Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-02

she clcnched her hands. gritted her
teeth and sat on.
WinOna needed her: she clung to her
like little child. At 10 o'clock Laurel.
who was sitting motionless in the living
room, heard a slight sound in the bed
room beyond. 1t was like a long sigh,
and then she heard Winona's brief
Ted, Ted, darling. it's winona. -
Laurel tiptoed to the door. The doc
tor was sitting by the bed, Winona was
on her knees beside it, her eyes intent
on the face on the pillow. There was
Il shaded light on the little table near
the bed. and Laurel could glimpse Ted s
bGndaged head and the closed eyes be-
meath the white cloths. She saw his
eyelids flicker and her heart leaped.
Then they opened, wide and vague, and
Winoua leaned over him tensely.
Ted !" she said again, strongly,
compellingly.
Reason wavcred in that glance. went
out and came back stronger Then a
weak smile flickered over his face and
his lips said. Darling.
Winona, with sob, buried her head
on his breast and Laurel slipped away.
The doctor came out in a few min
utes. his face much brighter. and then
Laurel remembered the time. She
looked at the little French clock on the
mantel and her heart almost stopped.
Its tiny gold hands pointed to II 80.
II was too late to reach Granville now.
he had gone.
Pride gone, barriers broken. caring
for nothing but the fact that she might
reach him still, Laurel found herself
at the telephone.
She gave the number and waited
lrcathlessly, her heart leaping in her
breast. Then she heard the click of the
! wires and Crombies s easy. calm Hello
came to her.
This is Mrs. Burton. Crombie," she
said, trying to keep her emotion from
/ showing in her voice. II want 10 speak
| 10 Mr.. Burton, please. He hasn't gone
} has he?"
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Burton, he went some
! time ago" Crombie was breaking her
heart as easily and calmly as he did
everything else. "a gave him your
message, and told him where you had
gone"
YES, yes :" Lsurel's tone was i'm
patient.
And he said All right Crombi'
went on. a quiet and dignifed reproo
in his tones for being hurried,
There was a moments silence.
is that all Mrs. Burton?' Crombi'
asked then.
That's all" and Laurel hung VI
the receiver. She stood for a minute b!
the telephone leaning against the wal
and then Winona came swiftly into th'
room. Her face was radiant, beautiful
in its relief
Tied is sleeping, she said in I
half whisper. I'm just beginning T.
come back to normal again and to thinl
about you. Did keep you from doin
anything tonight, Laurel?" She glanc
ed at the clock. why. it's after ].
o'clock. Let me put you up here to
night"
Laurel shook her head. NO, tn
cars downstairs and / wont be a min
ute getting home. You must get som
rest though, Winona, and III be bac
in the morning il you need me,
Later, going through the silent street
Laurel tried to look ahead, TO pla
her life Everything looked black. Sh
wondered why it was that she had no
been able 10 arouse in Granville an
OF the love that she had for him. Ther
was something lacking in her some
where, for in spite Of everything sh
had not made a success of her life
She had not been able evidently eve
TO become the woman that Granvill
had wanted her to be. Therefore sh
had failed all around.