Middletown transcript., 1917-02-10
CHAPTER XVII.

Winter relaxed it's 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 tie hospital, con-
yalescents 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 siils tulips opened their gAudy
petals TO the sun,
Harriet had gone abroad for i flying
trip i'll March, and came back laden
win new ideas, model gowns. and
fresh enthusiasm. Grace Irving hay
ing made good during the white sales,
had been sent to tie spring cottons.
She began to walk with her head high
or. The day she sold Sidney material
for 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. wfs 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, as tender rs ever, had lost
little Of the radiance from her eyes
her voice had deepcned. 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.
X, going in one day to take Johnny
ROsenfeld q basket Of fruit, saw her
there with 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 chat before he
went upstairs. Those early spring
days found Harriet Kennedy busy late
in the evenings, and. save for Christine
and n. the house was 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
Uscontented that he drove her almost
to distraction. Although she was con-
vinced 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
were others. There would always be
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
room 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,
10 be entirely frank, her evident pleas
urc in his society gratified him. Chris
tines small coquetrles were not lost on
him. The evenings with her did some
thing to reinstate him in his own self
esteem. It was subtle, psychological,
but also it was very human.
"Come and sit down." said Christine.
Here's chair, and here arc ciga-
rcttcs and there are matches. Now"
Behind him, Christine stood watch
ing his head In the light of the desk
lamp. "What strong, quiet face it
is she thought. Why did she get the
impression of such q tremendous re-
serve power in this man who was q
clerk, and clerk only? Behind him
she made quick, unconscious gesture
OF appeal, both hands out for an in
Stant. She dropped them guiltily as
X. turned to her.
II wonder if you know, K.," she said,
what a lucky woman the woman will
be who marries you?"
He laughed good-humorediy.
81 wonder how long I could hypno-
tie her into thinking that"
i've had time to do little think
ing lately" she said. without bitter
ness. palmer Is away so much now.
We been looking back. wondering if
ever thought that about him. l don't
believe ever did. Iwonder-"