The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-04


 find him-in spite of all the dragons in her path.
 But evening came, and there was no news to cheer her. She returned at last to Vivian's studio. Lucille and Burke were there, immensely worried, though Vivian had told them of her quest
 I'm going to go again tomorrow morning." Shirley said deiantly, ignoring 1 the curtain lecture shesreceived. '"Then let me go, too, dear!' Lucille im- pored She was worrying dreadfully over ] the effect of all this trouble on the girl.
 Shirley was so high strung, so impul- sive. At 9 o'clock the following morning Luz
 cille called round for Shirley, and the two
 set off.
 NO hospital will admit us as early as this" Lucille had said depreciatingiy. | But Shirley was quite firm. | Drive to the St. Martfn's,' she told 1 the taxi man. Her face was lit up with a new hope. This was the hospital where she once had sought Jim out before The patient had turned out to be-not Jim but the opium soddened down-and- outer
 And yet a curious urge was on the girl 1 to go once more to St. Martins. 1 Arrived there, the hall porter let her pass, with Lucille in her wake She
 stopped a nurse on the upper landing.
 "Is there MT. Dalton in the hospi- tal?"
 The nurse pointed down the passage to I Ward No. S.
 I'm not quite sure, but inquire at Sis ter's sitting room. She knows nearly all
 the patients in the hospital"
 Lucille and Shirley walked down the passage, but Shirley didn't stop at the fYrf0 tfas.xx ard driven by uncomfortable impulse. Her eye caught sight of dark, bandaged head in one of the cots, and she rushed
 straight toward it's owner with cry of purest happiness.
 "Jim-oh, Jim!"
 The patients handsome face was illu- minated by light of joyous recogni-
 tion.
 "Shirleyi" He held out both his arms l to her, and caught her close. Shirley, | my dear"
 Jim Dalton made a quick and com.
 plete recovery For love and hope are | very potent headers. Memory ana heailh 1 came back to him. 1 Shirley and he were married in little 1 church in Chelsea Lucille was matron | of honor," and Vivian bridesmaid, While
 David Burlse-old scores forgotten--was
 actually best mani | Once the ceremony was perIorrneu, dnd | the small reception in full swing, 1t
 was the best mans duty to pay attention | to Lucille.
 This David Burke did with right good
 will
 Were going to follow your excellent example very soon--Luclle and IT. He 1 tilted up his glass to drink the bride and | bridegroom's health "Our marriage will take place in about a monthl" He caught LuciIle's hand and they drank the little
 toast together.
 As for Jim and Shirley, they were radi- ant. The sun shone on their going
 away" and as they stepped across the | carpeted pavement to the waiting car l black cat crossed their path. | Good luck, The very best of it.' The
 wedding guests flung confetti and rose petals on the, and while satin slip per dangIed merrily behind the car 1 Shirley--a radiantly pretty little bride waved her farewels until a turn in the road hid the merry guests from view.
 There was a happy moisture in her eyes as she sank back on the seat beside her l husband. "Oh. Jim, I can scarcely believe our
 dreams come true-at lastl' | ."Sweetheartl I'll do everything in the world to make you happy-to be worthy l of you. There was adoration in his face. | And I, too, Jim!' She moved little closer to him, smiling into his eyes with i look of uttermost content. | For she had plunged deep into loves gamble-and had woni | THE END.