Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-07-03
CHAPTER TX.
The Damascus Road.

The Damascus Road
1t argued no real lack of sisterly
affection that Rose didn't want to see
Portia that morning. Even if there
had been no other reason, being found
in bed at half-paSt ten in the morning
by sister who inflexibly opened her
little shop at half-past eight, regard,
less of bad weather, backaches, and
| other potentially valid excuses, was
enough to make one feel apologize
and worthless. Rose could truthfully
say that she was feeling wretched
But Portia would sit there, slim and
erect, in little straight-backed chair,
and whatever perfunctory commisera-
ton she might manage to express, the
look of her fine eyebrows would be
skeptical.
But Roses shrinking from a talk
with Portia that morning was a mild
feeling compared with Portals dread
of the impending talk with Rose
Twice she had walked by the per.
feet doorway of the McCrea house be-
fore she entered it, because she
shrank from the ordeal that awaited
her in there.
They had been seeing each other
with reasonable frequency all winter.
The Aldriches had Portia and her
mother In to a family dinner pretty
often, and always came out to Edge
water for a One-O'clcck dinner with
the Stantons on Sunday.
Mrs. Stanton had taken a great lik-
ing to Rodney. His manner toward
her had just the blend of Difference
and breezy unconventionality that
pleased her. He showed an unending
interest In The Woman Movement
never tired of drawing from his
mother-in-law the story of her labors
and the exposition of her beliefs. Some
times he argued with her playfully in
order to get her started. More often,
and so far as Portia could see, quite
seriously, he professed himself Ia full
accord with her views.
The reason why these family parties
were at an end was what Portia came
to tell Rose this morning. She hoped
she'd be able to tell 1t gently.
Rose greeted her with "Hello,
angell Why didn't you come right
up? Isn't 1t disgraceful to be lying
around in bed like this in the middle
of the morning?"
81 don't know" said Portia. might
as well stay In bed, if you've nothing
to do when you get up" She meant
it to sound g0od-humored, but was
afraid it didn't. Anyhow" she add
ed after a straight look into Roses
face, you look, this morning, as If
bed was just where you ought to be.
What's the matter with you, child?'
Nothing" said Rose, nothing
that you'd call anything, at any rate"
Portia smiled ironically. I'm still
the same old dragon, then" she said.
And then-'Tm sorry. 1 didn't mean
to say that, either. I've had a rather
worrying sort of week."
What is it?' said Rose. "TeIl me
about it. Can l help?"
ANOs Stilu We luOuSuL
over and it isn't your job" She got
up and went to the window and stood
looking out where Rose couldn't see
her face. Its about mother" she
concluded.
Rose sat up with a jerk About
motherr she echoed. HAS she been
i'll again this week? And you haven't
let me know! It's a shame / haven't
been around, but I've been busy''-her
smile reflected some OF the irony of
Fortia's-"and rather miserable. OF
course | was going this afternoon"
YES" said Portia, II fancied you'd
come this afternoon. That's why
wanted to see you alone first"
"Alone!" Rose leaned sharply for
ward. "Oh, don't stand there where
can't see you! Tell me what 1t is"
SIN going to-" said Portia. you
see, wasn't satisfied with old Muir
ray. 1 thought ii was possible. either
ehat he didn't understand mothers
case, or else that he wouldn't tell me
what he suspected. So week ago
today, 1 got her to so with me TO
specialist" Her voice got a little
harder and cooler. "Mother'n never be
well. Rose. Her heart is getting fab
by-degenerating. he called it. He
says we can't do anything except to
retard the progress of the disease. Ii
may go fast, or 1t may go slowly. That
attack she had was just a symptom,
he said. She'll have others. And by
and by, of course, q fatal one"
Still she didn't look around from
the window. She knew Rose was cry
ing. She had heard the gasp and
choke that followed her first announce
ment of the news, and since then, fr-
regularly, nlIffled sound of Sobbing.
She wanted to go over and comfort
the young, stricken thing there on the
bed, but she couldn't. She could feel
nothing but a dull. irresistible anger
that Rose should have the easy relief
of tears, which had been denied her.
Because Portia couldn't cry.
He said" she went on, that in this
living as she has been doing,
she'd hardly last six months, but that