Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1919-10-04

way that her face was not revealed.
| The plying glances of the patients
who came in was all the mirror she
| needed. Keener. too, was Walters
| gentleness and the way his eyes would
rest upon her in moments when she
| guessed he did not realize that she
knew he was looking at her. Every
| thing seemed to combine to make life
more and more dismal as she looked
down the slope Of the years.
Worst of all. and unguessed, she
found herself being drawn more and
more to the tall. handsome physician.
His personality seemed to the weak
ened and worried girl shelter within
which there was kindness and peace.
The full force of the situation did
not strike her until one momentous
day, when q girl came into the office,
lovely with the loneliness that is al
ways suggestive of June time and
roses. She was welcomed with mani
fest pleasure by Walter, and the strick-
en- girl in her simple gray and white
dress felt the world sink about her.
II must be brave" she said to her.
self. l must. He just pities me. and
I must not trouble him."
Two weeks went by. The Junetide
girl came and went with Walter; and
his interest in her presence was evil
dent.
Then came the day that bore with
1t a change of destiny.
The Junetide girl, her face flushed
with Joy, hurried from the office. end
Walter, following with as much pleas
ure shining on his, went with her.
Doris watched them go, and guess
ing what had taken place between
them, felt the room about her grow
gray as with dusk. From her world
the last sunshine went. Through the
darkness came suggestion. She
trembled. To go through life alone
an object of pity when she was so hun
CRY for love, for beauty and happiness
and youth-it was too much.
The afternoon waned. The din of
the great city ebbed into the low mon
otone suggestive of tides that have
spent their force, drawing outward to
the sea. She sat In silence, then quiet
ly she went to the cabinet in which he
kept the drugs with which he stocked
his case. She knew every eompart-
ment. From a bottle she shook out
with a steady hand three tablets-mor-
phine-enough to send her into the
long and restful sleep which would
carry her beyond suffering, beyond
pity, beyond heartache.
Taking them, and shivering only
slightly in the act, she turned to the
couch and lay down. II am sorry,
dear for the trouble and bother l shall
cause you, but l am weary beyond
WEAKNESS"
Out of the darkness came a voice,
insistent firm and thrilling, with a
meaning that broke into her conscious
ness. She opened her eyes, feeling
strangely rested and at peace.
The lights were soft and shining In
the office. Kneehng beside her, his
face strained with anxious question,
was Walter
Doris, Doris, what have you been
trying to do?" The grief in his voice
woke her to full consciousness. Sanity
came. With a low cry she sprang up
to find herself caught in his arms
and held tight.
Don't pity mel" she begged breath
lessly.
His voice indicated that he had
found himself. 81 don't pity you" He
drew her closer to him. 81 love you
How bllnd you have been Haven't you
seen?'
"Seen? You love me-me?" she
questioned in whisper.
Listen, you stay in my arms until
am through. do love you-have from
the time I saw you in the ward, but
you have given me no sign-wrapped
in your own thought; is that it?"
But look at me!'
His mellow laugh relieved the ten
sion. $50 that Is 1t! Foolish girl, I
am not one of those who love a face !;
I love the spirit behind those brown
eyes of yours-a troubled spirit now
Let me bring it peace. May I? Just
say 'Yesv"
She chung to him. Speech was be-
| yond her for the moment. After
struggle she whispered: "And I have
loved you from the moment you
looked at me and spoke to me, but I
did not