The Pulaskian., 1917-08-24

Dll6 Ou Ilie eIiu Ol q SlOSle LO HOlQ III his cheek, picked up his book in hurry, and eyed the invalid over it.
 "Stop bullying. I'll read when I'm ready. Have you any idea what I'm reading?"
 "Of course"
 "Well, haven't. For ten minutes I've been reading across both pages !"
 Max laughed, and suddenly put out his hand. Demonstrations of affection were so rare with him that for mo- ment Doctor Ed was puzzled. Then, rather sheepishly, he took it.
 "When I get out" Max said 'we1l have to go out to the White Springs again and have supper"
 That was all but Ed understood.
 On the day when K. had told Max his reason for giving up his work, Sidney spent her hour with Max that evening as usual. His big chair had been drawn close to window, and she found him there, looking out. She kissed him. But instead of letting her draw away, he put out his arms and caught her to him.
 "Smile at me-. You don't smile any more. You ought to smile; your mouth"
 T am almost always tired; that's all, Max"
 l She eyed him bravely. Aren't you going to let me make love to you at all? You get away be- yond my reach" q was looking for the paper to read to you."
 l A sudden suspicion famed in his eyes.
 Sidney, you don't like me to touch you any more, Come here where I can see you.v
 The fear of agitating him brought her quickly. For moment he was ap- peased.
 'That's more like 1t. How lovely you are, Sidney!' He lifted first one hand and then the other to his lips. Are you ever going to forgive me?"
 "If you mean about Carlotta, for gave that long ago."
 He was almost boyishly relieved. What a wonder she was So lovely, and so sane. Many a woman would have held that over him for years-not that he had done anything really wrong on that nightmare excursion. But so many women are exigent about prom ises.
 "When are you going to marry me?"
 "We needn't discuss that tonight, Max. Can't we talk things over when you are stronger?'
 Her tone caught his attention, and turned him a little white. He faced her to the window, so that the light fell on her.
 "What things? What do you mean?" | He had forced her hand. She had meant to wait; but, with his keen eyes on her, she could not dissemble.
 T am going to make you very un- happy for little while." | "Well?"
 i've had lot of time to think. It isn't that am angry. I am not even jealous. was at first. It isn't that. It's hard to make you understand. l think you care for me"
 "But, good heavens, Sidney, you do care for me, don't you?" sTm afraid I don't, Max; not enough" She tried to explain, rather pitifully. After one look at his face, she spoke to the window. "I'm so wretched about it. l thought I cared. To me you were the best and greatest man that ever lived. I-when I said my prayers, r. But that doesn't matter. You were sort of god to me-"
 l He groaned under his breath. 'No man could live up to that, Sid ney."
 "No. I see that now. But that's the way I cared. It's just that I never loved the real you, because l never knew you" When he remained silent, she made an attempt to justify herself.
 "Pd known very few men," she said. T came into the hospital, and for a time life seemed very terrible. There were wickednesses l had never heard of, and somebody always paying for them. l was always asking, Why? Why? Then you would come in, and lot of them you cured and sent out. You gave them their chance, don't you see? Until I knew about Carlotta, you always meant that to me. You were like Railways helping"
 The room was very silent. in the nurses parlor, few feet down the cor ridor, the nurses were at prayers.
 "Yea, though I walk through the val ley of the shadow of death-"
 The man in the chair stirred. He had come through the valley of the shadow, and for what? He was very bitter. He said to himself savagely that they would better have let him die.
 ''You say you never loved me because you never knew me. I'm not rotte1,