Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-24
ing Stability.

moments only the droning clock
broke the stiffness.
Look at that second drawer OF
my dressing table," abruptly, rising
on her elbow. Under that box. Do
you see clipping?" Then as Helen
ARCHITECT IN MOTOR
ACCIDENT-INJURIES
MAY BE FATAL.
F. A. Sheldon of Sheldon &
Marsh, was pinned under his
overturned car last night when
he crashed into an Elevated post
TO avoid running down a child.
Mrs. Sheldon, who has just re-
turned from Europe. was in the
car, but escaped without injuries.
THAT explains the uniform. I've
been nursing Frank Sheldon since
Tuesday-day and night Why?' de-
family, though Helen had not spoken
1T was the only way | could see
him."
wait, Alice. are you sure you
want to tell me about this?" !
wouldn't want you to say anything
you might regret afterward."
"No, that's why ! sent for you
| must tell some one" A pause.
Then tensely, "You remember one
evening last winter you and Warrel
were dining at the Gotham--and |
was at an adjoining table? You re-
member the man | was WITH"
Helen nodded, recalling tall,
military-looking man with keen
gray eyes.
THAT was Mr.. Sheldon. 1t was
the first time we had dined together
at so public a place.
Another pause. Then, leaning
over, she turned off the light by the
bed.
In the darkened room, her face
half hid by her arm eng up over the
pillow, she told f the beginning
the whole hopeless ory.
He had taken her home from a
dinner. Learning that she painted
miniatures, he sent her an old da-
guerreotype of his mother to copy
Then one evening he called. An.
4 other afternoon he took her driving
1t all came so naturally-so swiftly
When they finally realized where
they were drifting he had tried to
stay away.
"I didn't see him for three months
three long heartsick months. Then
we met at the Grafton Galleries. He
had gone there to see some minia.
lures l was exhibiting. After that
we drifted. All my girlhood had
been so wretched--it was the only
happiness I'd ever Known couldn''
give it up"
She paused, pulling nervously at &
tassel on the sleeve of her negligee
II knew it was hopeless. HI
never deceived me. He said Mrs
Sheldon would never give him di
vorce. She wanted not only hi.
money, but his name. He rarely
spoke OF her. We tried not to thinl
of the future. I was content witt
just the joy of seeing him from day
to day. We had two gloriou.
yearsi Nothing can take that from
me"
Then q despairing note dulled he
voice as she added:
1.-TWO weeks ago she came bacl
from Europe. The accident was {;
few days after she landed"
Taking up the clipping Helen ha'
laid on the bed, she read from ;
small item pinned to the back:
''F. A. Sheldon, the well-knowI
architect, who was injured in motto
accident last week, is in critica
condition. DR.. w. G. Clifton o
Johns Hopkins has been summoned
for consultation.
II read that notice after two an
guished days of no news. I couldn'
phone him-I dared not write! wa
barred from him like an outsider.
stood it for another twenty-fou
hours--then l bought that nurse
uniform and went to his famil
physician, DR.. Morley
She dropped back on the pillow
her face again shaded by her arm
Il told him everything. could Sc
he disapproved of me but he dare
not reject any measure, however es
treme, that might save his patien
He admitted Mr.. Sheldon shove
no desire to live--it was his lassitud
they found hardest to fight. So h
finally consented to introduce me a
the night nurse"
Helen caught her breath. All he
emotionalism responded to the drs
matte intensity OF the situation.
II shall never forget that drive
the house-and that half hour in ii
library before he took me up to M
Sheldon's room"
"But weren't there Others in tt
room? How could you take such
risk"
"No. no one but DIR. Morley. H
had arranged that. Mr.. Sheldon hs
been delirious all day--but Instant
he seemed to recognize me-" h
voice broke. "After that he game
steadily
"And no one suspected. You wei
able to carry it through?"
"Yes, for no one was allowed
the room but Mrs. Sheldon. 81
came only once day, and then on
to find fault with the treatment I
the nursing. She always excited hi
and made him worse
Throwing back the covers, Ali
started up with passionate.
"I wonder if she'll go in tonigh
What will she say when she I'm,
Tn gone? Curiously enough, s.
took violent dislike to me from 4
first"
"Thcn you're not going back3'
"No, now that he's out OF dang
! ielt l couldn't stay. He doesi