Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-09-11
CURING SYLVIA
BY ELIZABETH SHIELDS.

"Well,n ] murmured, I'm always
glad the men at the club Ike me well
enough to come to our house. Sylvia
enjoys them SO much" Sylvia was
just then climbing into low racing
car with Robert Hewes, who had called
to see me, gripping the wheel.
my DEAR exclaimed my mother.
do stop criticizing your sister. You
must realize they are SO much younger
than you. Naturally Sylvia and Luz
ellie are companionable on motor trips
and at dances"
Il don't mind in the least" l re
turned serenely. But l did not feel
serene. Robert had come to the house
for me, and he ended, as did all my
men friends who came, by taking one
of the younger girls out. oh, didn't
care usually, but Robert Hewes was
well, he was different. And did
care.
When his siren horn sounded l
took down my sweater and hat, threw
them on the bed and flew downstairs.
We had planned, perhaps vaguely, to
go up to SIayback's woods before the
trees were stark and bare. Sylvia, how
ever, was downstairs before me, and
an hour later she left the house for
a ride with him.
my dear" from mother again,
'please don't flatten your nose against
the window pane in that undignified
way. Sylvia is very pretty and anus
ing. They'll have perfectly lovely
time together
Mother was fairly raging. That /.
Betty, with twenty-five years on my
shoulders, had no more maidenly mod
esty than to cling desperately for one
look from Robert Hewes, or any man
Pm perfectly willing to accept the POI
sition of Oldest, to take all the
drudgery, the bitterness and thankless-
ness from the needless younger mem
bers, but want some of the sweetness,
too.
Lucille fresh and well groomed and
just twenty, rushed into the room with
an explosive Shrek. did you see
Sylvia? Who was the MANI" felt
like a screen heroine and that the
only proper thing for me to do was
to PROSTATE myself in utter abandon
and Shrek back, Miner
Betty met him at the Friday nigh,
dance" said mother and went into de
tails. Hes evidently much takep
with Sylvia"
"Ohr' cried Lucille sympathet-
ically as she and mother exchanged
glances.
Later in the kitchen / worked stead
lily preparing supper for Robert and
Sylvia. In the kitchen, at least, ]
could be alone. Mother hated the
place, and so did the girls. Never in
my life have l spent such miserable
hour as l did when l baked the hot
biscuits, broiled ham and made the
coffee for their supper. / watched
through the window for sight of the
long, gray car. For a moment l coulG
not see clearly through the window fol
a mist had dimmed my eyes. 1t was
all so hopelessly muddled and tire
some, this charming, do-nothing fam.
lily of ours. The next moment !
broke panic-stricken for the door.
Robert Hewes had swung his car out
of the valley road, and, taking the
turn at so miles an hour, the cal
smashed into monster tree, skidded
across to the Standardized roadside. As
looked Sylvia and Robert shot into
the air.
In moment we were bending oven
them both. Sylvia sat up STUNNED
but unhurt and blinking bewildered
Robert lay crushed and broken in the
roadway.
With assistance Sylvia got to hel
feet and staggered to the house. l sat
in the roadway and held Roberts
When his eyes opened he looked into
mine with utter amazement. He
smiled wanly as he assured me he
wasn't hurt, and his lean, brown hand
caught compellingly at mine, as u
he would never let me go.
Mother and girls stood In the hall
awed and weeping as we carried
him in.
Next day when it was all over, Rob
ert bandaged and his broken ribs set
| sat beside him. | tried to forget
that through the delirium of the night,
he had continuously called my name
There was great excitement in the
family circle, no one bad slept. They
had crouched about listening as my
name fell from his lips. But as Sylvia
said, of course he was delirious. In
his delirium he thought / was sitting
next him when the crash came. When
the pain stirred him from his semi
stupor he mUrmured broken words
and phrases and before he opened his
eyes in consciousness. the entire fam.
lily was in possession of his heart Sc
cret. During the long night he strug-
gled to keep me near him. Ceaseless-
ly he cried out against letting Sylvia
run the car. She confessed shame
facedly that she had leased him into
permitting her to take the wheel, just
before they turned.
When Robert awakened he made an
effort to lift himself.
mo one else was hurt, realiy?v he
questioned. THANK God for that he
said as he sank back on the pillows.
Then / heard his voice, a mere
whisper, as his eyes sought mine,
"WiIl you ever forgive me-" he said,
''for running away from you yester.
day."
Don't talk" | begged.
you did not seem anxious to CO.
ne explained. Il must have seemed
brute" His hand closed over mine.