Graham guardian., 1921-02-11

iu''N " lNt ult uU Nilul Ntth'
She tried to think of something to
comfort him.
but sometimes daddies and hus-
bands beat their women folks" she ex-
planned.
"Then your father whipped your
quizzed the doctor
"That can't tell" said the, girl.
Don't make me. Oh, Lordy,
I'm all tuckered cut"
1t was of no use to put questions
any more, thought Pendlehaven, He
was persuaded that her father had
done this dreadful thing.
AT eight O'clock, when DR.. John
Pendlehaven softly entered the sick
room he found his brother in sound
slumber, and Tony Devon, her face
discolored with bruises, fast asleep in
the chair by the bedside.
1t was a stubborn Tony that faced
Doctor John that morning. Adroitly he
tried to draw from her the reason for
her extreme paleness, for the dark
marks stretched across her face, and
the meaning of the shudders that sud
denly attacked her.
II can't tell" she reiterated in dis
tress as she had to his brother. please
don't ask me-"
That her mother was dead, she firm.
ly believed. This she did tell the doc
tor between many sobs and tears.
"I'll never see her ever any more"
she told him tremulously. "And II
you'll let me, I'll live here forever and
forever and take care of Doctor Paul"
"My brother can't get along without
you, dear" he said, deeply touched. "If
you had seen how he grieved last
night, you wouldn't have made that
remark"
~ know he likes me-" said the girl,
signing, "and love him, Why, love
him"
She searched the mans face and
caught his smile.
Better than you do me?" he came
In with.
'Yes." said TonnIbeI, honestly, 'but
you next" Then she thought of
Philip, Of the hours he had held her
against his breast, of the kiss IN the
mornings dawn, and she fell into a
bashful silence.
When Doctor Pendlehaven told Mrs
Curtis that Tony had returned, ner
face drew down In a sulky frown.
"But we needn't care" Katherine
said afterward, "she doesn't bother us
much. For my part can't see how
Cousin Paul stands her."
John says Paul almost died las,
night" took up Mrs. Curtis. 81 sup
pose she's one of the things we've
got to stand in & house run by an old
bachelor and a grieVing widower"
ITO say nothing Of father with a
daughter lost somewhere In the
world" supplemented Katherine.
There's no danger of Carollne's re-
turning after all these years." said
Mrs. Curtis. "If--if-that girl hadn'l
come, Paul wouldn't have lived long.
John told me SO himself. I almost
hoped that"
THAT he'd die2" interrupted Kath.
crime maliciously. "Well, to be truth.
ful | have wished 1t many times,
Cousin John would have to think of
somebody else then. Perhaps he'd
turn his attention to you, mother
darling"
"Fie won't while Paul lives" sighed
Mrs, Curtis, = don't know just what
10 do. I've thought of every conceiv.
able way to get that girl out of the
house, and John forestalls me every
time!"..
Tin glad Philip hasn't seen herr.
remarked Katherine. "IIe's Just the
religious maudIln kind who would fall
for AN appealing face like hers" Mrs
Curtis made an impatient gesture, and
Katherine proceeded 1--WE. can't deny
she is appealing, mamma, even If We
hate her! And God knows loathe her
so | could strangle her with these five
hands" She held up clenched fin
gers then relaxed them and laughed
bitterly. Heavens! What's the uso
of buttng our heads against q Stone
wall2 -. Give me cigarette, my
dear Sarah. Philip won't he here un.
til night, and | can get rid of the odor
before that"
Meanwhile upstairs Tony Devon was
fast getting back to her normal self
The blessed assurance she had that she
was needed by her sick friend lifted
her spirits. She grieved inwardly for
her mother, but shuddered when she
thought of her father. Now all ties
were cut between them. She had no
doubt but that both Uriah and Reggie
thought she was dead in the lake.
She hoped they did! She'd never see
either one of them again.
She was sitting thinking deeply
when Paul Pendlehaven spoke to her
Little dear" said he, reaching out
bis hand toward her, "come over a
minute. l want to talk to yonl''