Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-01-06
A MIDNIGHT TEST
BY LYDIA LION ROBERTS.

ST. watching the troubled face OF II
girl sitting opposite him.
Yin Honestly, l don't know" insiste
~ Constance, her brown eyes lifted I
- his wfstful searching gaze. Il Jus
~ don't feel sure, Austin, and I canno
" 60 any further until l do"
y you have changed since Georg
Drew came into our Set" pondere,
t the young man, and started as a fusl
r covered the small. piQuant face O
g his sweetheart.
r HAS he-did he" Austin STAN
mered, and waited.
Listen, Austin; have always liked
you better than anyone and thought
once-well, l thought l should know
just what to answer you when the
time came. But now-I have an
swered you'll do not know"
Constance. I know you love me !;
you are disturbed by-by the other
one because he is different. He IS
jolly where l am quiet, he is teasing
and full of high spirits where I am
just patient and persevering Yet you
rely on my strength.
Constance smiled slightly at the
memory of the days of curls and many
troubles that Austin had smoothed
away for her.
| It's all right, comrade, think II
over and let me know as soon as you
can. 1t isn't much fun watching your
best girl being vamped by another
male STAR"
"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Austin.
you are so good to me that l feel like
wretch, but / can't decide vet
Mother and 1 are going to New York
tomorrow night to stay a few days
while dad finishes his business. Per-
maps I'll know. How does
one ever know enough to be sure for
years and years7 But I'll try"
Austin said good-by cheerfully, but
his heart was heavy as he walked
back to his home.
Over and over through the next /:
DAY Constance tried to decide her :
problem. Il wish had never seen :
deorge,' she thought, land then /
would have married Austin"
She was glad when 1t was time to g
90 on the boat, for maybe distance 5
Will help" was her last thought before z
me drifted to sleep with the sw.~h Of 5
he ocean and the -throb of the en- z
Ines as music to her ears:
Out Of sound sleep she heard a
dice calling her name and woke star 9
led to find her mother clinging to the q
erth In fright and pain
"One of my heart attacks, Con- -
lance, hurry" she gasped, and the
ri tumbled out of bed and hastily
ave the medicine, making her mother
$ comfortable as possible. An hour
assed, with Constance watching ey-
~ breath and giving medicine at IN
arvals. Slowly the breath came a
tide easier and finally her mother
poke. 'Just as soon as I can get
p let us go on deck" she pleaded.
am stif1ed here"
Constance looked at her watch as
le carefully aided her mothers shaky -
otsteps through the boat to the deck. III
ney took chairs and leaned back in
secluded corner, utterly alone. Soon
II mother slept a@d Constance re-
xed little. She looked across the
ack, restless water and suddenly she
ought of the miles that separated
r from home.
Il might never see It again." she =
II might never see the
Try face of George or the quiet -
ength Of Austin. 1 might never q.
try either oae-the problem would
solved. MOI 1 must see him
lldn't bear tt must go to him y
hear him speak" 4
She leaned forward, straining her :
IS to look across the spaces. "Oh,
lie were only here nowl Why, how y
lpie it is after ALT Is the one -
/ turn to when there's danger or
row, it's the one you love so much
t you feel as big as the sky and the
an. How silly Of me not to know =.
ore-it is a sure way" Z
n the early mall a letter sped Z
light to the ONCE of young man
sat down suddenly and exclaimed. e
hank the fates" when he read II 4 .
lie his eyes sparkled and his mouth -
ased In one large, long smile. -
lie read again the magic words
IKE girl and put her on a boat =
en- she has been frightened by the
mess OF dear one; put a dark,
. sky above, and a tossing. black
IN below, have the girl miles away
u anyone she knows. utterly alone
AT midnight. Rssuit-ths sirl will
w who IL the only one she can love
the stars grow cold"
few days later the doorbsu rang
Constance hurried 70 the door or
stunts house, where she Was stay
Win her mother Two eager arms
sad her snd Two eyes looked deep
her heart az sbs spoke hsr sur
On, : wanted you 60 eome And
> nefef "a separated again, /us