Evening star., 1919-12-21

From the room adjoining came a
rafting at the barred door between.
"Cut ii, in there. This amt no bar
room, Go tell your d. It's to a police
man"
They crouched closer and trembling.
"'Shh-h-h. Dee Dee. darling. try to
be easy and not raise the house-try"
Miss Worte lay back exhausted
against Miss Barnets engulfng arms
Her passion ebbed suddenly and her
words came scant, incoherent and fun
of breath.
mo use No use. He told me to-
day he wouldn't operate. He told me.
No, no, all the colors so pale--even the
reds-so pale: Lavender and blue L
| just couldn't tell. | couldn't. So
pale. Two yards she brought back
next day. kicking at-Oh, my God,
OH my God.'
"'Shh- h. darling. Don't take on
so! Wait till morning and wen get
new drops from him. 'Shh-h-h May
be it's only strain"
II know. I'm in the dark for good,
Sadie. Oh, my God. I'm in the dark"
Except that her face was withered,
she was like Iphigenia praying for
death.
"Lemme die! Lemme die.
''Shh- h-darling-That's it, rest
quiet"
Suddenly Miss Worte flung up one
arm about Sadie Barnets neck. press
ing her head downward until their
faces touched.
dee Dee, darling, you--you hurt"
you won't never leave me. Sadie,
like you said you would? You won't
leave me alone in the dark, Sadie?"
mo, no, my darling; you know l
won't. never, never"
You'll keep me with you always.
promise me that, Sadie. Promise me
that on the curl of your mothers hair
you wear in your locket. Promise me,
little Sadie. YOU won't leave your
aunt Dee Dee alone in the dark. My
poor little girl, don't leave me alone
in the dark, 1 can't see; Sadie. ]
can't see no more. Promise me. Sadie,
promise me, promise me-"
From Sadie Barnet's heart, weak
ening her like loss of blood, flowed
her tears. She kissed the heart of
Edith Wrote where it beat like
clock beneath the high-necked night
dress; she made of her bosom pillow
of mercy and drew the head up to its
warmth.
Il promise. Dee Dee, on her curl
of hair. Sure promise. Always will
! keep you with me, darling. always.
always. SO help me, always"
CHAPTER v.
Along the road OF Newton Heights
derly. Even close UP to the rim OF
the oiled highway itself an occa-
sional colony Of wood violets dared
to show their heads for the brief mo-
ment before they suffocated. The
threat of rain still lay on the air, but
the Sunday rank and file Of motors
threw back tops. lowered windshields,
and turned shining noses toward the
greenins fields.
In the red-leather tonneau. with
her little face wind-blown and barred
to the kiss OF the air. Sadie Barnet
turned to her companion and peered
under the visor of his checked cap
and up into his small inset eyes.
Isis that the house upon the hin
there, Jerry?'
mot yet. It's right around the next
bend"
Gee. Ay-,,my hands are like ice.
lin that nervous''
"Lemme feel"
No" "rn -
That's a swell way TO treat a fel-
low who's promised to marry you"
"You-you must excuse me TODAY.
Jerry. Honest, with a wink. of sleep
last night--you must excuse me to-
day. I'm 30 upset with poor Dee
Dee, and on top Of that SO nervous
about-your little girl and the house
and everything. And, Dee Dee
when ] think Of Dee Dee" b.
Don't think. Peachy; that's the
way TO get around that"
II can't help 1t. You ought 10
seen her at the docfors this morning,
how-how the poor thing lost her
nerve when he told her that there
there wasn't no hope"
Jaw, now,ncut the sob stun, Peachy.
You cant help it. Nobody can; that's
the trouble. Say, what kind Of a little