The circle banner., 1917-07-27


mustn't let herself get to resentins
HarrietI At the end of the fort
night, the doctor made his final visit
Rose had especially asked Rodney to
be on hand TO hear his report when
the examination was over.
"He says" Rose told her husband
''that I'm perfectly WELL" She turned
to the doctor for confirmation. "Don't
youF"
The doctor smiled. "As far as my
diagnostic resources go, Mrs. Aldrich,
you are perfectly WELL"
Rose smiled widely and contentedly
| upon them. "That's delightful" she
said to the doctor. "Thanks very
| much"
But after he had gone she found
Mrs. Ruston in the nursery and had
talk with that lady, which was des-
tined to produce seismic upheavals.
'I've decided to make a little
change in our arrangements, Mrs. Rus
ton," she said. "But I don't think
it's one that will disturb you very
much. I'm going to let Doris go
I'll get her another place, of course
and do her work myself"
Mrs. Ruston compressed her lips,
and went on for a minute with what
she was doing to one of the twins,
as if she hadn't heard. "Doris is
quite satisfactory, madam" she said
at last. "Id not advise making q
change. She's a dependable young
woman, as such go. Of course watch
her very close"
81 think I can. promise to be de-
pendable," Rose said. ST don't know
much about babies, but think I can
learn as well as Doris. Anyhow, l
can wheel them about and wash their
clothes and boil their bottles and
things as well as she does. And you
can tell me what to do just as you tell
her."
To this last observation it became
evident that Mrs. Ruston meant to
make no reply at all. She gave Rose
sonic statistical information about the
twins instead. in which Rose showed
herself politely interested, and present
ly withdrew.
Rodney wore queer expression
all through dinner, and when he got
Rose alone in the library afterward,
he explained it. Mrs. Ruston had
given him notice, contingently. Rose
had informed her of her intention to
dispense with the service Of the nurse
maid. If Rose adhered to this inten-
ton, Mrs. Ruston must leave.
It was some sort Of absurd mfsun- |
Of course, Rodney con- |
cluded, and wanted to know what 1t |
was all about.
'I did say I meant to let Doris CO."
Rose explained, "but 1 told her meant
% take Doris job myself. I said I
hought I could be just as good a
as she was. And I meant
t."
He was prowling about the room in
worried sort of way, before she got
is far as that. II don't see, child"
lie exclaimed, "why you couldn't leave
veil enough alone! If it's that old
economy bug of yours again, it's nom
ense. You, to spend all your time
loing menial work to save me ten
Iollars a week."
"It isn't menial work." Rose insist
d. "It's apprentice work. After I've ]
een at it six months, learning as fast
s can, I'll be able to let Mrs. Ruston
% and take her job-IU be really 1
ompetent to take care of my own :
hildren. l don't pretend I am now."
He stared at her in perfectly honest
ewilderment. you're talking rather
lid think, Rose" he said very quiet
2.
'I'm talking what I've learned from /.
ou," she said. "Oh, Rodney, please
y to forget that I'm your wife and {
lat you're In love with me. Can't
ou Just say: Here's A, or B, or x, a
erfectly healthy woman, twenty-five I
ears old, and a little real work would
e good for herr?
She won, with much pleading, a sort S
: troubled half-assent from him. The v
after could be taken up again with q
RS. RustOn.
Given a fair field, Rose might have
on a victory here. But, as Portia t
i'd said once, the pattern was cut diff
rently. There was a sudden alarm n
le night, when her little namesake "
as found strangling with the Group.
here were seven terrifying hours-al- "
ost unendurable hours, while the q
,ung life swung and balanced over c.
e ultimate abyss. The heroine of "
ose hours was Mrs. Ruston. That 81
= child lived was clearly creditable n
her. CT
Rose made another effort even after l
at, though she knew she was beaten j
advance. She waited until the old Il
I'm routine was re-established. Then,
ce more, she asked for her chance. Ii
But Rodney exploded before she got 1t
e words fairly out of her mouth.
TO-" he shouted, 81 won't consider it al
les saved that baby's life. You'll 81
We to find some way of satisfying W
ur whims that won't jeopardize al
ose babies lives. After that night ea
cd heavens, Rose, haze you forgot T.
1 that night?-Im going to play it al