Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-30
The
Prom ter'S
Wife
By JANE PHELPS.
ROBERT FALLS AND BREAKS HIS
ARM.
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTER XVII.


Just after Mr.. Frederick had said
he could do nothing for Neil unless
he himself wanted to help, others
came and we had no further opportun-
ity for talk together. 1 urged him to
remain to dinner, but he had an en-
gagement. I hoped Neil would come
home and that if we both talked to
him he might listen. knew from
Frederick's manner that things had
reached some sort of crisis.
Miss Wilson came in just as Freder-
lex was leaving. She persuaded him
to wait until she had a cup of tea.
promising to drop him at his hotel
if he would.
81 have a new Rolls Royce. 1
should like you to see it," she said
with an arch look at him. All the wo-
men l knew that had met him liked
this blunt friend of mine; this man
who called things by their names and
whose word was never questioned.
"That is an inducement. / mostly
ride in flivyers at home" was his
characteristic answer. Then Maud
Wilson remarked:
81 haven't seen you at Mrs. Powers
lately Mrs. Forbes. She had wonder
full affair the other night. looked for
you and your handsome husband"
made some sort of reply my cheeks
burning. Fortunately no one save Mr..
Frederick heard her. He ignored what
she had said and without giving me
time to reply commenced to talk of
her new car. She was Immediately in
terested and so l was spared the NOR
LITIGATION o fan answer
So we were absolutely dropped by
Mrs. Powers, and of course by her
set. The one in which | had hoped TO
move. 1t had been a large affair and
we had not been invited. l was very
glad | had not gone any further with
nv soci alplanning. l should have been
laughed at, my efforts a failure. My
lin uuivered as l thought OF it. L
caught the plying look in Mr.. Fred
erick's ewes and pulled myself to-
sether sufficiently to bid them good
afternoon in my usual manner. But
after everyone had gone | threw my
self on my bed and sobbed for half
an hour. 1t was hard to be sighted,
harder because I knew | had done
nothing to deserve it. l would tell
Neil. 1t might be a good reason TO
urge more caution on his part as to
his associates and his business meth
DDS.
But when finally Neil came in 1
had forgotten that such people as the
Powers existed; or that I had ever
had any social aspirations.
was bathing my face so that Neil
MIGHT not know l had been crying
when I heard a scream then my boy
calling for me. l rushed from the
room and down the stairs. While play
ing in front of the house Robert had
fallen in such a way as to break his
arm. We carried him up to his room
then called doctor. was almost mao
with pity for the poor child until he
coma. then faint when Robert scream
ed as it was set. Fortunately Neil dld
come home. and altho he went out
later remained with us until Robert
fell asleep worn out with pain.
I sat beside my boy until Neil came
in a little after midnight. When ne
insisted | go to bed I had no strength
tn resist. so gave up my place to him.
We had a nurse but both idolized our
how and would not have dreamed OF
leaving him alone with her under the
circumstances.
Thew did not call me until almost
+in,e for Neil to go to the office. He
had snatched little rest on a couch
he had brought into Robert'~ room
Int he looked white and worn.
"a good bath and some coffee will
set me up when I told him he
1ooke6 tired. and then he hurried away
to get ready for the day He looked
in and babe us goodbye before he went
down town but we had no time for
anv talk even had we had the incli-
nation.
All day l was kept too busy to
think It is hard to take care OF a
sick person no matter what their age
Bit when an active healthy boy is
Obliged to remain quiet ones wits
must be sharp indeed if they succeed
in entertaining him. Robert like all
boys tired of things quickly. I spent
most of my time devising means TO