The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-01-02

~
p, SUSAN cLAoFrr
Copyright. 1918. by the McCiur. Nswspa-
per s~yndicats)

The air was filed with the perfum.
OF roses and the morning breeze blew
I the Hight curtains TO and fro and wait,
ed the delicious fragrance through the
open window. A little child was seat.
ed upon the floor burying a white
kitten under the red rose petals she
had pulled from stems scattered about,
Near her lay a doll very much I'M
dressed. Beside II a little pile OF
dainty clothing ready for use when her
mistress remembered what was due 10
r~espectabillty.
eyes was n woman, stretched with an
invalid's inertness upon a couch. Lis
tening TO the child's low tnlk, she
caught the sound Of q quick step upon
b veranda and a faint CLEAN 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 g%entleness as he looked to-
ward her.
With an almost imperceptible mo-
ton the girl pressed more deeply into
the pillows supporting her. The slight
movement was not lost upon the man.
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"
I'm nw'iy anxious, Doctor Max, and
Tn glad you have come" she an
swered, gravely. I'm afraid Column
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
stlr and broken joints until legs and
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 n sigh he left her side and
stood for long looking with unseeing
eyes into the old-fGshloned garden
searching. as he daily searched, his
mind for some means of combating
the viii of the woman he desired
above all things to make his wife, and
ms always he turned toward her feeling
the utter futillty of any effort he
might make.
"fou gain no strength" he said at
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 mt the
time were forced from his lips
his lntolerable anxiety.
"If | thought my leaving you, Mar
seret, would be your gain, l would 20
the hour. But you need me.
You need my strength, my under
standing. This, that % allow to
'tand between us Is n false conception
II your physical condition. You have
bought about yourself until you have
obsessed by the idea that you :
re a helpless Invalid"
"WiIl | ever be strong, MAXI" :
Strength would come with happi- !
less. II Is happiness you are fighting .
With all that is IN you under the mis- :
impression that you would make
4 my life a failure by coming to me, 6
I need you more thar | can 4
l need peace OF mind. That I
annot have when l see you putting "
You the love God has implanted
! your heart: that you have told me q
on feel for me.
'"The battle IL going against you, !
ear. Each day I see II. 1t Is the II
effort to keep the barrier be- 1
veen us that tells so upon you / a
now this as your physician. know n
because OF my love for you. Why u
re you so unwilling to allow me to be
10 judge OF what Is best for me7 r.
hat Is what you are doing. Deciding n
II me. Dear, no man who In a man
going to accept without protest such IL
decision. II you care nothing for x
e there is nothing more TO be said. NJ
man enough, I hope, to TAKE my
without whimpering, But r
~ have told me that you do care; W
at YOU viii not give yourself to me 81
cause you win be a drag upon my II
In
There was a moment Of silence. then b,
e put her slender fingers about his IN
II rested her cheek against his al
nd. "Max. would that be at peace ,ef
I aid MS you wishpH she asked gen III
: MS she placed his hand over her
heart. "Would happiness con-
Tue whore there would be constant
Nnn snY am nhsessnd by M