Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-21
CHAPTER xVI-continued.

when you have done so we'll? And,
besides, since you are not guilty, Sid
ney---"
Il didn't do it - she cried passion
ately But | can't keep on; that's
all there is to it, / keep saying to my
self: You didn't do it, you didn't do
it, and all the time something inside
of me is saying. Not now, perhaps ;
but sometime you may" She looked
up at him forlornly. Il am Just not
brave enough, X"
Wouldn't it be drawer to keep on?
Aren't you giving up very easilyT'
Her world was in pieces ABOUT her.
and she felt alone in a wide and empty
place. And, because her nerves We're
drawn taut until they were ready to
snap, Sidney turned on him shrew-
ishly.
Il think you are all afraid | will
come back to. stay. Nobody really
wants me anywhere-in all the world
Not ut the hospital, not here, not any
place. l am no use
when you say that nobody wants
4
think you are making u mistake"
She scanned his face closely, and.
reading there something she did not
understand, she colOred suddenly.
Il believe you mean Joe Drum
mond."
No; do not mean Joe Drummond."
If he had found any encouragement
in her face, he would have gone on
recklessly: but ,lcr black eyes warned
him.
III you mean Max WILSON," said
Sidney, You are entirely wrong. He's
not in love with me. Anyhow, after
this disgrace"
"There is no disgrace, child"
Hell think me careless. at the
least. And his ideals are so high. X"
You say he likes to be with you
What about you?"
Sidney had been sitting In a low
chair by the fire. She rose with sud
den passionate movement. In the in
fOrmality of the household. she had
visited X. in her dressing gown and
slippers; and now she stood before
him, a tragic young figure, clutching
the folds of her gown across her
breast.
Il worship him, X" she said tragi-
cally. when l see him coming, 1,
want to get down and let him walk
ON me. When ! see him in the oper-
ating room, cool and calm while ev-
eryone else is fiustered and excited, he
he looks like god"
Then, half ashamed of her outburst.
she turned her back to him and stood
gazing at the small coal fire. 1t was
as well for X. that she did not see his
face.
ITS real, all this?" he asked after
a pause. You're sure its not Trst-
glamour. Sidney?"
ITS real-terribly real" Her voice
she was crying.
She was nightly ashamed of it.
Tears, of course, except in the privacy
of ones closet, were not ethical ON the
street.
Perhaps he cares very much, toe"
"Give me a handkerchief" said Sid
ney in muffled tone. and the little
searched through a bureau drawer.
Then X. questioned her, alternately
soothing and probing.
"Who else had access to the medi-
cine closet?"
"Carl0tta Harrison carried the keys
of course. / was off duty from four
to six. When CarlOtta left the ward
the pr0bationer would have them"
Have you reason to think that eli
ther one of these girls would wish
you harm?'
None whatever" began Sidney We
hemently: and then. checking herself !
'DnIess-but that's rather ridiculous" /
what Is Ridiculous"
ave sometimes thought that Car /
Iotts-but | am sure she is perfectly /
fair with me. Why, X, she wouldn't .
II would be murder.
Murder of course" said X. in in
tention. anyhow. OF course she didn't
do it, I'm only trying to lind out whose
mistake 1t was.
Soon after that she said good night
and went out. She turned in the door
way and smiled TREMENDOUSLY back at
him.
you have done me a lot of good.
You almost make me believe in my
self
''Th.4t's because / believe in you"
With a quick movement that was
one Of her charms. Sidney suddenly
closed the door and slipped back into
the room. n. hearing the door close.
thought she had gone, and dropped
heavily into chair.
MY best friend in all the world 80
said Sidney suddenly from behind him,
and bending over, she kissed him on
the cheek.