The Washington herald., 1918-12-23
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF A HOMELY CIRt1
BY JEAN LOUISE DE FoREsT.


| been SO strons. so independeat. q
successful. and 80 prodigaI OF hss
strength
he did, a deal OF quiet thinking at
night before he went 10 sleep. and
during The day. when he lay with
/ closed eyes upon the swinging couch
I In a protected corner OF the porch. II
became one OF the sweetest things in
the world TO him to stretch himself
4 there, and await the fall Of the light
cover which Rebecca always threw
over him. and to know that she wa1
sitting a few feet away. keeping
watch over his siumberE ike some
good guardian spirit He had slept
Z pef1ecuy ever since he came to Hud-
Z dlesford. That was one Of the things
/ which he had grown to appreciate
! There had been black weeks Of inson-
: MIA after he had known irrevocably
that he was blind. Now sleep had re-
turned TO him with twofold blessed
ness since he understood It's value.
You are so good. so kind. Miss Van-
derpool. he said 20 her one day when
she moved a pillow TO make IL lie more
comfortably under his head How
can ever thank you enough p .
Don't Try" Rebecca had answered.
Il am just an average woman, ana
the average woman enjoys taking care
OF people,
Martin made no reply TO this. but
behind his closed eyes his brain was
busy. Rebecca's answer had seemed
curious TO him. but he knew, now that
he understood her better. that IL was
Characteristic Of her. She Was pos
sessed Of a refreshing honesty.
Martin could look back over long
boyhood yean, and years Of young
manhood. when he had refused 70 al
low his mother to take care OF him To
expend her woman-nature. II would
have been a happiness TO her had he
been less independent He saw that
now. sF'
You are like my mother he ssid
one day. long after Rebecca hsd
thought him asleep. and the renasra-
made her quite ridiculously happy.
She had smiled again and again as
she bent over her work.
Day by day Martins face became
browner and fuller. Day by day st
grew more that Of a young man, and
day by day his happiness gained spon-.
taneity. He looked like one who v.D-
enjoying life. And he did enjoy IL. =,
Each morning Rebeccs read through
his letters TO him as they sat together
In the library or on the porch. II be-,
gan one afternoon when they hAd
driven to the village in the phaeton
for the mail There had been. as
there always was. a Considerable
amount Of it for Martin. and anong
others was a letter from Billy Haver-
hill Rebecca recognized the hand
writing. There was also one 70 her
from Maud
When she had finished reading n
aloud TO her companion. leaving out
here and there bits which were OF too
personal nature, Martin had asked
her TO read Billy's letter. and then n
had followed quite naturally that she
should read his other letters. II was
small beginning. but Il led 10 a dis
cussion Of several business matters
not connected with his law practice
That subject was vigorously prohibited.
There was, for instance, a piece OF
coal land Of which he was consideuinx
the purchase. It was quite neSf trsr
have her advice asked upon such a
question. but she gave Il TO the best
OF her ability. To her surprise, Martin
followed il complimenting her upon
her judgment, and when they reached
nome she wrote a letter in reply.