Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-09-17
CHAPTER x-censInu.d.

"Why--in a way. yes"
The doctor achieved perfect or
elet. and beamed at II.
Something eisei'
"A good deal else" said Hiiliard, abb
stracted. But that's no reason for
Ne to bother you with It. didn't know
II was SO apparent"
Silence.
Its not my habit" said the doctor
presently, ITO offer any advice unless
Tn asked for 1t. Gratuitous advice
never did anybody any good. And no
body takes 1t unless 1t costs some
thing--and not often then. And I'm
neither your regular physician nor
your confessor. But II l had made
diagnosis at this present minute I'd
say That you need preacher great
deal more than you do a DOCTOR"
II I do" said Hilliard. look
ing up sharply. "Only 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 1t is spir-
itual. It's nothing but taut nerves. It's
nothing but your struggle against the
restraints you put upon yourself. How
do ! know7 You've told me so /.
every time I've seen you. It's In your
fsce, my hoy. 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 Hilllard. 81
didn't know you were coming up to-
night Suppose I'd missed you -
He merely smiled. and made no an
gwer nor did he speak to her until
after the doctor. protesting a sudden
desire for solitude, had waved them
Hospitality out of the study into the
living room. Carol was In the old ia
Riiliar corner of the sofa; Hilliard was
standing by the fireplace, peering
down into the empty CRATE. He coughed
harshly, and an expression of utter
bopelessness crept into his eyes. He
turned abruptly.
'Well," he said, ''just how much
would you have cared II you had7"
There was stately old lamp stand
ing at height behind the sofa its
shadows were gracious and its light,
as it crept through a 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 1 miss seeing friend of
mine. What makes you so pessimistic,
all Of a sudden7"
Hilliard Redeemed, 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 1t hasn't anything to say about it
-. You'll have to excuse mel
was thinking out loud :"
"Please dol" she said. "You were
on the way to be interesting. Think
out loud some more"
Hilliard glanced sharply at her.
Don't laugh at me |" he said, almost
roughly. For heavens sake, don't
you know that the one time you
shouldn't laugh at a man is when he
deserves it7"
Carols attitude was vaguely less
suggestive of ease.
'I wasn't laughing at you," she said.
''truly. But what you said was so
so queer"
"Oh, yes" billiards accent was
very fiat. II suppose 1t was. 1t must
have been. always seem to be
more or less up in the air when come
to see you, don't /? The last time we
talked about friendship"
but that was at least month ago."
she said hastily, land In the mean
time, you've been Just as nice and
cheerful as anybody. / thought you
were all over your troubles"
"Cheerfulness wasn't what you
asked for" Hilliard swallowed hard.
II 1 came up here, Miss Du-
rant, to have a really serious talk with
you really serious It's been
delayed too long already. 1t took me
two solid days to get my courage up
to 1t. And and now I'm here,
! don't even know how to begin"
He scowled heavily into the vacant
fireplace, and held out his palms with
mechanic gesture as though to warm
them at an imaginary blaze. you
know" he said absently. your father
is very extraordinary man-very."
The compliment to the doctor had
Its inyarIable effect upon her. she