Evening star., 1923-08-19

one thought now was to get to a
hotel, climb into a bed and be i'll
herself. in peace. She consulted the
friendly porter, as well as the woman
who had loaned her a thermometer
(Ben's temperature was going slowly
back to normal; she was now afraid
to take her own. She was miserable)
The porter suggested a place called
the Fairbridge.
"Yo' kin be took care of good
thar" he assured her. The lady OF the
thermometer mentioned the Fair
bridge as well--"wonderful service"
They got into the city of their des-
tination on a gray. bleak. ugly morn
ing. Ben. miraculously improved, to
the extent of no fever, eating a soft
boiled egg for breakfast. and getting
into his clothes thereafter, sat among
the bags, a slightly gaunt, but still a
comforting evidence of masculine in
telligence, on which to draw. if need
be.
Lois, shivering, checked the lug
gage. tipped the porter, tipped a red
cap, and sank into a black and yell
low taxi with her senses whirling.
They came at last TO the Fair
bridge, an imposing facade. with an
imposing sequence of brown-and-gold
fiunkeys. passing ones bags along.
'Lois sat huddled in a highbacked.
carved chair in a waste of old gold
and leaf-brown lobby, her eyes on a.
great vase of heavy-headed roses,
while Ben. pale and shaky, registered
at the desk and asked for rooms.
Ben came back at last--the lobby
was full OF people, shadow shapes
with oddly distorted faces-and said
huskily. "All right, Lois. we can go
right up"
Which they did. The boy who car
ried the bags was barely out OF the
room before Lois took off her charm
ing little gray silk hat and dropped
1t on the floor. Took off her coat.
and dropped that, too.
I'm sick she said. I'm going to
bed Get me a doctor"
When she had shivered her way
down into the blankets and cold white
sheets of the twin bed nearest the
door she opened one bloodshot eye
above the coverlid. How much-for
the room and bath?"
She did not mean to be sordid. but
three days of guarding Uncle Alexis
honeymoon check had made her con-
scious Of expenses.
"I forgot to ask said Ben DULY.
He sat on the side of his own bed.
the picture of desolation. Think
you're going to be sick, Lois?"
please don't talk to me-" she said
coldly-and shut her eyes to shut out
cruel world.
TN the morning about Z she opened
i them experimentally, and became
aware Of Ben lying in the other bed,
two feet or so away from her. 1t
gave her something of a start. She
had not at once remembered that she
was married.
How do you feel?" she asked
politely. "Oh, I'm sorry-I don't mean
that"
THAT young squirt of a doctor that
was in here yesterday" Ben informed
her vindictively, said I had no bust
ness up, and put me back to bed. How
do you feel?'
Rotten" said Lois, weakly gloomy
but a little bit better than I did"
"He gave you some sort of dope
| for the fever. You slept nearly all
| day. didn't you?"
She drew a long sigh. II remember
| him-I don't remember much else
| I was SO miserable. What does he
think I've got?"
I imagine he doesn't know any
more about it than we do ourselves.
| He said he'd try and get you nurse.
| but they're most of them busy: what
ever this is-I'm afraid you caught
! it from me-"
That's all right" she murmured
| hoarsely. "You couldn't help it,"
I'm awfully obliged to you for
taking care Of me on the train"
| mot at ALL" Lois shut her eyes
| and q cruel, hot tear rolled down each
| cheek.
This-after the honeymoon of her
dreams! How she and Ben had
/ planned to spend Uncle Alexis check!
| Theaters-all, the best seats-restau-
rants, rosy with lights. fragrant with
! flowers, savory with food rhythmic
with music, dancing between courses
Ben's voice rose suddenly, unsteady
with embarrassment: "Lois-I-I want
you to-tell me-something! When
had fever, on the train-I had q pretty
high fever, didn't II"
You certainly did, .S