Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-14
THE HEART BREAKER
A REAL AMERICAN LOVE STORY
by VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER
CHPTER Ii
Copyright 1919. Star Company

CHPTER Ii
Copyright 1919. Star Company
a dim light was burning in the
lower hall of the Bruce residence
when Arthur fitted his key into the
lock and admitted himself and his
companion.
Mother is up in the library" he
said. LAS she does not know you
are coming, l will go and tell her
you are here. Come along and wait
in the hall until she hears the pleas
ant news"
He ran lightly upstairs and Honora
followed more slowly. At the top
of the stairs she stopped and stood
waiting for Arthur to summon her
into the large front room that served
as library for the Bruce family.
The house was very quiet and the
girl could not help overhearing Ar
thurs announcement that he had
brought someone to stay with his
mother tonight.
Not another nursew was the dis
mayed exclamation.
NO indeed, dear" Arthur said re-
assumingly. II went around to the
Brents' to see if one OF the girls
could not come. and one of them did, =
There was shrot silence which
impressed the listener disagreeably.
If Mrs. Bruce were pleased. she would
utter some quick expression of ap-
proval.
ut was a kind thought on your
part, dear son." the mother said at
last reluctantly. But 1 am sorry
you did not consult me first. Where
is Mildred? Did you leave her down
stairs?"
she is at home" was the quiet re-
joinder. "Honora came-not Mil
dred."
"Oh, I am so gladm
A Genuine Relief
The exclamation was too genuine
and too involuntary to be misun-
destood. and Honora appreciated that
the change in the mothers tone was
fair index of the difference in her
feeling towards the two Brent sis
ters.
The older girl felt suddenly guilty.
For it was Mildred, not she, who
would be a daughter to this woman.
Arthur's temperance checked
further reflection She must not let
him suspect that she had overheard
the conversation between his mother
and himself.
Mrs. Bruce rose from her chair
and stretched out her arms to Hon
ora as she entered.
Dear child."-clasping the girl
closely-"this is one of the lowell
est things I ever had done for me!
Yet it is an imposition upon your
kindness. There is nobody else out
side of my own family whom 1 would
want with me at this anxious time.
Are you sure" looking at Honora
keenly, that you can be spared from
home? Mrs. Higgins and your sister
do not mind?"
Mrs. Higgins was asleep and
Milly so tired that she went to bed
as soon as l came out. She has had
so little experience in trouble that
she felt unable of coming to you.
Milly is very young for her age, you
know" Honora added by way of ex-
PLANTATION.
Removing her hat and coat, she
urged Mrs. Bruce to lie down on the
couch. Then, seating herself by the
anxious wife, she held her hand and
talked soothingly and tactfully of
Arnold Bruce's illness.
Now that he has really given up
and put himself in the hands of a
doctor and nurse. he must get better"
she ventured. Il always feel one is
much safer when he actually gives
in to an illness and submits to being
nursed back to health"
Comforting Chat
Since you have come" Mrs. Bruce
confessed at the end of an hour, II
4
Arthur knows nothing of sickness. and
had nobody here who had had ex-
perience along such lines-except the
nurse, of course. And she would
only say what the doctor allowed her
to say. Nurses are all alike in that
way. you know"
Honora did not think it wise to
inform the wife that she herself was
almost as ignorant with regard to
illness as Arthur was. Her reassur-
ing remarks were not the outcome
of experience, but the result of her
ability to put herself in Imagination
in another persons place.
1t was past midnight when Mrs
Bruce consented to go to bed.
You must let me lend you a night
gown. and then you must 60 into
the guest room and get a good nights
sleep the matron said.
Yet even as she spoke. Honora saw
the look OF anxiety and fear creep
ing into the tired eyes. This woman
should not be left alone with her
thoughts.
Would it make you nervous II,
instead of that. 1 borrow a wrapper
from YOU and lie here on the couch ?"
the girl suggested.
The smile that illumined the Older
woman's pale features showed that
Honora had been right in her sus-
picions.
''oh, how lovely! Are you sure
that you would not mlnd-that you
would be comfortable" Mrs. Bruce
asked.
Absolutely sure" the girl declared.
II would love to be right here near
you."