The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1921-01-01

! For as Arthur Warren. greatly Gis-
! turhed in his mind. bent over her, his
| hand for n moment rested on hers, and
! in lhar moment She knew her secret
| that she loved him and Wo:id love
him always. But the sudden EnoWl-
edge only made her sob the harder.
Suddenly she lifted Il tear-Stainrd face
and threw her arms about his neck.
ooh. Mr. Warren, Please hold NE
Hont let me go-nnd don't let ne wear
HAT awful red hat again Please
I, man with less perspiculty than
Arthur Warren might we'll Ii We put
down her words for the rawlings of
hysterin but Arthur Warren WAS a
man of understanding. Also he was
no more proof than any Of Us woud
have been against the girls pleadingS.
He held her In his arms. rocking her
to and fro as though size we're a tired
child, and murnured words of comfort
In her cur Presently she fell asleep.
and he laid her on the couch while he
rang up doctor.
NERVOUS breakdown" commented
the doctor csisply. Nothing serious,
but-must be careful. Lots Of rest
and outdoor exercise. No work for Il
while Diet" here he launched into
highly technical discussion, to which
Warren paid no attention.
Four hours later little Nellie Bates
woke to fin1l herself In a wonder nj
pink room, Hnker than any rom she
had ever imagined. A uninterrupted
nurse was standing by the bed III
which Nellie lay. and all around her
were flowers The nurse smiled n
her as she opened her eyes, and tip
toed from murmur OF low voices OL,-
side her door. and then arthur Warren
came into the room. shut the door
softly behind him and came ID the
bedside.
"Where am n" asked Nellie
"You're at my country place dear"
replied Arthur, land you're going 20
stay here till you ger we'll"
Strange to sag. neither of them
seemed 10 notice that he had said
dear" Nellie asked another question
''ffow did | get hereT
you had a nervous breakdown th9s
Notwithstanding about Il red hat"
replied Warren, land so | logged you
out here for a while. My aunt, a most
estimable lady, is going to stay with
you and act as combined head nurse
and chaperOn. You're all rights
good rest will put you on your feet
again. And you shall stay here It'll
you're we'll"
Nellie looked up al him. lie surely
had nice eyes, she thought And he
was looking at her and smiling in a
queer sort Of Way-nOt at all the way
he usually looked at her in The stuGi0;
and she was suddenly conscious of a
desire to say q great many things TO
him; but all she managed was fee
BILE moan. as he turned away 10 leave
the room.
At the sound he was back al the
bedside like flash. "Is anything the
matter?" he asked anxously.
"Nothine," said Nellie, IN faint
voice. THAT iS-eXcept-hOw long
can L" How ridiculous. The words
wouldn't seem 20 get out.
"YeS?" encouraged Warren
How long can I-stay nere?'
Arthur Warren hesitated. Th(n he
suddenly sank to his knees beside the
bed and caught her hands in his.
"Nellie. dear. you can stay Just as
long as YOU want. ] didn't know Until
this morning that loved you-but |
know 1t now and I've got 10 tell you
You can stay here just as long as YOU
want"
Nellie drew him down 10 Aer.
"Oh, Arthur, dear" she murmu ID
II think Ia like to stay always"