The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-07-01
CHAPTER XIII

The silence OF death relgned In the
title room when Lillian Hastings
Id Joan entered
The windows were wide open. the
koisc or distant traffic filtered thru
1he summer night faintiy. now and
Again ~ edge OF muslin curtain
lhtirred In the faint breeze
4 Richard Perrier lay on his back
Iehin slightiy upturned. propped with
- pillows
here was an loo bandago bound
but his head. his big brown hands
~ Imply on the coveriet
foam give one glance at him. and
a her eyes. There was something
brrible In his stiffness. something
kerribIe In his weakness She chung
20 Lillian in terror.
Lillian put a kind arm about her.
|ohe could not forget that this girl
khnd brought sorrow into Micky's
h. and yet when she looked nj
AN and saw the shrinking fear Of
p delicate face. the haunted look
/ a the blue eyes. she forgave her
t0vef and over again.
You must be brave she said
For his sake. be brave" She
niIed encouragement. and drew
ban gently toward the bed
The two girls stood looking down
him. holding hands The thought
"a 50 often come to Lillian during
he past few days that n was absurd
% think that tn all probability Fer
her might die He had iost none Of
his tan. and. save from his inertness
knd heavy breathing. he might have
Keen sleeping. She had a curious
eling now that he might open his
- and laugh at them.
fe moved his head restlessiy from
k<4e TO side on the pillow. and NUT
/! zred something uninteiiigible. There
was a vivid splash OF color In Joan's
delicate face. She called hts name
! atxakily. bending over him
II "Richard, Richard"
He lay quite stin now: almost as
n he were listening. 1t seemed
Richard, Richardr'
A She had slipped 20 her knees; she
had freed her hand from Lilian's.
land laid II over the big brown one
the coveriet--its fever scorched
n but she curied her slim fingers
bout his.
Lillian turned away: she could not
rar 10 look at them.
She went back to the room where
her brother and Micky sat silent:
Aonverwation seemed an impossible
between them. Micky's pipe hung
Iejectcdly from his mouth; he had
is II and let II go out again. He
ooked up as she entered.
ibid he know herr
sOh. no. She came across tho
room and sat down beside him. "Oh.
kficky." she said yiddenly. what Is
1the use Of II all? How can we wish
Mould get weI17 They can never
marry; how can they, IL she has a
husband already"
ats not true--it was n damned
Die. She's no more married than
you are"
MIckt's teeth were clenched over
1.-The stem Of his pipe. II was like
knitting his own heart TO discuss
foam.
"ra the doctor corning back To-
nigbt7'' he asked with an effort
Eyes. he said 80"
Micky wandered over TO the win
dow
"Tt's rank. rotten world" he
feaif bitterly.
Lillian looked At him with tears In
. her eyes: she would have given a
'Rreat deal for the right 10 cro~s 70
MS side and steal a hand thru his
\ arm and comfort him. But he did
I not want her. His thoughts and his
heart were in the next room with
Y th...firI who was on her knees by
er's bed.
Kwas II O'Clock when the doctor
me again. He looked AZ Ferrier
/and shook his head. then he looked
4 ~ the girl who held his hand.
y "Are you JoanT' he asked not
Eunkind1v.