, and asked If he
would mind taking Bah. The kiddie|
was lonely and rather ut sea. said
Jean.
That was the beginning, and he vent
on sullenly at first, then Indignantly
believing it was all jeans fault. Bah
enjoyed going around with him to the
exhibitions and little studio teas i'm.
mensely. She was pretty and exuber-t
ant. tantalizing and whimsical.
One day she came up to Jeans studio
rather white and discouraged.
"You know I'm not earning anythlngi
at all, not cent" she said suddenly.
ITS funny how little one can live on
here, isn't 1t? I hate spaghetti and
cereals. Mother was the most wonder
full cook you ever saw. I don't see
how people stalve in garrets and paint
or write masterpieces"
Jean did not take her seriously. It
was SO usual to say you are not MAX
ing money, and only meant you we're
not earning the hundreds you had
hoped to.
The morning of the fourth day a
phone call came from Miss Milligan..
the landlady across the street.
"You're little Miss Ashton's friend,,
aren't you? Well, she's pretty sick,
and if something isn't done the doctor
says she's got to go to hospital right
away. It's pneumonia, he says, and she
hasn't been eating regular" :
Jean stood in the middle of the floor,
thinking quickly. Then in five minutes
she had called up good nurse her
own doctor, and had made arrange,
ments for bringing Bah over to her.
own cOzy suite of rooms. When Hart
ley came down Mt noon she met him at
the door with her finger to her lips.
He listened in silent wonder us she,
told him what she had done. ,
"But your work" i
"Never mind my work. We've got!
to feed her up and put her on her feet
again. Go and send telegram to her
mother for me. Answer that phone,
will you, while I write this?"
Hartley obeyed, and turned from III
to her with a curious smile. !.
"There's somebody downstairs from
Haines Falls" he said. "He wants to
know If you know where Miss Ashton
Is. Isn't she from Haincs FallsY I
"Tll see him." Jean went down the
winding staircase quickly, and met theI
tall, anxious-faced yOungster waiting
there.
II got letter from Bab-from Miss
AshtOn-last night" he said brOkenly.I
I'VE were engaged, you know, and she
broke 1t, but she wrote me she was onI
the last lap, and she didn't care what
happened she was SO hungry and sick.
SO came at once to take her home. 1
wondered If you'd fix it so we could be-
married first"
Half an hour later Jean left the two
together In tue darkened room, Bah;
her eyes bright with fever. but con-,
sclous and holding fast to the big boys
hand. Hartley sat in the studio on
the window seat waiting for her. She
went to him; her eyes rather tired
now that the nerve-strain was over,
I'm going to let him take her home
as soon as she can travel You don't
hiioW now guilty feel, Wade, to have
let her live right across the street and
get into such state. I thought, Of
course. you were looking after her u
you were in love with her."
"Who said I was?"
"You did, over in the square,"
II said I was in love-"
"Well?
"Jean." he said softly, despairingly.
Jean, can't you see anything; can't
you understand anything at all?"
The nurse stepped to the door for
something. but after one glance retreati
ed roiselessly. There is such thing
as professional discretion.
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newsps,
per 9yndicatel