The St. Mary banner., 1922-09-16

| hllIy administering to yOur Deeda
Iris, let me take you away. NV moth.
er's home is beautiful, Of such lavish.
ness and luxuries that you will realize
only when you are there what q hoyeI
this has been. Iris, look at me YOU
do care for me, you do? You will get
well at mothers and then we will he
married. You will forget all this. You
belong In the environment | can give
you! Dear, tomorrow is your birth.
day, Is 1t not? Let me send you as
my gift to you few things that will
make it possible for you to come and
then In day or two ] will take you
in my car. Iris, love you"
Her blue eyes opened wide. half
with delight and rapture, half with
modification. He spoke a long time,
but In the end she told him that she
must consider. She wanted DAVIS
grace. Then she would give him her
answer.
1t was her birthday. Kitty gave
her vivid. flowered kimono and two
substantial muslin nightdresses. and
Jim slipped a ten-dollar bill In her
unwilling fingers. 1t was all so banal
she did not belong there.
1t was sunshiny but cooler than the
day before, and Kitty added q hot
water bag to the steamer rug and
then came rushing out again with a
huge box. 1t was from Doctor Bowen,
things for the stay at the mothers,
wonderful things that he would not
have to be ashamed Of, that would not
cause any comment Iris understood,
yet somehow she felt strangely dis
turbed. She put the things back in
the box and wondered in some alarm
what Doctor Bowen's mother was like.
Her thoughts were distracted by
seeing their neighbor, Sam Moore, sud-
denly vault the fence, balancing some
thing in his hand, and then come
straight to her chair.
Happy birthday, Iris!" and held out
blue bowl filled with yellow daffo-
dis.
Iris gave little gasp Of pleasure
her lips parted in the faintest smile.
How lOvely!" she murmured softly.
Put 1t here on my lap, please" She
noticed as he obeyed her that his fin
gers were long and capable looking
and that his eyes were gray, Of pene-
trating keenness.
He looked at her and laughed, "My,
but you look pretty in Jim's old cap!"
A little warm glow filled her heart and
reflected itself for q second on her
pale cheeks. Iris, l want you to get
well, Of course, but l hope it takes
you long time! l want to see you
here In this back yard; you sort Of
belong here, with your big solemn blue
eyes!" She looked at him in amaze
ment, but she smiled again. "See the
apple blossoms coming and that peach
tree in It's Easter outfit? You're part
Of it, I-none Of US can ever bear to
think Of you leaving us, going away.
OF course, you're going to get well too
quick. Can't help it having Kitty, liv-
ing In the sunshine of her love. She
was mighty good nurse, wasn't she,
and always cheerful"
Iris nodded, something stirring in
her heart.
Il knew right along that you were
the kind Of girl who sees the beauty
in her environment, the thrObbing,
real beauty of love, the kind that made
Kitty sit through long nights at your
bed, the kind that made all of US pray
for your recovery! Iris, look up at
that blue sky! Smell the blossom
scented air, hear the faint buzzing Of
first bees. Tell me, do only imagine
it, or Is not the whole world singing
Of love-" and he leaned over and
smiled in her blue eyes, full OF
promise.
Her eyes fell upon the box Of things
so essential to Doctor BOwen's mother,
and she shrank away from 1t, and
turned to the blue bowl filled with
daffodils. 1t was a symbol of what
Sam Moore would offer her all his
life.
She looked up with another smile
and murmured, ''Yes, Sam, it Is full
Of nrOmfSe :"