The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-12-25
For as Arthur Warren. greatly dts

For as Arthur Warren. greatly DTS
turbed In his mind, bent over her, his
hand for a moment rested on hers, and
in that moment she knew her secret
that she loved him and would love
him always. But the sudden knowl-
edge only made her sob the harder.
Suddenly she lifted tear-stained face
and threw her arms about his neck.
"Oh, Mr.. Warren! Please hold me !!
Don't let me go-and don't let me wear
that awful red hat again! Please"
A man with less perspicuity than
Arthur Warren might we'll have put
down her words for the rawlings Of
hysterla; but Arthur Warren was a
man of understanding. Also he was
no more proof than any of us would
have been against the girls pleadfngs
He held her In his arms, rocking her
to and fro as though she were tired
child and murmured words of comfort
in her ear. Presently she fell asleep
and he laid her on the couch while he
rang up a doctor.
NERVOUS breakdown" commented
the doctor crisply. Nothing serious
but-muSt be careful Lots of rest
and outdoor exercise. No work for a
while. Diet" here he launched into
highly technical discussion, to which
Warren paid no attention.
-Four hours later little Nellie Bates
woke to find herself in a wonderful
no
had ever imagined A white-capped
nurse was standing by the bed in
which Nellie lay, and all around her
! were flowers. The nurse smiled at
her as she opened her eyes. and tip
tOed from murmur Of low voices out
side her door, and then Arthur Warren
came into the room, shut the door
softly behind him and came to the
bedside
"Where am II" asked Nellie.
you're at my country place, dear"
replied Arthur, land you're going to
stay here till you get we'll"
Strange to say, neither of them
seemed to notice that he had said
dear" Nellie asked another question.
"How did | get here?"
"You had nervous breakdown THIS
| Notwithstanding about red hat"
replied Warren, "and so l logged you
| out here for while. My aunt, a most
| estimable lady, is going to stay with
you and act as combined head nurse
and chaperon. You're all right-a
good rest will put you on your feet
again. And you shall stay here till
you're we'll"
Nellie looked up at him. He surely
| had nice eyes, she thought. And he
| was looking at her and smiling in a
| queer sort of way-not at all the way
he usually looked at her in the studio
and she was suddenly conscious of Il
| desire to say a great many things to
| him: but all she managed was a fee
| BILE moan, as he turned away to leave
| the room.
At the sound he was back at the
bedside like flash. us anything the
/ matter?' he asked anxously.
Nothing" said Nellie, in faint
voice. "That is-eXcept-how long
can I" How ridiculous! The words
wouldn't seem to get out
"Yes?" encouraged Warren
How long can I--stay here?'
Arthur Warren hesitated. Then he
| suddenly sank to his knees beside the
bed and caught her hands in his.
Nellie, dear. you can stay just as
long as you want. didn't know until
this morning that l loved you-but
know it now and I've got to tell you
You can stay here just as long as you
want"
Nellie drew him down to her.
ooh, Arthur, dear" she murmured
II think I'd like to stay always"