The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-18
CHAPTER NO. 10.
THE CURE.

lHE CURE.
Fred began TO avoid people, especially
girls-even his own little sister, Irene,
He had almost a feverish dread Of some
persons. In the afternoons. when he
came in from college, if he heard the
voices of his mothers friends from the
library, where they were having tea,
he would tiptoe to his own room and
shut the door. No more hoytsh rattle
and bang; no more whistled bob
whites to apprise the family of his
advent. HeSwanted to be alone-alone!
He had his reasons. For:
NO bread and butter, Mr.. Fred; not
even II I'd be putin some nice brown
sugar on it for you?" Esther, the wait
Tess, had asked him. She stood in the
doorway of his room, half puzzled, half
worried over this new Mr.. Fred"
He had shaken his head at her. He
didn't want it. He wasn't hungry, Then
suddenly he had known he was staring
at her-actually staring at Esther, Just
becaus the color in her cheeks faded
softly into the creamy white Of her
throat. A pitiful horror of himself en-
quilted him.
I'm a BEAST his spirit cried in
loathing. Why, I'm a beast! Oh, what's
the matter with me?"
He felt he couldn't trust himself, that
was it, Hours, days might pass, care
free and clean as always. And then
the whisper of silk on silk, a breath
of perfume, the turn of a slender wrist,
anything, ~nothing-and this DOGGY, this
haunting, haunted other self he did not
know would have him in its clutches
again.
And then the cure came-suddenly;
for all the world like the sun bursting
through dark clouds. Nor would he ever
have looked for It from such a source.
He had been studying late one af-
%ternoon. His room had grown oppres-
siVe. He opened the door. After a bit
the stiffness of the house dawned on
him. 1t was reassuring. Plainly every
or practically alone, since the servants
would be in the kitchen preparing din
ner at this hour. He gathered a book
or two and pad and pencils to go out
and finish his work in the living room,
Thus he had flung his things on the
center table before he saw her, too late
for retreat: saw her round bronze head
just showing above the top of n great
chair, His heart seemed about to, choke
him. Little Elizabeth Deane! He had
not known until this Instant that he
particularly had been avoiding her all
these weeks. Elizabeth, the touch of
whose budding mouth had been the
spark that had set his youth flaming
into manhood. He did not know it, but
he feared her.
She heard the little noise he made
and jumped up at once.
Hello, Freddie" she said. 1--WE come
to dinner-too early, l guess. Irene's
having her music. Want me to go way,
so you can study"
No" he said. "Sit down, / haven't
seen you in a long time"
He himself had sunk into a chair. In
her wonderful, sweet awkwardness she
came and leaned against the arm of
it. She was almost touching him. She
looked down at him, all rosy, her lips
just denied prettily at the corners in
a smile.
II haven't seen you" she said, Since
you gave me my roses for my birthday.
Freddie, want to see something?"
She made one of the quick gestures
of youth, coming closer to him-quick
and shy, like a little wild animal. A
flush crept up in her cheeks.
Promise you won't tell?" she urged,
Now he felt her soft weight against
his shoulder; her dear face, happy and
drew a long breath. And suddenly it
seemed to him that a great weight lift
ed from his heart Inc went crashing
and rolling down into the black abyss
of the past weeks. Like one who had
been parched with thirst, he drank with
his look her holy youth, her loneliness.
Before 1t his pulses stilled. ashamed:
his fever left him; his soul came out
again from its hiding place.
II won't tell" he said, and his voice
quivered. What is it?"
Ever so slowly she drew her little
fist from the front of her blouse; In
her palm was a locket. Freddie bent
forward. Some brown bits like parch-
ment were behind the glass. She came
so close to him her mouth almost
touched his ear.
ITS leaves from your roses" she
whispered. Mother pressed 'em for
me and I put 'em in here; she said l
might. Freddie. are you tickled?"
''Tickled silly ne told her. And then:
You dear little thing, you"
Something sobered her. She hung a
moment close to him, looking at him,
straight. Then:
I'm not especially dear, Freddie"
she said, It's just that love you, and
you're so nice to me-"
well, you look good to me, Lizzie"
he said awkwardly. Il love you most
most as much as Irene"
ooh Freddie, you duck" she cried.
"Quack, quack." said the duck.
Ducks eat little girls, boots and all,