The Washington times., 1919-12-24
C0ARTU2 IN.

Laura tells Ruth that Hugh 1913
me more than anything. ! aa -
ing to write him q little nets tall
ing him shall be with him svsry
day after he gets home-
The vision of her handsorse lover
with white bandaxe soross his
good-looking eyes moved the girl
TO pity. She saw herself - . min
istertnE angel reading to him.
waiting on him. and chsnrins hi,
temporary darkness tate dayligAt
The other letters ! have ssnf
have been only the kind that hss
nurse could read aloud to him"
she continued This one ! shall
inciose TO his fxther--and ask him
TO read IL TO Hugh Mr.. Rodney
will not mind the AfYectionatcness
OF II. i guess"
Fer the rstAssss HysA
When she had written the nets
she brought IL to her mother.
See n you think IL ts al r1eht."
is TO censor IL. i want to be sore
it's quite the thing
Ths mother <ead Il. q smile Of
approval on her face.
Dear Boy" the letter raA. s(Aa
you cannot read this yoursAif ! Am
not writing all ] want TO, but you
must fancy my calling you the
name you most like me TO call
youD This lie just q little note -
tell you that am wonderfully
happy because you are coming
home soon and that my heart
aches for you when ] think Of al
you have been through
From what your father writes -
Laura ] suppose. you viii not b
ai.o~eo 10 use your eyes much for
few weeks But j arm going to be
eyes for you. dear. and will spenA
a part OF every day reading to you
unless you would rather have NJ
talk to you.
II am putting something IN tie
corner of this letter. just where !
sign my name. Put your lips to II
and see IL you can guess what II Ia
YOUR DORIS
"P. S.-If you could read THE
yourself. there ia lot more would
say"
THAT is sweet little. letter.
darling" Mrs. Courtney Good
TO accompany it."
ding. the mothers sentimental fan
cies Travelled forward to the return
of the sick man.
She recalled what his father hsA
said OF his being "nervoue." while
she pitied him. she dreaded the
effect Of his condition upon her
best-beloved child. II he wero
ouerulous and exacting, IL would
-
When Doris had finished hss
second note, Mrs. Courtney voieo
her own misgtvings.
II have not yet told you. dear.
what Mr.. Rodney says OF Hugh's
general cohdition."
Then. with what she felt to -
infinite tact she prepared the girl
for Hugh's changed state OF nerves.
Net very Pseasas1
81 hope he may be cheerful. bot
] doubt IT," the matron commentsd
"I know how IL wAs when \ your
father was Ill. He was very dtfe-
cult. II Hugh 10 like that, ! want
you to get as much diversion when
away from him as you can That
is your duty TO yourself and to all
of us.
at is all very wen Tor you 70 -
to read TO him every day. But
want you not to promise to do
more. Instead make your
plans for amusemepts Of various
kinds"
Doris looked very thoughtful
81 suppose ] ought TO do that
she admitted. "I love Hugh-but
he cannot expect me TO sacrifice
myself entirely TO him as long ~
he is unable to go out with me or
to enjoy the things ] en5oy-ea1
her
Indeed he cannot" Mrs. Court
ney affirmed II am glad to have
had this talk with you now, dAas.
before Hugh's return We both
love him-but sick persons are
selfish"
Yes" Doris said doubtfufly, Il
suppose they are. And, speaking Of
selfish people. reminds me of enc
who is unselfish- Ralph Norton 10
q peach in that way. OF course, be
has money-and all that-yet some
men would noi have been 20 nice
to me as he has been during AL
this anxious time. considering be
Knows ] am engaged
by the way, he is coming to So
me tonight. ] think ! will tell him
how helpless Hugh will be for o
while. II may" with a little gigg1A
him that he need not sto0
doing nice things for me Just -
soon as my fiance returns And. a.
you say, ! will need diversion after
putting in a part Of each day with
poor Hugh"
81 suppose young Norton is rich
her mother unused aloud. 81 have
there lie money in tbs
family"
"Oh, yes. he has oodies OF money.
He inherited all his old rran6-
property, you know. BE
told me So"
Mrs Courtney was silent for the
next few minutes. She w&s think
ing that her girls need never marry
Tor money. They were not rich. but
had enough TO protect them from
want
And. OF course, Doris would marry
Hugh.
Yet II anything should happen -
prevent Zone never could tell. we'll
Ralph Norton was certainly q vOry
line young fellowi
CTo BE CSatfnUeA.l
To make a dustbin sanitary, burn
81