The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-02-01
A MIDNIGHT TEST
0y LYDIA LION RoDeRrs.


D. 1921. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
us it because Of someon else p
ASKED Austin, his gray eyes soberly
watching the troubled face Of the
girl sitting opposite him.
Honestly, l don't know" insisted
Constance, her brown eyes lifted to
bis wistful, searching gsze. II just
don't feel sure, Austin, and l cannot
50 any further until I do"
you have changed since George
Drew came into our set" pondered
the young man, and started a. q 1ush
covered the small, piQuant face Of
his sweetheart.
HAS he-did he" Austin STAN.
mered, and waited.
Listen, Austin / have always liked
you better than anyone and thought
Once-well, I thought I should know
just what to answer you when the
time anne But now-I have an
Swered you'll do not know"
Constance, l know you love me-:
you are disturbed by-by the other
n because he Is different He II
jolly where l am quiet, he IL teasing
and full Of high spirits where I am
just patient and ~perseverlng. Yet yeu
rely on my strength"
Constance smiled slightly 1T the
memory Of the days Of curls and many
troubles that Austin had smoothed
away for her.
TITS all right, comrade, think It
over and let nj know as loon a. you
can. 1t isn't much fun watching your
best girl being vamped by another
male star"
"Oh dear! I'm 50 sorry. Austin,
you are SO good to me that I feel like
wretch, but l can't decide yet.
Mother and I are going to New York
tomorrow night to stay 4 few days
while dad finishes his business. Per
hApS Til know. . How does
n ever know enough to be sure for
years and years? 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 hcr
problem. Il wish I had never e
George" she thought, land then I
would have married Austin"
She was glad when 1t vas time to
80 on the boat, for maybe distance
Will help wal her last thought before
she drifted to sleep with the swish OF
the ocean and the thrOb Of the en-
gines as music to her ears.
Out Of a sound sleep she heard 4
voice calling her name and woke star
tied to find her mother clinging to the
berth In fright and pain.
"One Of my heart attacks, Con-
stance. hurry she gasped, and the
girl tumbled out Of bed and hastily
gave the medicine, making her mother
as comfortable as possible. An hour
passed, with Constance watching ev-
cry breath and giving medicine at in
tervals. Slowly the breath came a
little easier and finally her mother
spoke. Just as sOon as I can get
up let us 60 on deck" she pleaded.
II am stifled here"
Constance looked at her watch as
she carefully aided her mothers shaky
footsteps through the boat to the deck.
They took chairs and leaned back In
\ secluded corner, utterly alone. Soon
her mother slept and Constance re-
Taxed a little. She looked across the
black. restless water and suddenly she
thought Of the miles that separated
her from home.
Il might never see it again." she
murmured. II might never see the
merry face Of George or the quiet
strength Of Austin. l might never
marry either one-the problem would
be solved. No! must see him
couldn't bear it must 60 to him
n hear him speak"
She leaned forward. straining her
eyes to look across the spaces. "Oh,
If he were only here now, Why, how
simple 1t is after all-it is the one
you turn to when there's danger or
sorrow, it's the one you love so much
that you feel as big as the sky and the
ocean,. How silly Of me not to know
before-it is a sure way"
In the early mail q letter sped
straight to the Office Of a young man,
who sat down suddenly and exclaimed,
Thank the fates!' when he read it,
while his eyes sparkled and his mouth
creased in n large, long smile.
lie read again the magic words,
Take a girl and put her on a boat
whea she has been frightened by the
sickness of a dear one; put a dark,
huge sky above, and a tossing, black
ocean below, have the girl miles away
from anyone she knows, utterly alone
ana at midnight. Result-the girl will