The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-10-10


ing maid. who hed screaming at me
only word Of Joan's breathless speech
she seemed to grasp. Again Joan ran.
this time up two other long flights, In
to "a hall and through 1t straight into
that fairyland she had glimpsed from
afar.
But the bad demon whose entrance
into this paradise she had witnessed
was by this time writhing In long,
curling flames up the beautiful cur
tains. With a fierce. militant resent
ment against this despoilment Of her
fairyland, and reckless Of the danger
in her battle to preserve II barehand-
ed, Joan seized the flaming curtains.
tore them from their fastenings,
threw them to the floor and cast a
heavy rug upon them.
And so.' hurrying In to discover the
cause of the extraordinary commo-
ton, they found. her. just awakening
to a realization of her surroundings,
and her burned hands.
Doctor Strickland reached Joan just
as the pain brought blessed uncon-
sciousness. He carried her to a couch,
demanded various articles and skill
fully dressed the burns, the while
they wondered who she might be and
whence she came.
Presently consciousness returned,
and though with II returned, too. the
agony of her wounds, Joan struggled
to her feet. and with faltering voice
started an apology for her intrusion.
But strong hands gently pushed her
back and three people voiced graft
tude and questions.
Joan tried to explain. II love sun
light and colors sol Not much Of Ell
Their has ever come my way. All that
! get comes from your windows.
was watching; but I'm going to get
my own. I'm studying" she began
then stopped short at a twinge of
pain and gazed down at the poor
bandaged hands. Mrs. Smith caught
that look and read It. Impulsively
she spoke:
You're not going to do any study
ing for awhile. nor anything else, but
Just stay right here and he nursed by
me, my dear; and Stanton will come
every day to dress your burns"
81 sure will" the latter volunteer
ed; "and perhaps Miss Joan. since
she loves color so much, will be will
ing when she's better to tell me what
ones to use in my new offices over
among my poor folks on Carmine
street" =.
:. Joan sat straight up. ''Carmine
street," she exclaimed; "I,,was born
there. Oh, doctor. make 1t bright!
Bring some color into their gray lives!
Make ,it--like this!" She looked about
her at the. room. then sank back with
little moan of pain. Z
They gave her sleeping potion and
put her to bed. So ended the first
day.
The fortnight has passed. The burns
are healed, the bandages gone. But
on Joan's left hand something has
been substituted that binds tighter
than any bandage. She stands in a
broad ray Of sunshine watching Mrs.
Smith hang silken curtains Of bronze
gold hue. Through the door strides
a Greek god? Or could 1t be movie
star? No; just a big-hearted man
who has dedicated his life and knowl-
edge to humanity. He puts an arm
around Joan.
"Just see the beautiful sunlight.
Stan," she says, "and to think-f'm
not away off across the street, looking
in, but actually living in it-with>you
Oh. Stan, If can only help you bring
It into other peoples lives, as you
have brought 1t into mine"
81 didn't bring it to you, little wife;
you flew straight into it-but I'm going
to keep you there always" =,