The Dermott news., 1917-03-08
CHAPTER XII.
--10-

When Palmer and Christine returned From their wedding trip Anna Page made much of the arryal, insisted on dinner for them that night at the little house must help Christine unpack her trunks and arrange her wedding gifts about the apartment. She was brighter than she had been for days, more in- terested. The wonders of the trous- seau filled her with admiration and sort of jealous envy for Sidney, who could have none of these things. In pathetic sort of way she mothered Christine in lieu of her own daughter.
 And il was her quick eye that dis cerned something wrong. Christine wns not happy. Under her excitement was an undercurrent of reserve. Anna. rich in maternity if In nothing else, sslt 1t, and in reply to some speech of Ahristlnes that struck her as hard, not quite fitting. she gave her n gentle nd monishing
 Married life takes n little adjust tng, my dear" she said. After We have lived to ourselves for number of years. 1t is not easy to live for someone else.
 Christine straightencd from the tea .able she was arranging.
 That's true. of course. But why should the woman do all the adjust- fng7'
 Men are more set" said poor Anna. who had never been set in anything in her life Tt Is harder for them to give in And, of course. Palmer Is older. and his habits
 "The less said about Palmer's hab- its the better" flashed Christine. "l appear to have married bunch of habits
 She gave over her unpacking. and eat down listlessly by the fire, while Anna moved about. busy with the small activities that delighted her.
 Christine was not without courage. She was making Il brave clutch at hap piness But that afternoon of the first day at home she was terrified. She was glad when Anna went and left her alone by her fire.
 The days exertion had been bad for AuUh. ic AbS ituiiu iitt oh tit couch in the transformed sewing room, and gave her a quick glance of appre- heusion. She was propped up high with pillows, with bottle of aromatic ommonla beside her.
 "Just-short of breath" she pante6 "I-l must get down. Sldney-is com ing shome-to supper; and-the oth- ers-Palmer and"
 That was as far as she got. K. watch in hand. found her pulse thin. stringy. irregular. He had been pre- pared for some such emergency. and he hurried into his room for amyl ni- trate When he came back she was almost unconscious. There was no time even to call Katie. He broke the capsule in towel. and held it over her face. After time the spasm relaxed. but her condition remained alarming.
 Harriet, who had come home by that time, sat by the couch and held her sisters hand Only once in the next tour or so did she speak. They had cent for Doctor Ed, but he had not come yet. Harriet was too wretched to notice the professional manner in which K. set to work over Anna
 i've been very hard sister to her" she said. If you can pull her through, I'll try to make up for it."
 Christine sat on the stairs outside. Frightened and helpless. They had sent for Sidney: but the little house had no telephone. and the message was slow in getting on
 At six o'clock Doctor Ed came pant ing up the stairs and into the room. K. stood back.
 Well. this is sad. Harriet" said Doc tor Ed. 'Why In the name of heaven. when l wasn't around. didn't you get another doctor. If she had had some amyl nitrate"
 .I gave her some nitrate of amyl." said K. quietly. There was really no time 10 send for anybody. She almost went under at half-past five" Max had kept his word. and even Doctor Ed did not suspect Ks secret. He gave n quick glance at this tall young man who spoke so quietly of , what he had done for the sick woman. and went on with his work.
 Sidney arrived a little after six. and from that moment the confusion in the sickroom was at an end. She moved Christine from the stairs. where Katie on her numerous errands must crawl over her: set Harriet to warming her