The Irish standard., 1920-05-29
Saturday. May 29. w

At the maids announcement, Doctor
Durant, who had been occupied with
nothing more momentous than filling q
pot-bellied calabash. rose hastily and
went out into the hallway.
"Come in, billiard !" he said cordial
". "Caro's off looking at somebody's
rousseau somebody's always get
ting married in Syracuse she'll
be in directly. Come smoke pipe
with me, and be sociable."
billiard, lingering nervously by the
outer door, started at the kind voice.
'You're not busy?"
"Busily composing my mind," said
the doctor. He ushered Hilliard into
the comfortable old study and mo-
toned towards squat little smoking
stand. GAIL kinds Of poison there" he
said. "Cigar-cigarettes- tobac-
co. Suit yourself"
billiard laughed affectedly.
''You call it poison? And you doc
tor-and smoking?"
"Ah, but it's the pleasantest poison
there is. I'm always having to
explain that to Carol. Matches?
Well, what have you been doing to
yourself?"
'I?" Hilliard didn't look at him.
Nothing important, DOCTOR"
but that's not quite true, is it?"
The tone was gentle, but it filled Hill
Hard with portentious qualms. you've
been enjoying little attack of insom-
mia, haven't your"
billiard WINGED.
"Why-yes. AS matter of fact"
The doctor attempted a smoke ring,
and smiled at the dismal failure.
"Tm sorry. Business worries?"
"Why-in way, yes.''
The doctor achieved perfect cir
clet, and beamed at it.
"Something else?"
"a good deal else," said Hilliard, alb
stracted. "But that's no reason for
me to bother you with it. didn't know
it was so apparent"
Silence.
"It's not my habit" said the doctor
presently, ''to offer any advice unless
Tn asked for it. Gratuitous advice
never did anybody any good. And no.
OOuy lChCS IL UlIlGSS IL SOSIS SOAAV-
thing-and not often then. And I'm
neither your regular physician nor
your confessor. But if I had made a
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say that you need preacher a great
deal more than you do DOCTOR"
II I do," said billiard, look
ing up sharply. "Only =. u. it's out
of the question:. Just personal things,
doctor-nothing can very well talk
about"
"Your trouble" said Doctor Durant,
'"isn't physical as much as it is spir-
itual. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
do know? You've told me so
every time I've seen you. It's in your
face, my boy. It's in your eyes. Con-
stantly. And it looks as though the
conference is about over be-
cause if that isn't Carol coming up the
steps, my ears aren't half as good as
they used to be-"
Both men were on their feet as she
came in, swirling.
"Ohl" she cried to billiard. II
didn't know you were coming up to-
night! Suppose I'd missed youl"
He merely smiled, and made no an
swer; nor did he speak to her until
after the doctor, protesting sudden
desire for solitude had waved them
Hospitality out Of the study into the
living room. Carol was in the old IA
miliar corner Of the sofa; billiard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
down into the empty crate. He coughed
harshly, and an expression Of utter
hopelessness crept into his eyes. He
turned abruptly.
"Well," he said, "just how much
would you have cared if you had7"
- -
There was a stately old lamp stand
ing at height behind the sofa; its
shadows were gracious and it's light,
as it crept through shade Of painted
vellum, touched Carol softly, in a
delicacy Of radiance which was infin-
itely caressing. Her hands were lying
idle in her lap; she bent her head, and
viewed them studiously.
"Why, should have cared a great
DEAL" she said. I'm always disap-
pointed when miss seeing friend Of
mine. What makes you SO pessimistic,
all of . sudden?"
Hilliard reddened, and his eyes grew
brighter.
"Friendship!" he said tardily.
"What an accordionlike sort Of thing
that isl"
"Why, Mr.. Hilliard!" Her tone was
at the same time interrogatory and re-
proachful.
"Oh, I'm not speaking Of you" he
said. "Only Of the thing itself
It's big or little, close or distant !.
and it hasn't anything to say about It
You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud
"Please dot" she said. You were