The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-27
CHAPTER XIV
Facing the Future


IT SEEMED hours afterward when
Nancy, locked safely in the room
with Trix, reviewed what had hap.
pened.
DR.. Hunts calm annou 1cemen and
her acceptance Of il had d definitely set
tied matters, and yet she had never
been so desperately unhappy as she
was at that moment. Tired as she was,
her brain seemed 10 work tirelessly on
and On, and the brief satisfaction that
haG peen hers when Bruce for a mo-
ment had been startled. out Of his iron
reserve, had entirely vanished.
She had promised TO marry Anthony
Hunt, when every drop OF blood in
her cried out for another man. She
tried 10 c%onJure Up the d.ctor's face,
his kind blue eyes, everything about
him that should have awakened a re-
sponse in her. but instead she saw
only mockins dark eyes. an arrogant
mouth which wore Il perpetual sheer,
and felt again the thrill Of his arms
around her, and the insistency OF his
lips seeking hers.
Wen, II was over! And at least
where Trix was concerned things
locked brighter. She had done that
much anyway by coming TO this lonely
SPOT ana she had learned to love TriX
very dearly. But what a strange hand
life had dealt her. She had fancied
herself hurt by. Alvin Reeds delin.
%quencies, but she hadn't known then
what love really was. love excused
everything, it persisted in spite Of rea-
son, it was a thing she hadn't known
anything about il until Bruce Hender.
son h.d come int her life. Alvin
Reed had caught her girlish fancy.
nothing more; she might have married
him and never known herself capable
OF any deeper feeling, just as she
would go through life now. married to
Anthony Hunt, but at least she would
have the satisfaction Of knowing that
Bruce would never suspect the truth.
Nancy cried quietly far into the
night, lying close beside little Trix.
one arm thrown protectingly over the
child, At last she fell into a deep,
troubled sleep. from which She was
Weakened by Trix early the next morn.
ing.
Thanks to Nancy's presence Of mind.
Trix remembered most of what had
happened as a bad dream. She remem.
bered, Of course, that her uncle had
taken her downstairs, but Nancy's
presence there beside her and the
bright morning sunshine helped 10
her nerves, although she was
weak. her heart beat tumultously and
two spots Of scarlet burned in her
cheeks when she tried TO tell Nancy
how frightened she had been.
But you mustn't think about it,"
Nancy commanded. 1t is all over now
and ! kept my promise and came 10
YOU. didn't /? I have u nice surprise
you, TOO. You're going away from
here 10 q nice warm place. where the
shines all the while. Won't that
be niece"
Who's going to take me away"
Trix asked quickly.
Your aunt" J
And you'n be there" Trix aueried
inXiously. 20. YOU must be there.
you won't leave me now; you prom
.sed. Fear had crept back into her
'olce n Nancy was fearful If eXcit- {
ng her. She wondered how this new
would be managed, for Trix
the kind OF child to be easily s
deceived. and 1t was out of the ques.
ION to worry her with anything Tor :
he present. :
We'll see" Nancy said brightly.
wal, until after the doctor comes to
YOU. He's coming right after
breakfast; youIl like that. won't you9"
Trix nodded and was silent. She lay
N the pillows, watching Nancy as she
TO and from the bathroom. a.
ne caught up her flaming hair and
II around her head. There wa
tier trust in the child's eyes. Mis-
(ancy always did what was right. ano
was corten, to wait.