Baxter Springs news., 1917-04-26

OOAuM WChs
Then what n ST."
I'm not quite sure, but I think I
know. She's lost faith In Max, and
shes not like me. IL knew about
Palmer before I married him. It's all
: rather hldeous---I needn't 60 into Il.
But Sidney has more character than l
have. Max isn't what she thought he
was, and doubt whether she'll marry
him."
X. glanced toward the street where
Sidney's name and Max's lay open TO
the sun and To the smiles Of the Street.
Christine might be right, bur that did
NOT alter things for him.
Christlne's thoughts went back In
evitably TO herseh; to Palmer. who
was doing better just now; to K, who
was going away--went back with an
ache to the night X. had taken her In
his arms aud then put her away. How
wrong things were. What mess life
: was!
when you 60 away" she said at
last. Il want you to remember this.
I'm going to do my best, X. You have
taught me oil know AL my life I'll
have to overlook things; know that.
But, In his way, Palmer cares for me.
He will always come back, and perhaps
sometime"
Her voice trailed OF. Far ahead Of
her she saw the years stretching out,
marked. not By days and months, but
by Palmer's wanderlngs away, his re-
morseful returns.
do q little more than forgetting"
K. said. "Try to care for him. Chris
tine. You did once. And that's your
strongest weapon. It's always a won.
ans strongest weapon. And 1t wins in
the end"
II shall try, K.," she answered
obediently.
But he turned away from the look
In her eyes.
Harriet was abroad. She had sent
cards from Paris to her trade" It
was an innovation. The two or three
people on the Street who received her
engraved announcement that she was
there, buying new chic models for the
autumn and wintcr--afternoo frocks,
evening gowns, reception dresses, and
wraps, from polret, Martial ct Armand,
and Others" left The envelopes casual
ly OH the parlor table, as II conlmunlca-
lions from Paris were quite to be ex-
pectcd.
So K. lunched alone, and ate little.
Sidney came home ut half-past two
came delicately flushed, as II she had
hurried, and with O tremulous smile
that cNpght katle's eyes at once.
'Bless the child!" she said. There's
no need to ask how he is today. You're
all one SMILE"
The smile set just trife.
''Katie, someone has written my
name out on the street, In chalk. It's
with Doctor Wilson's, and 1t looks so
silly. Please go out and sweep 1t OF"
I'm about crazy with their old chalk.
III do 1t after WHILE"
'pleaSe do II now. I don't want any
one 10 see 1t. Isis Mr.. K. upstairsf"
But when she learned that K. was
upstairs, oddly enough, she did not go
up at once. She stood In the lower
hall and listened. Yes, he was there.
She could hear him moving about. Her
lips parted slightly as she listened.
Christine, looking in from her bal
cony, saw her there, and, seeing some
thing In her face that she had never
suspected, put her hand to her throat.
Sidney"
"Oh-hellO. Chris"
wont you come and SIT with mef'
II haven't much time-that Is, / want
10 speak to K"
"You can see him when ne comes
down."
Sidney came slowly through the par
lOr. II occurred to her. all at once,
that Christine must see a lot of K,
especially now. No doubt he was In
und out Of the house often. And how
pretty Christine was! She was un.
happy, too. All that seemed 10 be nee
essary to win KS attention was TO be
unhappy enough. Well, surely, In that
case
allow Is MRxF"
"Still better"
Sidney sat down on the edge Of the
railing; but she was careful, Christine
saw, to face the staircase. There was
silence on the balcony. CS<1$.L.
sewed; Sidney sat and swung her feet
idly.
doctor Ed says Max wants you to :
give up your training and marry him
now"
''Pm not going to marry him at all
Chris"
Upstairs, KS door slammed. II was
one Of his failIngs that be always
slammed doors. Harriet used to be
quite disagreeable about II.
Sidney slid from the railing.
There he is now."
Perhaps, IN all her frivolous, selaah
ne, Christine had never had a bigger
mbment than the one that followed.
she could have said nothing, and, In
tn queer way that life goes. x. might
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