The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-06-03

somebody for Allan to play with!
She made herself delightful to the
newcomer for a few minutes, and
then excused herself. They would
have a better time alone, for awhile,
any way, and there was dinner to
order. Maybe this Johnny Hewitt
doctor would stay for dinner. He
should if she could make him. She
sang a little on her way to the house,
and almost forgot the tiny hurt 1t
had been when Allan seemed so sad
dened by speaking Of Louise Frey.
She had no right to feel hurt, she
knew. 1t was only to be expected
that Allan would always love Louise
memory. She didn't know much about
men, but that was the way it always
was in stories. A mans heart would
die, under an automobile or any
where else, and all there was left
for anybody else was leayings. 1t
wasn't fair! And then Phyllis threw
back her shoulders and laughed, as
she had sometimes in the library
days, and reminded herself what a
nice world it was, any way, and that
Allan was going to be much helped
by Johnnie Hewitt. That was a
cheering thought, anyhow. She went
Oh singing, AMI ordered d beautiful,
festively-varied dinner, a very poem
OF gratitude. Then she bounced on
the doctor as he vas leaving and
made him stay for it.
Allan's eyes were bright and his
face lighted with interest. Phyllis, at
the head of the table, kept Just
enough in the talk to push the men
on when it seemed tagging, which
was not often. She learned more
about Allan, and incidently Johnny
Hewitt, in the talk as they fingered
about the table, than she had aver
known before. She and Allan had
lived so delicately Ptheo atSotdcsi
lived SO deliberately in the placid
present, with its almost childish
brightness and interests, that she
knew scarcely more abut her hus-
bands life than the De Guenthers
had told her before she married him.
But she could see the whole picture
OF it as she listened now: the active,
merry, brilliant boy who had worked
and played and danced half the night:
who had lived, 1t almost seemed to
her, two or three lives in one. And
then the change to the darkened
room-helpless, unable to move.
with the added sorrow of his sweet
hearts death, and his mothers de-
liberate fostering of that sorrow. 1t |
was almost a shock to see him in
the wheel-chair at the foot of the
table. his face lighted with interest
in what he and his friend were say
Ing. What If he did care for Louise |
Frey's memory still! He'd had such
a hard time that anything Phyllis
could do for him oughtn't to be too
much!
When DR.. Hewitt went at last
Phyllis accompanied him to the
door. She kept him there for a few
minutes, talking to him about Allan
and making him promise to come
often. He agreed with her that, this
much progress made, a good deal
more might follow. He promised to
come back very soon, and see as
much of them as possible.
Allan, watching them, out of ear
shot, from the living room where he
had been wheeled, saw Phyllis smil-
ing warmly up at his friend, linger-
ing in talk with him, giving him both
nanus il farewell; and he saw. too.
Hewitt's rapt interest and long leave
taking. At last the door closed, and
Phyllis came back to him, flushed
and animated. He realized, watch
ing her return with that swift light
ness Of foot her long years Of work
had lent her, how young and strong
and lovely she was, with the rose
color in her checks and the light
from above making her hair glitter.
And suddenly her slim young str
eng-h and her bright vitality seemed
to mock him, instead OF being a COM
fort and support, as heretofore. A
young, beautiful, kind girl like that
1t was natural she should like Hew-
lit And it was going to come natural
to Hewitt to like Phyllis. He could
see that plainly enough.
Tired, Allan Harrington" she
asked brightly, coming over to him
and dropping a light hand on his
chair, in a ~caressing little way she
had dared lately. . kindness!
Yes, she was the incarnation Of kind
ness. Doubtless she had spoken to
and touched those little ragamuffins
she had told him Of Just SO.
He had got into a habit OF feeling
that Phyllis belonged to him abso-
lutely. He had forgotten-what was