Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-02-22

ney went around the table and flung a
young arm over her aunt's shoulders.
'Why didn't you say all that a year
ago? We've been selfish, but we're
not as bad as you think. And if any
one in this world is entitled to success,
you are. Of course Wen manage"
Harriet's iron repression almost gave
way. She covered her emotion with
details:
Mrs. Lorenz is going to let me
make Christine some things, and if
they're all right, may make her trous-
seau."
'Trousseau-for Christine!"
"Shes not engaged, but her mother
says it's only matter of short time.
I'm going to take two rooms in the
business part of town, and put a couch
in the back room to sleep on"
Sidney's mind flew to Christine and
her bright future, to a trousseau
bought with the Lorenz money, to
Christine settled down, married wom-
an, with Palmer Howe. She came back
with an effort. Harriet had two TRAN
gular red spots in her sallow cheeks.
Il can get few good understands
the only way to start. And if you care
to do handwork for me, Anna, I'll send
it to you, and pay you the regular
rates. There isn't the call for it there
used to be, but just q touch gives
dash"
All of Mrs. Pages grievances had
worked their way to the surface. Sid
ney and Harriet had made her world,
such as it was, and her world was in
revolt. She flung out her hands.
81 suppose l must do something.
With you leaving, and Sidney renting
her room and sleeping on a folding
bed in the sewing room, everything
seems upside down. I never thought
l should live to see strange men running
in and out of this house and carry
ing latchkeys." This reference to LIE
Moyne. whose tall figure had made a
hurried exit some time before.
Harriet's eyes were brighter already
as she went out. Sidney, kissing her
in the hall and wishing her luck, real
lied suddenly what burden she and
her mother must have been for the last
few years. She threw her head up
proudly. They would never be a bur-
den again-never, as long as she had
strength and health!
By evening Mrs. Page had worked
herself into q state bordering on hys-
terra. Harriet was out most of the day.
She came in at three o'clock, and Ka-
tie gave her cup of tea. At the news
of her sisters condition, she merely
shrugged her shoulders.
She'll not die, Katie" she said
calmly. 'sBut see that Miss Sidney
eats something, and if she is worried
tell her l said to get Doctor Ed"
Very significant of Harriet's altered
outlook was this casual summoning of
the Streets family doctor. She was
already dealing in larger figures. The
recklessness of pure adventure was in
her blood. She had taken rooms at a
rental that she determinedly put out
of Ter mind, and she was on her way
to buy furniture. No pirate, fitting out
a skip for the highways of the sea,
ever experienced more guilty and de-
lightful excitement.
The afternoon dragged away. Doc
tor Ed was "out on a case" and night
not be in until evening. Sidney sat in the
darkened room and waved a fan over
her nothers rigid form. AT half past
five Johnny Rosenfeld, from the alley,
who worked for q florist after school,
brought q box of roses, and departed
grinning impishly. He knew Joe, had
seen him in the store. Soon the alley
knew that Sidney had received a dozen
Killarney roses at three dollars and a
half, and was probably engaged to Joe
Drummond.
'Doctor 3D." said Sidney, as he fol-
lowed her down the stairs, "can you
spare the time to talk to me a little
while?"
Perhaps the elder Wilson had
quick vision of the crowded office
waiting across the Street; but his re-
ply was prompt:
ANY amount Of time"
Sidney LED the way into the small
parlor, where Joe's roses, refused by
the petulant invalid upstairs, bloomed
alone.
First of an" said Sidney, did you
mean what you said upstairs?"
Doctor Ed thought quickly.
"Of course; but what?"
"You said 1 was born nurse"
The Street was very fond of Doctor
Ed. 1t did not always approve of
kin. 1t said-which was perfectly
true-that he had sacrificed himself to
his brothers career-that fer the sake
of that brilliant young surgeon, Doc
tor Ed Lad done without wife ana
children; that to send him abroad he
had saved and skimped; that he still
went shabby and drove the old buggy
while Max drove about il. az automo-
bile coupe. Sidney, not at all of the
stuff martyrs are made of, sat iE the
scented parlor, and. remembering all