The Dermott news., 1917-03-08

1 lying wakefully in her bed, while the clock on the mantel tolled hour after hour into the night. Palmer did not come home at all. He sent note from the office in the morning: hope you are not worried. darling. | The car broke down near the Country club last night, and there was nothing to do but to spend the night there | would have sent you word but did not want to ! rouse you. What do you say to the the ater tonight and supper afterward? Christine was learning. She tele- phoned the Country club that morning, and found that falmef had not been there. But. although she knew now that he was deceiving her, as he al- ways had deceived her, as probably he always would, she hesitatcd to con | front him with what she knew She shrank, as many n woman has shrunk before, from confronting him with his | lie.
 But the second time It happened she was reused. It was almost Christmas then. and Sidney was well on the way to recovery. thinner and very white. but going slowly up and down the stair case on Ks arm, and sitting with | Harriet and K. at the dinner table. She was begging to be back on duty l for Christmas. and K. felt that he would have to give her up soon. At three o'clock one morning Sidney reused from light sleep to hear Il rapping on her door.
 ''Is that you, Aunt Harriet?' she called.
 It's Christine. May come in?" Sidney unlocked her door, Christine slipped into the room. She carried n candle. and before she spoke she looked at Sidney's watch on the bedside table. "I hoped my clock was wrong she said. II am sorry to waken you. Sid ney, but don't know what to do."
 Are you ill?"
 "No. Palmer has not come home."
 What time is it?'
 After three o'clock" Sidney had lighted the gas and was throwing on her dressing gown.
 When he went out did he say"
 He said nothing. We had been quarreling. Sidney, I am going home in the morning."
 You don't mean that. do yOu?'
 Don't I look as if I mean IL? How much of this sort of thing Is woman l suppose to endure?'
 "Perhaps he has been delayed. These 1 things always seem terrible in the middle of the night, but by morning.
 Christine whirled on her.
 This isn't the first time. You re member the letter got on my wedding dax?"
 'sSes."
 Hes gone back to her"
 Christine, oh, I'm sure you're wrong. He's devoted to you. Oh. l don't believe it r'
 Believe 1t or not" said Christine doggedly. that's exactly what has hap pcned. I got something out of that l little rat of Rosenfeld boy, and the rest l know because l know Palmer. He's out with her tonight"
 The hospital had taught Sidney one thing: that 1t took many people to make world. and that out of these 1 some were inevitably vicious. But vice had remained for her clear abstrac- ton. There were such people, and be- cause one was In the world for service one cared for them. Even the Saviour had been kind to :he woman of the streets.
 ! But here abruptly Sidney found the great injustice of the world-that be- l cause of this vice the good suffer more 1 than the wicked. Her young spirit rose in hot rebellion.
 It isn't fair" she cried. Tt makes Palmer cares for you, and yet he can do thing like this! Christine was pacing nervously up and down the room. Mere companion ship had soothed her. She was now, on the surface at least. less excited than Sidney.
 They are not all like Palmer. thank heaven" she said. There are decent men. My father Is one, and your K, here in the house Is another At four o'clock in the morning Palmer Howe came home, Christine met him in the lower hall. He was rather pale, but entirely sober. She confronted him in her straight white | gown and waited for him to speak. "I am sorry to he SD late, Chris he said The fact is. l am all in. l was | driving the car out Seven Nile run. We blew out tire and the thing turned over"
 Christine noticed that his right arm was hanging inert by his side.