The Irish standard., 1917-01-20

sr that was the way the dream went.
| IF you had enough character, I'd
think you did 1t. How do know you
didn't follow us, and shoot him as
he left the room?"
1t must have been reality after all;
:or Sidney's numbed mind grasped the
essential fact here, and held on to it,
tie had been out with CarlOtta. He
aad prOmised-swOrn that this should
not happen. 1t had happened. 1t sur
?rised her. 1t seemed as if nothing
more could hurt her.
In the movement to and from the
operating room, the door stood open
Tor a moment. A tall figure-how
much it looked like X. !-straightened
and held out something in its hand.
''The bullet!' said Carlotta in a
whisper
Then more waiting, stir of move
ment in the room beyond the closed
door. Carlotta was standing, her face
buried in her hands, against the door.
Sidney suddenly felt sorry for her.
She cared a great deal. 1t must be
tragic to care like that! She herself
was not caring much; she was too
numb.
The city still slept, but the torturing
night was over. And in the gray dawn
the staff, looking gray, too, and elderly
and weary, came out through the
closed door and took their hushed way
toward the elevator. They We're talk
Ing among themselves. Sidney, strain
Ing her ears, gathered that they had
seen a miracle, and that the wonder
was still on them.
Carlotta followed them out.
| Almost on their heels came X. He
was in the white coat, and more and
more he looked like the man who had
raised up from his work and held out
something in his hand. Sidncy's head
was aching and confused. The tall
manor was it K.?-looked at her,
and then reached up and turned Off
the electric light. When the light was
out everything was gray. She could
not see. She slid very quietly out of
her chair, and lay ut his feet in
dead faint.
X. Carried her to the elevator. He
held her as he had held her that day
ut the park when she fell in the river,
very carefully, tenderly, as one holds
something infinitely precious. Not UNI
til he had placed her on her bed did
she open her eyes. But she was con-
scious before that. She was SO tired,
and to be carried like that, in strong
arms, not knowing where one was go
ing, or caring
The nurse he had summoned hustled
out for aromatic ammonia. Sidney,
lying among her pillows, looked up
at K.
"How is he?"
! "A little better. There's chance.
DEAR"
Il have been SO mixed up. All the
time l was sitting waiting, 1 kept
thinking 1t was you who were Opcrat
Ing! Will he really get well?"
1T looks promising"
II should like to thank Doctor Ed.
wardes"
The nurse was n long time getting
the ammonia. But something had hap
pened to X. that savorcd of the mar
Vicious. His faith in himself was COM
Ing bnck-not strongly, with IL rush,
but with all humility. He had been
loath to take up the burden; but, now
that he had it, he brcntled II sort of
inarticulate prayer to be able to
carry it.
Sidney held out her hand to him,
"What should l do without you, X. ?"
! she asked wistfully.
"All you have to do is to want me-"
His voice was not too steady. and
he took her pulse in II most business
like way to distract her attention from
1t. But, as he rose from the chair be-
side her low bed, she put out her hand
to him.
| OK"
Eyes, dear"
"He was out with Carlotta. He
promised, and he broke his promise"
''There may have been reasons. Sun.
pose we wait until he can explain"
GLOW can he explnin?" And, when
he hesitnted: II bring all my troubles