The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-22

! io N~n NhO ONSf Hediu VI SNSh q thinR!"
 Shirley turned wearily away She was sick of all this talk of clothes.
 The noise and turmoil of the Lon- don strets oppressed her. In this hot July weather. she drought with longing of the sweet Surrey lanes.
 One morning she escaped from all the plans and preparations and went wandering along crowded Oxford street alone. The huge house In Portland Square had got upon her nerves.
 She strolled leisurelv in the warm sunshine and speculatively watched the moving throng. London seemed like one huge ant hill. with it's myriad tiny atoms. all tremendously preoc- cupied about their trifling business.
 "Why. if it isn't Miss Shirley Marsh?" There was a pleased infection in the Speakers voice. and Shirley swung around to encounter the handsome eyes Of Mile. Lucille Derange. erstwhile va rlety artist.
 Then. as the latter noticed shirley's black frock-
 q want to sympathize with you. Miss Marsh" she nodded. 'Td have called at the White Cottage myself, only-only"- She broke off, not lik- ing to add that she had kept away at David Burke's particular request
 Thank you" said Shirley, gently. The sight of Lucille stirred up all her old unhapiness. connected as she was with Jim Dalton.
 And I hear you're to be mraried?" went on Lucille. the pleased look fad ing from her eyes as she thought of David Burke.
 She noted the embarrassed hesita- tion with which Shirley made reply. / She doesn't care & bit for him." thought Lucille shrewdly. Treasures being brought to bear upon her some whereI Maybe now her grandmother's dead. she hasn't any money! And she's marrying simply for home poor childr'
 Shirley made an evasive answer as to the date of the wedding.
 Well. I'll have tv run along. m only up In London for the day" said Lucille. queer look came on her face as she added: Nv husbands very i'll in hospital-in St. Martins and I've got to go and visit him"
 She saw how Shirley paled, and guessed that Burke had not yet told her of the error in Identity.
 Glad I mentioned the name of the she'll go herself ana find out the difference" thought Lu- cille. And the blame can't be put on my head if the weddings off.
 "It's cruel to deceive kindly little creature like her--just for mans self ish ends-and I won't be party to itp
 She turned to Shirley. She wanted to see this matter through.
 'Id like to talk with you this after noon If we could fix meeting place Would you like to take tea with me somewhere in town?"
 Shirley hesitated. It was desper- ate temptation to get news of Jim. And yet such news would only hurt her.
 She didn't want to be indebted to Lucille in any way. She didn't wish to be her guest.
 .JIM WILL BE EXPECTING ME"
 Come around about 5 o'clock and have tea with me instead-in Portland square" Shirley gave the address. q shall be quite alone. I'm supposed to rest from 4 till 6 o'clock. And the others will be out"
 "Fd like to come" said Lucille, wondering what the chances W ere of meeting Burke. and if he would te angry at the visit Expect me at oclocK.'
 She glanced at her wrist watch.
 'T must hurry off to the St. Martins ncw-Jim will be expecting me"'
 Shirley walked along the pavement her brain reiterating the magic words:
 Jim will be expecting me?p
 If only it were true In her own case!
 Jim very i'll in a London hospital,
 An almost uncomfortable longing came over her to go and see him!
 It might be wronE-ridiculous- thing that all sensible peo- r!e would condemn.
 But a dynamic longing was on Shir- ley. and she couldn't crush 1t down
 She turned Into a restaurant and had some lunch. What a huge, crowded place it was.
 The clock struck 2 when she had 
 And then she remembered that there would be consterna iion in Portman square over her absence. and that she had better ring up Mrs Arnold. She found pubic call office, and was connected.
 Yes. this is Shirley speaking. I've had lunch in town I want to go out back till o'clock. I want to go out and visit some one No not Vivian, No, ch some one you haven't met" Her voice auavered trifle here. Yes, I rromiseSto to be back at Portman square by 4. Good-bye.' .
 She hung up Nhe receiver with a jerk
 If only she knew the visiting hours st the St. Martins hospital. She did rot want to speak to Jim. she told herself--only to get peep at him. Maybe the nurse would tell her how re was?
 -Shirley-who had nursed him back to health.
 Spurred on by a variety of conflict ing feelings. Miss Shirley set off on Ter mission Passing fruiterer's she bought large bunch of hothouse grapes.
 She hailed taxi and gave the di- rection to the driver and was soon bowling rapidly through the London streets
 In no time they had reached the wide gates of the hospital
 "visiting hours from 4 to 6, miss" said the porter You're couple of hours too early.'
 He saw a disapointed look on Shi = ley's face, and added:
 "Go inside and see what YOU can do, Maybe the ward sister won't object to an early visit"
 An elevator carried Shirley to the second floor. She traversed passage until she came upon group of nurses.
 MT. Jim Dalton? Yes. there was ratient by that name in number S. Down another passage and first turn to the right. She'd find the sister in a tiny room outside the ward.
 The sister proved to be a sweet fa ced. kindly woman. She looked per nlexed for a moment when Shirley asked for MT. Dalton. Odd that such pretty. lady-like young woman could be interested in a derelict such as he n confirmed opium fiend ..
 ''His wife was here this morning.
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