New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-02-23
CHAPTER XVII.

Winter relaxed its clutch slowly that
year. March WAS bitterly cold; even
April found the roads still frozen and
the hedgerows clustered with ice. But
at midday there was spring in the air.
In the courtyard of the hospital, con-
v%alescents sat on the benches and
watched for robins. The fountain,
which had frozen out, was being re-
paired. Here and there on ward win
dow stills tulips opened their guudy
petals to the sun.
Harriet had gone abroad for q flying
trip in March, and came back laden
with new ideas, model gowns, and
fresh enthusiasm. Grace Irving, hay
ing made good during the white sales,
had beef sent to the spring cOttOns.
She began to walk with her head high
er. The day she sold Sidney material
for "A simple white gown, she was very
happy. On Sidney, on X, and on
Christine the winter had left its mark
heavily. Christine, readjusting her
life to new conditions, was graver,
more thoughtful. She was alone most
of the time now. Under KS guidance,
she had given up the duchess" and
was reading real books. She was
thinking real thoughts, too, for the
first time in her life.
Sidney, a tender as ever, had lost
a little of the radiance from her eyes
her voice had deepened. Where she
had been a pretty girl, she was now
lovely. She was back in the hospital
again, this time in the children's ward.
H., going in II day to take Johnny
Itosenfeld h basket of fruit, saw her
there with Il child in her arms, and a
light in her eyes that he had never
seen before. 1t hurt him, rather
things being as they were with him.
When he came out he looked straight
ahead.
X. had fallen into the habit. after
his long walks, of dropping into Chris
tines little parlor for n chat before he
went upstairs. Those early spring
days found Harriet Kennedy busy late
in the evenings, and, save for Christine
and X, the house IA practically de-
serted.
The breach between Palmer and
Christine was steadily widening. She
was too proud to ask him to spend
more of his evenings with her. On
those occasions when he voluntarily
stayed at home with her, he was so
discontinued that he drove her almost
to distraction. Although she was CON
WINGED that he was seeing nothing of
the girl who had been with him the
night of the accident, she did not trust
him. Not that girl, perhaps, but there
others.
Into Christine's little parlOr, then.
X. turned, one spring evening. She
was reading by the lamp, and the door
into the hall stood open. The little
always cheered X. It's warmth
and light appealed to his esthetic
sense; after the baroness of his bed
room, it spelled luxury. And perhaps,
TO be entirely frank, her evident pleas
ire in his society gratified him. Chris
small coquetries were not lost on
him. The evenings with her did some
hing to reinstate him in his own self
1t vas subtle, psychological,
also it was very human.
Come and sit down." said Christine.
Here's a chair, and here are ciga-
and there are matches. Now!"
Behind him, Christine stood watch
ng his head in the light of the desk
amp. "What a strong, quiet face 1t
So she thought. Why did she get the
of such a tremendous re-
power in this man who was a
Jerk, and a clerk only? Behind him
he made a quick. unconscious gesture
# appeal, both hands out for an in
She dropped them guilty as
(. turned to her.
Il wonder if you know, f." she said,
what a lucky woman the woman will
e who marries your"
He laughed good-humoredly.
Il wonder how long l could hypno-
lie her into thinking that"
tive had time to do a little think
ng lately" she said, without bitter {
ess. Palmer is away so much now. i
We been looking back, wondering IL 1
yer thought that about him. 1 don't I
elieve 1 ever did. I wo ,der-" Ii