The Connecticut labor press., 1919-11-29
By Booth Tarkington

SIoup neaTQ low cry Of tenderness l and welcome as the old man reached the open doorway. Then the door was | closed.
 George began to pace the floor, talk ing care not to go near Isabel's door, | and that his footsteps were muff1ed by | the long, thick hall rug. After a while ! he went to where Anderson, with fold ed arms and bowed head, had seated himself near the front window. Uncle George" he said hoarsely. 'I didn't" "Wen?"
 "Oh, my God, didn't think this thing the matter with her could ever be serious! T." He gasped. "When the doctor I had meet us at the boat" He could not go on.
 Anderson only nodded his head, and did not otherwise change his attitude.
 Isabel lived through the night At eleven o'clock Fanny came timidly to George in his room. Eugene is here," she whispered. He's down stairs. He wants" She gulped. "He wants to know if he can't see her. l didn't know what to say. I said I'd see. I didn't know-the doctor said"
 "The doctor said we must keep her peaceful George said sharply. "Do you think that mans coming would be very soothing? My God! if it hadn't been for him this mightn't have hap pened: we could have gone on living here quietly, and-why, it would be like taking stranger into her room She hasn't even spoken of him more than twice in all the time we've been away. Doesn't he know how sick she is? You tell him the doctor said she had to be quiet and peaceful. That's what he did say, isn't it?'
 Fanny acquiesced tearfully. ''I'l tell him. I'll tell him the doctor said she was to be kept very quiet. IT didn't know" And she pottered out
 An hour later the nurse appeared in Georges doorway: she came noise lessly, and his back was toward her but he jumped as if he had been shot, and his jaw fell, he so feared what she was going to say.
 "She wants to see you.''
 The terrified mouth shut with click and he nodded and followed her, but she remained outside his mothers room while he went in.
 1sabels eyes were closed, and she did not open them or move her head, but she smiled and edged her hand toward him as he sat on a stool beside the bed. He took that slender, cold hand and put it to his cheek.
 Darling, did you-get something to eat?' She could only whisper slowly and with difficulty. It was as if Isa- bel herself were far away, and only able to signal what she wanted to say.
 'Yes, mother"
 "A1l you needed?"
 "Yes, mother"
 She did not speak again for a time then, Are you sure you didn't-didn't catch cold-coming home%
 I'm all right, mother" sweet"
 "What is, mother darlingT
 '|To feel-my hand on your cheek. Fl can feel it.'
 But this frightened him horribly that she seemed SO glad she could feel it. like a child proud of some miracu- lous seeming thing accomplished. It frightened him so that he could uot speak. and he feared that she would l know how he trembled; but she was unaware, and again was silent. Final 1 ly she spoke again:
 T wonder Tiff Eugene and Lucy know that we've come-home."
 I'm sure they do."
 "Has he-asked about mer
 "Yes, he was here" i
 Has he-gone?"
 "Yes, mother"
 She sighed faintly. "Td like"
 What, mother?'
 'Pd like to have-seen him." It was this little regretful murmur. Several minutes passed before therc was another. "Just-just Once." she | and then was still.
 She seemed to have fallen asleep, and George moved to go, but faint pressure upon hts fingers detained l him, and he remained, with her hand 1 still pressed against his cheek. After a while he made sure she was asleep, l. and moved agaiu, to let the nurse come in, and this time there was no pressure of the fingers to keep him. She was not asleep, but, thinking that if he went he might get some rest, and be better prepared for what she knew was coming, she commanded those longing fingers of hers-and let him go.
 He found the doctor standing with the nurse in the hall; and, telling them that his mother was drowsing now, George went back to his own room, where he was startled to find his grandfather lying on the bed, and ais uncle leaning against the wall. They had gone home two hours before, and he did not know they had return ed.
 "The doctor thought we'd better come over," Anderson said, then was silent, and George. shaking violently, sat down on the edge of the bed. His shaking continued, and from time to .ime he wiped heavy sweat from his forehead.
 The hours passed, and sometimes he old man upon the bed would snore l little, stop suddenly, and move as if Q rise, but George Anderson would set a hand upon his shoulder, and nurmur a reassuring word or two.
 Once George gasped defiantly That doctor in New York said she , night get better! Don't you know he .