Iron County register., 1917-03-15
CHAPTER XVII.

Winter relaxed it's clutch slowly that
year. March was bitterly cold; even
April found the roads still frozen and
the hedgerows clustered with ice. But
at midday there was spring in the air.
In the courtyard of the hospital, con-
yaiescents sat on the benches and
watched for robins. The fountain,
which had frozen out, was being re-
paired. Here and there on ward Win
dow sills tulips opened their gaudy
petals to the sun.
Harriet had gone abroad for flying
trip in March, and came back laden
with new ideas, model gowns, and
fresh enthusiasm. Grace Irving, hav-
ing made good during the white sales,
had been sent to the spring cottons.
She began to walk with her head high
er. The day she sold Sidney material
| for simple white gown, she was very
happy. On Sidney, on X, and on
Christine the winter had left it's mark
heavily. Christine, readjusting her
life TO new conditions, was graver,
more thoughtful. She was alone most
of the time now. Under KS guidance,
she had given up the duchess" and
was reading real books. She was
thinking real thoughts, too, for the
first time In her life.
Sidney, MS tender as ever, had lost
little Of the radiance from her eyes !;
her voice had deepened. Where she
had been pretty girl, she was now
lovely. She was back in the hospital
again, this time in the children's ward.
X, going in one day to take Johnny
Rosenfeld n basket Of fruit, saw her
there with child In her arms, and a
light In her eyes that he had never
seen before. 1t hurt him, rather
things being as they were with him
When he came out he looked straight
ahead.
X. had fallen into the habit, after
his long walks, of dropping into Chris
tines little parlor for chat before he
went upstairs. Those early spring
days found Harriet Kennedy busy late
In the evenings, and, save for Christine
and H., the house was practically de-
serted.
The breach between Palmer ant
Christine was stendily widening. She
was too proud to ask him to spent
more Of his evenings with her. Or
those occasions when he voluntaril!
stayed ut home with her, he was *
discontented that he drove her almos
to distraction. Although she was con
vinced that he was seeing nothing O
the girl who had been with him tn
night Of the accident, she did not trus
him. Not that girl. perhaps. but ther
were others. There would always b.
others.
Into Christine's little parlor, then
r X. turned, one spring evening. Sh
! was reading by the lamp, and the doc
into the hall stood open. The littl
/, room always cheered X. Its warintl
and light appealed to his cstheti
: sense; after the baroness Of his bed
y room, 1t spelled luxury. And perhaps
d to be entirely frank, her evident pleas
ure in his society gratitled him. Chris
r tines small coquetries were not lost o
I him. The evenings with her did some
9 thing to reinstate him In his own sell
o esteem. It was subtle, psychological
g but also II was very human.
% "Come and sit down." said Christine
"Herc's chair, and here ure cigr
|. rettes and there arc matches. Now
II Behind him, Christine stood watch
d Ing his hend In the light 0f the des
It lamp. "What strong, quiet face
Q. is," she thought Why did she get III
d Impression Of such tremendous r,
10 serve power In this man who was
It clerk, und u clerk only? Behind hii
shc made quick. unconscious gestur
]? Of appeal. both hands out for nm II
stnnt. She dropped them guilty q
X. turned to her.
s II wonder II you know, X" she sait
" "wlat d lucky woman the woman wi
ID be who 'narrles your"
fic laughed good.humorediy.
Ii Il wonder how long I could hypnt
d tie her into thinking that" 81
y 1--WE had time to do q little thiul
o Ing lately" she said, without bite,
ness, Palmer u away 20 much nov
ID l'vs been looking back, WONDERING II
\ pvee thossht tAat about Inn. /. don
believeI \ eyes - sI wsndse I