Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-18
MOONLIGHT AND MONEY.
Ay Marion Ruhinoam.
LOUISE GIVES OUT.
Chapter LXlV.

The Angel of Death had come and
passed In what had been the sick room,
the figure that had twitched so nervous
iy, now lay perfectly still IN the bed.
Louise left the room with the nurse,
and as the two women went down the
hall, the clock chined four tunes, III
echoe and re-echoed through the Silent
house, and its sound brought Louise
back to earth. She had been like someone
in trance as she watched the nurse per
form the last duties TO her patient.
-Four O'Clock" the nurse commented,
IN a matter of fact tone. There Is moth
ing now we can do until later in the morn,
ing, not for three hours ut least You
better rest, if you can. ~,
I'm not tired, Louise answered, sti'i
so overwrotlght, nervously. that she was
really not conscious of wcarlness
"1'he doctor said was to give You thus.
The nurse, efficient as always. insplte oil the
the fatigue she must have felt, gave
Louise some medicine IN a tumbier ana
watched while she swallowed II, obedIent-
ly.
"Now. try to sleep Lie down, at least
III stav with YOU If you feel nervous.
NO. thanks. I'm all right, Louise
protpetcd Il think father needs someone
10 look after him. I'm going to hunt tor
/ him
She went down through tho house
switching on the lights To create An artlh-
ciaI cheer in the darkness Beiow. STAIRS
everything was quiet. The servants, VINO
had been up most of the night, had gone
for little sleep, for the routine work
would have to be gone through as usual
indeed. with n funeral in the house, there
would bc three times the normal amount.
20 tho cffIdN
sitting in the darkness, staring Mt the rem
nants of a fire that had not been kindl-
cd for eiays. He was frankly an old man
nov, Ills bent head his limp figure,
both denoted encouragement. lie looked
lost and lonely and pathetic.
Louise went over and turned on the
table light Then putting her hands ON
his shoulders, she leaned over hlm and
kissed him gently The hands that camo M
10 touch hers were IS cold as ice,
She felt the appeal of his age and his
bereavement She knew that Il was be whn
would lean on her from now on, that thus
was another responsibility
You must have . fire here, she
said, little note of authority IN her
voice. Then. A. Mr. Driscom shook hls
head Nes, you must IN going 70 stay
herc with YOU until II gets light I'm cold
You make the FIRE and I'll - out to tho
kitchen and fx Some hot coffee
She watched until she saw him cr1I1np-
ling IN the papers and arranging the
sticks az wood IN the fireplace. Then
satisfied that cvcn Tins slight occupation
would he good for hun, she went into the
kitchen after coffee
"Onc thing, at least, I learned when
was keeping house she remarked. rs she
came back later with loaded tray That
was how to make good coffee She tried
to speak cheerfully as she poured out
stCaming hot cupful for oach oF them
The cracking If the wood in the irc-
place dispcllea the intense gloom Of tho
room u,ler tho stimulus of the warmth
her father looked less worn, and this
choc7cd her more than anything else ~
the moment
II mustn't think ~ myself. must
only think of him, she said. over and
over to herself as she drank the coffee
and watched her father
But her resolution failed her. Il was
impossible 10 think Of anything but the
woman who had died few hours before
MIR Driscom brought up dozens Of little
incidents that happened when Louise WAS
small child, things she bad forgotten
for wears.
She was always fond Of her relatives,
and never quite lot e Of them. he said,
once Though | could never be interested
in any of them | suppose she'd like il il
they came To the funeral though most Of