Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-03-08
CHAPTER XVII.

Winter relaxed its 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-
valescents sat on the benches aud
watched for robins. The fountain,
which had frozen out. was being re-
paired. Here and there on ward win
dow stills tulips opened their gaudy
petals to the sun.
Harriet Ind gone abroad for a flying
trip In March, and came back lnden
with new ldeas, 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 K. 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
O little Of the radiance from her eyes;
her voice had deepened. Where she
had been n 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
Resented basket Of fruit, saw her
there with n child In her arms. and
light In her eyes that he had never
seen before. II 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 u chat before he
went upstairs. Those early spring
days found Harriet Kennedy busy late
In the evenings. and, save for Christine
and n. the house was practically de-
serted.
The breach between Palmer and
Christine was steadily widening. She
was too proud TO ask him TO spend
more of his evenings with her. On
those occasions when he voluntarily
stayed at home with her, he was so
discontinued that he drove her almost
to distraction. Although she was con-
WINGED that he was seeing nothing Of
the girl who had been with him the
night Of the accident, she did not trust
him. Not that girl, perhaps, but there
were others. There would always be
others.
Into Christmas little parlor, then,
K. turned. one spring evening. She
was reading by the lamp. and the door
into the hall stood open. The little
room always cheered K. Its warmth
and light appealed to his esthetic
sense; after the baroness Of his bed
room, It spelled luxury. And perhaps
to be entirely frank, her evident pleas
ure In his society gratl6ed him. Chris
tines small coquetries were not lost on
him. The evenings with her did some
thing to reinstnte him In his own self
esteem. It was subtle, psychological,
but also 1t was very human.
"Come and sit down." said Christine.
"Here's q chair, and here are clga-
rettes and there are matches. Nowl"
Behind him, Christine stood watch
ing his head In the light Of the desk
lamp. "What strong, quiet face It
Is" she thought. Why did she get the
impression Of such a tremendous re-
serve power In this man who was
clerk, and a clerk onlyf Behind him
she made a quick, unconscious gesture
Of appeal, both hands out for an In
slant She dropped them gulltily as
K. turned to her.
II wonder II you know, K" she said,
what q lucky woman the woman win
be who marries you7"
he laughed spontaneously.
Il wonder how long I could hypnO-
tire her into thinking that
-rve had time TO do little think
ing lately abe said. without bitter.