The Twin City star., 1918-05-18
Margeret
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)
By SUSAN CLAGETT


The air was filled with the perfume
of roses and the morning breeze blew
the light curtains to and fro and watt.
ed the delicious fragrance through the
open window. A little child was seat
ed upon the floor burying white
kitten under the red rose petals she
had pulled from stems scattered about.
Near her lay a doll very much un-
dressed. Beside it little pile Of
dainty clothing ready for use when her
mistress remembered what was due to
responsibility.
Watching the group with 1istless
eyes was woman, stretched with an
invalid's inertness upon couch. LIS
tening to the child's low talk, she
caught the sound Of quick step upon
the veranda and faint gleam Of color
rose to her face to disappear before a
man stepped through the long window
into the room; a man alert in move
ment whose keen eyes softened to a
marvellous gentleness as he looked to-
ward her.
With an almost imperceptible mo-
tion the girl pressed more deeply into
the pillows supporting her. The slight
movement was not lost upon the man,
who laid his hand upon the child's
head, laughing as he turned her face
to meet his gaze.
"What a careless, careless mother,
Ruth, to leave your child in this con-
dition. She will take cold"
''rm aw'ly anxious, Doctor Max, and
I'm glad you have come" she an
swered, gravely. "I'm afraid Colum-
bia has hurt herself and will have to
have an op'ration."
With gravity equaling her own, the
physician took the doll and worked at
stiff and broken joints until legs and
arms moved easily. He was glad of
the respite, for the slight withdrawing
of the woman upon the couch had hurt
him to the quick. Not until the doll
was in perfect order did he turn and
take the slender hand In his strong,
warm clasp. With professional quick
ness he noted the irregular pulse and
heavy eyes.
"You did not sleep last night" he
said gently.
"No," she answered, quietly meet
ing his eyes.
With sigh he left her side and
stood for long looking with unseeing
eyes into the old-fashioned garden
searching, as he daily searched, his
mind for some means of. combating
the will Of the woman he desired
above all things to make his wife, and
;as always he turned toward her feeling
the utter futility Of any effort he
might make.
'You gain no strength" he said al
last, the misery in his heart told in
the sudden strain Of his voice. For
the moment the usually self-contained
physician was not himself. And words
he felt should not be spoken at the
present time were forced from his lips
by his intolerable anxiety.
IF thought my leaving you. Mar.
geret, would be your gain, would GO
within the hour. But you need me-
You need my strength, my under.
standing. This, that you allow to
stand between us is false conception
of your physical condition. You have
thought about yourself until you have
become obsessed by the idea that you
are a helpless invalid"
"Will I ever be strong, MAXI"
Strength would come with happi.
ness. It is happiness you are fighting
with all that Is in you under the mis-.
taken impression that you would make
OF my life failure by coming to me
whereas I need you more than I car
say. I need peace Of mind. That
cannot have when I see you putting
from you the love God has implanted
in your heart; that you have told me
you feel for me.
'"The battle Is going against you
dear. Each day I see it. 1t is the
constant effort to keep the barrier be
tween us that tells so upon you.
know this as your physician. know
it because Of my love for you. Why
are you so unwilling to allow me to be
the Judge Of what Is best for me-
That is what you are doing. Deciding
for me. Dear, no man who is man
is going to accept without protest such
a decision. If you care nothing fol
me there is nothing more to be said
I am man enough, hope, to take my
medicine without whimpering. But
you have told me that you do care
that you will not give yourself to me
because you will be drag upon my
life."
There was a moment of silence, then
she put her slender fingers about his
and rested her cheek against his
hand. 'Max, would that be at peace
If I did as you wish?'' she asked gen.
tly as she placed his hand over her
laboring heart. "Would happiness con-
tinue where there would be constant
regret? You say I am obsessed by
the fear I would spoil your life.
am. What help could I be to man