The Washington times., 1920-01-23
The TUO
Voices ,
BY Virginia Terhune
Van de Water
CHATTER NV.

Nobody can help me-" Doris
said. sinking into a great chair.
$50 let US talk about something
more Interesting thai my affairs"
but" the man protested. draw
Ing a chair opposite hers ~ our
affairs are what Interest me must"
She did not reply for a moment
/ Then she said softly There are
some things that are of concern 90
me that would not be TO you"
"Such as what?' he quired.
Hugh Rodney's return" Glsnc-
Ing at him under her lashes she
saw him fiush darkly.
$50 he Is back!" he exclaimed. at
beg your pardon" he added. II did
not mean 10 speak like that.
like young Rodney and am sorry
for his accident"
She was silent
Perhaps" he suggested. with an
EFFORT to hide his perturbation, "you
Will tell, me how he is" 80
She shivered. "He has suffered
horribly" she said. "And he shows
it. Moreover" ~
What" he demanded as she
hesitated.
She dropped her voice to a
whisper.
."He is-blind."
"Good heavensv Norton Rrasped.
You don't mean that! oh. poor.
poor chap"
''Yes-and poor met" she supple
mented.
her eyes appeal'ngly to his. All
pity for Hueh Rodney was swept
from his heart by his sudden com
passion for this lovely and unhappy
girl
A Prejudiced Adviser.
"Surely-surely," IN stammered,
''he cannot expect mcan-you
will not"
"Say IL! Don't be afraid" she
urged. II want you to speak the
truth. oh. Ralph. ! am SO miser-
able. so upset. I cannot see my duty
as l should, perhaps, but am
frightened! Please advise mew
81 wish l dared" he said hoarse-
ly. But I cannot speak as a dis
interested person. because your
happ ness means more to re thar
| ! can wax vou believe"
"Please tell me what you think
my duty to Hugh is" she pleaded.
| THAT depends he reyitvd slow
| ly. ION how much you really care
for him.
He was watching her keenly.
scrutinizingly. But she did not
change color.
THAT is Just what l DO not
know" she confessed 81 did think
l cared for him-when he was him
self. Now-I saw him today-and
the horror of II has not left me yet.
His eyes"
She shuddered before speaking
again. Il simply cannot stand
told I must go to see him every
day-must sit by him. talk to him,
look at that awful blank face of
his-act just as IL ! loved him.
She stopped. pressing her hands
to her eyes as II to shut out some
hideous image.
With a low murmur Of tender
ness Ralph Norton bent over her.
"Dear-darling." he Whispered
| you shall not go through such mis-
cry. Who dares demand such a sac
rince OF your
She did not reply until ne had re-
peated his agitated question.
| AOh-his people-my people-at
least my sistcr-does. Mr.. Rodney
says his life--Hugh's I mean-de-
pends upon me. So, Ralph-some-
how have to pretend that I love
him" - -.
| "why7" he demanded hotiy and
inconsequently. Look at me.
Doris"
She obeyed. He was standing IN
front Of her. his arms stretched out
to her.
A Pleasing Admission.
She stood up as II to go to him,
then sank back into her chair.
Il must not-yet." she whispered.
Il am engaged to Hugh
But you do not love himr'
Il am afraid l do not" she ad-
mitted.
-And l love you better than all
the world beside!" he declared i'm
petuously. Darling. have no
rights? Here ] am ready to give
myself-and everything | have-for
ray. of hope that | may some
time win you. And you are forcing
yourself to be loyal to a wreck of a
man-blinded, useless, an invalid. |
tell you 1t is monstrous"'
but nobody but you, Ralph,
realizes how hard IL Is on me"
she quavered. Nobody but you
and, perhaps, mother. But she
| would tell me not to take any
hasty step yet, but to let things
stay as they are until Hugh gets
better
"And, l say. give me a chance
to try to make you love me-" he
urged. Dearest, nobody need
know about II yet Wait. as your
mother suggests. Only give me
one little sign that you may per-
haps care for me after while"
She did not protest when he bent
and kissed her. Even though she
was engaged, that did not mean
that her future was all settled for
her, she told herself fercely. En-
gagements could be broken. Not
that hers was OF course--yet! 8.
81 do not know what am GO
ing to do about II ALL" she sighed
after she had renided him that per-
haps she should not have let him
kiss her. II shall have to wait
:, and see"
| "And l, too, shall wait and see,"
he assured her.
To he continued
Things Were Bad Enough.