The Washington herald., 1921-03-20


Q contrary ...F
Agatha horrined him BY bursting into
tears.
you cross me. You cross me- she
walled. 20. I'm 80 N. and 20 miserable
You make me unhappy
-I7- he demanded I'm q clumsy fool
~Yours mott" said Agatha, vehementiy.
YES. And what d.you want him called
then?"
Hes to be Ralph
.Lordr Then James suddenly became an
cry and Jealous in his turn, for Ralph was
the name Of . man who once had been his
rival for Asatha's love The ways of women
were past understanding! He was angry
and helpless. He could not speak. In that
threatening silence Agatha looked at him
through her tears. and began uncontroIiably
to sob. %, for Gods sake.- cried James.
almost beside himself with fear and exas-
peration.
Agatha gave q sudden shrek and a terri
flying groan- She was deadly white James
hurried to give her drink Of water. while
she lay with staring eyes OF pain Her eyes
were turned to his, and full Of fear. Both
realized instantly what had happened
James began trembling from head to foot.
SO that he could hardly clothe himself again.
He was stricken with terror. 1t had come.
and It was the worst that could have hap
pened. They were unprepared and helpless.
He might lose both his baby and his wife,
and they were cut completely on from the
world.
Again Agatha groaned- She seemed to
be fighting for breath. Her eyes closed and
in ghastly pain. Gripping the lamp. he hur.
ried downstairs for some brandy that was
kept in the kitchen, and there he lighted an
other lamp. What could he do? Could he
leave her in order to get a woman's help
from the village? For the moment he must
stay; but he left the second lamp alight on
the kitchen table and hurried back to the
bedroom.
Agatha was no longer In bed. but had risen,
and was moving about the room, in great
agony. Her eyes were staring. and in them
such an expression Of physical anguish that
and to be 50 unable to offer any true help.
He put the. brandy to her lips and she
drank little. resting against him. Then
she drew away. as though his touch made
her desperate
James. full OF grief. stood still wondering
what he could do. To leave her seemed i'm
possible. and yet he was ignorant, and
, the need 30 urgent, that he was torn. In
aimless distraction he went to the window.
Outside the snow was falling so thickly that
nothing was to be seen but the near furry Of
falling fakes.
20 Cod he cried passionately, and turned
back to the room. What the devil am to
do! Fool that I've been! Foolg' Every
possible selfreproach hurried upon him
His soul was bruised with the blows OF tor
menting conscience. Dimly he saw his hap
piness destroyed
As he hurried back 10 the room he saw
that Agatha was already recovering. She
even smiled as she sat on the edge Of the bed.
Better now" she said in low voice.
perhaps It wasn't, after all
To them both it was a sudden prayer.
Don't you think that while you're all
right 1 ought to run down to vsinton?" sug-
gested James.
who's therer" demanded Agatha Maud
srons's in Glasgow; old Betty's in bed with
rheumatism. 1 wouldn't have Nelly Shap.
wouldn't. And the others are all Just silly
young girls
But they'd stay here while went for the
doctor"
No It's not coming on again tonight
That silenced him. But the pains did come
on agsin-although not for some time. The
scene was reenacted. The pains began again
and James dared not leave her. so violent
did they become. He cursed his own in.
action. his own poweriessness: but he dared
not leave her. At last, as he had done two
hours before, when first Agatha had felt Ill,
he approached the window. The snow was
. thicker than ever. He grcaned to himself,
looking out into the Opaque whiteness. There
seemed no hope at all He hurried away.
filled with despair.
strange sound made him dart back to
the window. He held aside the blind, drew
It up, stared into the snowy outlook. Then
he ran softly and silently down the stairs to
the front door. which he opened, standing and
peering out with the snow falling and set
ting and melting upon his head and his
clothing 1t had seemed to James that he
had heard a small motor horn. The sound
had recalled an earlier noise which had
passed unregarded-
ANYBODY there?- he shouted staring into