Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-02-15
CHAPTER XVII.
street,

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-
yalescents 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 a 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 a simple white gown, she was very
happy. On Sidney, on K, and on
Christine the winter had left its 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, as tender as ever, had lost
a 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
Resented a basket Of fruit, saw her
there with a child in her arms, and
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.
K. had fallen into the habit after
his long walks, Of dropping into Chris
tines little parlor for a chat before he
went upstairs. Those early spring
days found Harriet Kennedy busy late
in the evenings, and, save for Christine
and K, 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 Christine's 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 cheersd K. It's 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 gratified him. Chris
tines small c0quetries were not lost on
| him. The evenings with her did some
thing to reinstate him in his own self
esteem. It was subtle, psychological,
| but also it was very human.
"Come and sit down." said Christine.
Here's a chair, and here are ciga-
rettes and there are matches. Now y
Behind him, Christine stood watch
ing his head in the light of the desk
lamp. "What a strong, quiet face it
| is" she thought. Why did she get the
e
serve power in this man who was a
| clerk, and a clerk only? Behind him
! she made a quick, unconscious gesture
! of appeal, both hands out for an in
slant. She dropped them guiltily as
| X. turned to her.
81 wonder if you know, X" she said,
what a lucky woman the woman will
| be who marries you3"
He laughed good-humoredly.
81 wonder how long l could hypno-
tie her into thinking that"
I've had time to do little think
ing lately" she said, without bitter
ness. Palmer is away so much now.
| I've been looking back, wondering if |
ever thought that about him. I don't
| believe l ever did. | wonder"
She checked herself abruptly and
I'VE sometimes thought that Car
lotta-but I am sure she is perfectly
fair with me. Why, K, she wouldn't
1t would be murder"
Murder, of course" said K, "In in
| good deal In coed many ways, rG
not care to look ahead if it were not
for you. I value our friendship SC
/ much that L"
THAT you don't want to spoil it,
she finished for him. II know YOU
don't care for me, K. not the way L
But wanted you to know. 1t doesn't
| hurt a good man to know such 8
thing. And it-isn't going to stop your
coming here, is it?'
"Of course not" said K. heartily
But tomorrow, when we are both
| clear-headed. we will talk this over
You are mistaken about this thing
Christine; I am sure Of that. Things
have not been going We'll and just be
! cause l am always around, and all that
sort Of thing, you think things that
aren't really so. I'm only a reaction
! Christine"
He tried to make her smile up al
him. But just then she could not
smile.