The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-06-29


face, ''you look, this morning, as Il
bed was just where you ought to be
What's the matter with you, child p
Nothing" said Rose, "-nothins
that you'd call anything, at any rate.
Portia smiled ironically. I'm still
the same old dragon, then" she said
And then-'I'm sorry. didn't mean
to say that. either. I've had a rather
worrying sort of week."
"What is it?" said Rose. "Ten me
about IT. Can I help?"
NO." said Portia. "Pve thought II
over and 1t 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 jerk. "About
mother" she echoed. "Has she been
Ill again this week? And you haven't
let me knowl It's shame I haven't
been around, but I've been busy"-her
smile reflected some of the irony of
Portia's-"and rather miserable. or
course was going this afternoon"
YES" said Portia, ~ fancied you'd
come this afternoon. That's why I
wanted to see you alone first"
Alone" Rose leaned sharply for
ward. "Oh, don't stand there where I
can't see you! Tell me what 1t is"
I'm going to-" said Portia. "You
see, l wasn't satisfied with old MUIR
ray. l thought 1t was possible, either
that he didn't understand mothers
case. or else that he wouldn't tell me
what he suspected. So a week ago
today, I got her to go with me to a
specialist" Her voice got a little
harder and cooler. "Mother'll 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 q symptom,
he said. She'll have others. And by
and by, OF course, 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 or the news, and since then, ir-
regularly, a muffled 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
n bland climate like southern Cali
'ornia, II she's carefully watched all
he time to prevent excitement or over
'xertion, she might live a good many
7ears.
so that's what we're going to do.
we written the Fletchers to look out
place for US, and I've sold out my
'usiness-took an offer that refused
month ago. AS soon as we hear from
he Fletchers, we'll begin to pack.
Within week, hope"
Rose said queer thing then. She
'ried out increduousiy: "And you and
mother are going away to California
o livei And leave me here all alone ~
"All alone with the whole Of your
'wn life," thought Portia, but didn't
ay II.
Il can't realize 1t at ALL" Rose went :
n after little silence. "It doesn't
em-possible. Do you believe the ,
pecialist Is right? Can't we go to ,
omeone else and make sureT'
whats the use?" said Portia. BE :.
ldes, If drag mother around to any )
lore of them, she'll know"
Rose looked up sharply. Doesn't
he known"
NO." said Portia In that hard, even a
DICE Of hers. II lied to her, Of course. :
GU know mother well enough to know
hat she'd do IL she knew the truth ;
bout 1t. Don't you know how it's .
ways pleased her when old people {,
'uld die-fn harness. as she says?' o
The ordeal, or the worst Of 1t, was y
yer. Rose was dropping forlornly
inward, one arm clasped around her O
lees, and she was trying to dry her v
ars on the sleeve Of her nlghtgown. g
he childlike pathos of the attitude n
Iught Portia like the surge Of a wave. Il
ne crossed the room and sat down on
e edge Of the bed. She'd have come I,
III closer and taken the girl In her a
ms, but for the fear Of starting her g,
ying again. a,
YES" Rose said. That's mother. 70
I'D I guess she's right about It. 1t q,
ust be horrible to be half-alive-to I
low you're no use and never will be. n,
I'd you've gone through this all alone RI