Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-13
MOONLIGHT AND MON EY.
BY Marion Rubincam.
LOUISE HAS A FRIGHT.
Chapter LIN.

March came in with melting SHOWS
cold winds, and sunlight warming TO tn,
promise of better DAYS. And still Mrs
Driscom stayed IN bed. DIR. Drake came
faithfully every day and divided his at
tention between Louise, always protcs-
ting she needed no medical care, and
the woman who lay fretting in bed
II was the doctor, finally, who insisted
that Mrs. Driscom have n nurse at night
But he allowed Louise to attend the in
valid during the day.
Remembering the doctors idea that
some mental trouble was weighing on Mrs.
Driscom, and that its adjustment might
help her. Louise made several attempts
to find out the mystery that had shrOuded
the household since her childhood. But
every attempt failed
She had thought TO lead her mother on
hv confessions OF her own dlsappoint-
ment with Harry But this brought moth
ing but n grim Il told YOU SO.
She tried 10 get her mother to talk
about her own gIrlhood To this she got
manly, What fool was, then worse
than YOU were
Once, in desperation. on n Sunday
night when her father was TO be home for
his weekly dinner, She asked her mother
whether she would not like dinner served
IN her room for the three of them. The
Invalid shook her head So violently the
fluffy. foolish little boudoir cap went
over TO one side
But wouldn't YOU like to see Father"
louise asked finally.
No, Mrs Driscom said positively,
and turned around so she lay facing the
wall
After that Louise gave il up As for her
so -, o- l., .r,.4 1 ,,,.li,- np.l
vague as ALWAYS, only he was becoming
more like friend and less like an ac-
quaintancc, every time she saw him. That
was her one consolation
One night. late in March, the nurse
tapped on her door,
Il hate to wake YOU Mrs Morton
she apologzed But think your mother
IS a little worse and you might do her
good by sitting with her
Is il ycrV serious" Louise asked
anxio,ISly, hunting around in the cold
darkness of the room for her bathrohe
No, don think 50 hope not, But
you come while phone for the doctor.
Her mothers room WAS warm enough
and the shaded lights gave soft, but not
gloomy appearance Louise shivercd
violently, however, IS She went over 10
the bed Something terrifying and cold
she was in the presence If that vague.
mysterious thing We call death
She sat on the edge ot the he'd and
looked at her mother Mrs Driscom lay
With closed ewes. her mouth drawn tightly
her hair. braided for the night pulled
sharply back from her face Was this
death Louise wondered and shuddcrcd
and started suddenly when hcr mother
opened her eyes slightly and looked 81 her
No need to get YOU up. She mar
murcd 50 low She could scarcely 10 heard
! had a sinking spell that 5 I'LL I'm over
It now I'll bc All right
Id rather hc here. Mother, Louise
said gently holding one III the sick NO
man hands The nurse came III with
vorc! that the doctor would come presently
Why do Won drag that poor man
out 1t this time Of the sentence ended
in a gurgle Of sound and Mrs Driscum
lay quiet suddenly The nurse put q gentle
hand over her pulse and Louise watched
her IN dread But the nurse nodded pres
emily, IS she found the slight fluttcr that
meant there was still lfc
shell como out Of il All right Better
le down until after DR.. Drake comes.
shc advised
But Louise went to the telephone
instead q 10 bed She rang up her fathers
lab and ordered the sleepy boy 1T the
,ther end Of the wIrc to wake Mr. Driscom
Presently she heard his voicc. thorough
Y alarmed and startled
i want You to come home, father.
ne SAID No I'm III right Yes. it's
Mother She Is worse than we thought
md worse than | let on to you no.
here no immediate danger But I'm
.fraid and l want you