The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-19

look upon Magsie.
"I7" faitcred Magsie. coloring. and
feeling as II she would cry herself.
You kept him." said his mother,
'Ife hung round you like a bee round
rosc-poor. sick boy that he was
He's losing sleep now because he
can't get YOU out OF his thoughts"
She stopped again. and Magsie
hung her head.
I'm sorry" she said. slowly. And
with the childish words came childish
tears. I'm awfully sorry. Mrs.
Gardiner" stammered Magsie. Il
know--I've known all along-how
Richie feels to me. suppose
could have stopped him. got him TO
go away. perhaps. in time. But
but i've been unhappy myself. Mrs.
Gardiner. A person. love has
been cruel to me. | don't know
what I'm going TO do. worry and
worry Mhgsie was frankly crying
now. II wish there was something
could do for Richie. but can't tell
him carew she sobbei.
Both women sat IN miserable
silence for a moment. then Richard
Gardeners mother said:
at wouldn't do you any harm TO
just--lf you would--to Just see him.
would IL? Don't say anything about
this other man. Could you do that7
Couldn't you let him think that may
be II he went away and came back
all well you'd--you miEht--there
might lie some chance for him7 Doc.
tor says he's got to 20 away at once
II he's going to get well"
The anguish in her voice and
manner reached Magsie at last
There was nothing cruel about the
little actress. however sordid her
ambitions and however selfish her
plans.
Gould you get him away, now"
she said almost timidly. 'Is he
strong enough TO go?''
That's what Doctor says: he
ought TO so away today. but--but
he won't listen to me" his mother
answered with trembling lips. Hes
all have. just live for Rich. |
loved his father. and when Dick
was killed ] had only him"
IN go see him." said Magsic in
sudden generous impulse. "i'll tell
him tn take care of himself. It's
simply wicked of him TO throw his
lhe away like this
Miss Clay" said Mrs. Gardiner
with a break In her strong. deep
voice. ''if you do that-may the
Lord send you the happiness. you
give my boyr' She began TO cry
again.
why. Mrs. Gardiner" said Mag.
sic In a hurt. childish voice, II like
Richer
"Well. he likes you all right" said
his mother on long. quivering
breath. With big. coarse. tender
fingers she helped Magsie with the
last hooks and bands OF her toilette
"lf you amt as pretty and dainty
as little wax doll" she observed
admiringly. Magsie merely sighed
in answer. Wax dolls had their
troubles.
But she liked the doglike devotion
of Riches big mother. and the
beautiful car--Richies car. Perhaps
the hurt to her heart and her pride
had altered Magsie's sense OF val.
ues. At all events. she did not even
shrink from Richie today.
She sat down beside the white bed.
beside the bony form that the coun.
terpane revealed in outline. and
smiled Mt Riches dark, thin eager
face and sunken. adoring eyes. She
laid her warm. plump little hand be.
tween his long. thin fingers. After
n while the nurse timidiy suggested |
the detested milk: Richie drank II |
dutifully for Magsie.
They were left together in the cool. !
airy. orderly room. and in low. con.
fidential tones they talked Magsie |
was well aware that the big doctors |
would not interrupt this
talk, that the nurses and the mother