Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-03-22
"It's. the truth.o doggedlv.

but ne maze Gluten at MS SELL
respect. He was acting like a crazy
boy, and he was a man, all of twenty
two!
when are you going to the hospi-
tal?"
Tomorrow"
as that Wilson's hospital"
eyes"
Alas for his resolve! The red haze
of jealousy came again. "You'll be see
ing him every day, / suppose"
II dare say. I shall also be seeing
twenty or thirty other doctors, and a
hundred or so men patients, not to
mention visitors. Joe, you're not ra-
tional.'
NO" he said heavily, "Tm not. If
it's got to be someone, Sidney, I'd
rather have it the roomer upstairs
than Wilson. There's a lot of talk
about Wilson,
ut isn't necessary to malign my
friends"
He rose.
"Wilson had better look out. I'll be
watching If I see him playing any
of his tricks around you-well, he'd
better look out!"
That, as it turned out, was Joe's
farewell. He had reached the break
ing-point. He gave her long look,
blinked, and walked rapidly out to the
Street Some of the dignity of his
retreat was lost by the fact that the
cat followed him, close at his heels.
Sidney was hurt, greatly troubled.
She even shed a tear or two, very
surreptitiously; and then, being human
and much upset, and the cat startling
her by it's sudden return, she shooed
it off the veranda and set an imaginary
dog after it. Whereupon, feeling some
what better, she went in and locked
the balcony window and proceeded up
stairs.
LIE Moyne's light was still going. The
rest of the household slept. She
paused outside the door.
Are you sleepy?"-very softly.
There was movement inside, the
sound of book put down. Then: mo,
indeed"
Il may not see you in the morning.
leave tomorrow"
"Just a minute"
From the sounds, she judged that
he was putting on his shabby gray
coat. The next moment he had opened
the door and stepped out into the cor
rider.
Il believe you had forgotten"
II? Certainly not. l started down
stairs a while ago, but you had a visi-
tor"
"Only Joe Drummond."
He gazed down at her quizzically.
"And-is Joe more reasonable?"
He will be-. He knows that L
that l shall not marry him"
Poor chap He'll buck up, of
course. But it's little hard just now.
When do you leave"
Just after breakfast"
Il am going very early. Perhaps
He hesitated. Then, hurriedly:
II got little present for you-noth-
ing much, but your mother was quite
willing. In fact, we bought it to-
gether."
He went back into his room, and re-
turned with small box. She opened
it with excited fingers. Ticking away
on it's satin bed was a small gold
watch.
you'll need it, you see," he ex-
planned nervously.
ga watch said Sidney, eyes on it.
"A dear little watch, to pin on and
not put in a pocket. Why, you're the
best persona
Il was afraid you might think it
presumptuous," he said. 81 haven't
any right, of course. And then, your
mother said you wouldn't be offend
ed"
Don't apologize for making me so
happy" she cried. Its wonderful,
really. And the little hand is for
pulses! How many queer things you
know!"
After that she must pin it on, and
slip in to stand before his mirror and
inspect the result. 1t gave LIE Moyne
a queer thrill to see her there in the
room, among his books and his pipes
1t made him little sick, too, in view
of tomorrow and the thousand-odd to-
morrows when she would not be there.
I've kept you up shamefully," she
said at last, "and you get up. so early.
l shall write you note from the hos
pital, delivering a little lecture on ex-
travagance-because how can / now,
with this joy shining on me? And
about how to keep Katie in order
about your socks, and all sorts of
things. And-and now, good night"
She had moved to She door, and he
followed her STOPPING a little to pass
under the low chandelier.
Good night" said Sidney