Evening star., 1923-08-19
OIS WHEELER. who had one
brief half-hour before been
niS RrnnlrS Sfnnd at the MIR


cobweb OF a veil about her small
gray hat.
Little broken noises OF laughter
and talk drifted up the stairs to her
The wedding guests were waiting
Waiting for her Lois Wheeler (Lois
Rrooks that was). to come down those
stairs. put her hand in Bens and
drive away with him on their honey
p,oon away from all her
friends away from her mother
her mother. who had always
been there to turn to. whenever and
however she needed her. Suppose she
needed her mother now.
That brought the tears--in a blind
ing rush.
Her mother came in at the door and
laughed them away.
You silly child, what's all TINS
about? Now, you'll have to powder
&our nose all over again" The gray
haired woman in the violet silk gown
was bravely clinging to common
places. Everything in your oag'
INV child? Ben says you haven't any
too much time.'
Lois turned and flung her arms
about her mother childishly / don
want to go" she whispered
"Ren's a good boy said her
mother. kissing the smooth young
cheek and swallowing sob OF her
own. "Tu trust you with him.
Come on, now, my lamb-dont be
such q nanny baby! You're start
ing off on beautiful trip. with your
Uncle Alexis check to pay for every
thing. 'Tisn't everybody has we'd
ding present like that! All that TO
spend on one little honeymoon. Come
along, now, everybodys waiting. Put
on your gloves and see If you've got
q clean hanky."
"rm coming" said Lois obediently.
She kissed her mother desperately
hard and smiled misty little sml y
BLESS my baby's heart" whisper
ed her mother They clung together
for a moment.
Lois called a mans deep voice
from the foot of the stairs.
And Lois went down, hushlnS
deeper with every step.
TT occurred to her. in the machihe
4 at last, on the way to the sla-
tion. that Ben was flushed as wen.
His eyes were shining. She noticeu
that his hand shook when he closeo
the door Was Ben afraid OF her
AS she was afraid of him? She trieu
to think back to all their beautltul
hours together-his arms about her'
his lips on hers. Or course ne
couldn't very we'll kiss her, IN tne
car. with the hired chauneur slttlhs
m lust in front of them: but dldn
perfectly new lord usually Lead OH
with some tender phrase? Ben hao
made a wonderful lover; was ne go
ing to let down as husoano
Lois sat there, prey to vastly con
aicting emotions, till they left the car
for the train and saw the yelio"
stuccoed walls OF the neat little sta-
tion slip away from them. slowly
relentlessly -.
She settled herself in their COM
partment with a stoical appearance
of being altogether accustomed 10 u,
ous,ntlv at variance with the bridai
newness of her bags.
Chilly in this car, isn't II: bet
commented uneasily.
Lois said yes, she believed 1t was
although as a matter Of fact 1t hadn
occurred to her, and her coat was
thinner than his.
He sat beside her. but made no
efforts even to take her hand. his
manner was distinctly nervous. Also
his fush persisted and his eyes. now
that she looked at him more closely
were terribly bloodshot, for all their
brightness.
Lois heart sank. like a stone in
had hpen
bachelor dinner the night before-she
had heard stories of bridegrooms who
drew upon Dutch courage. Was
she starting upon her honeymoon
with that?
However. Ben's quietness reassured
her-he couldn't, with that voice, that
gentle manner.
Lets go out in the dining car
now" he suggested. rising suddenly.
"It might be warmer out there.
Lois wasn't cold or hungry, but
she went along quiescently.
They had table to themselves
beside a window and watched the
California landscape slip by, green
and bronze and gold in the waning
daylight Ben consulted Lois pref
erenceS aSSiduouSly, but ordered al
most nothing for himself.
Thank goodness, it's warmer out
here" he observed with relief. "ld
like to stay here all evening" Which
was odd, Lois thought. She found
the dining car decidedly overheated.
It was a CHASTITY moment for Lois
in which it dawned upon her that the
brand-new partner OF her joys and
sorrows was seriously i'll.
His flush was the danger signal of
a blazing fever. He had at last to
admit it and ask for help.
I'm afraid I'm going to be sick"
he said thickly, when they left the
dining car. i've been fighting it off
thought it was nothing but a slight
cold-came on this morning >. But
feel sort Of funny now, kind Of
dazed and light headed. Maybe I've
got a little fever. What do you
think, Lois?"
Looking at him, Lois could not fail
10 see that he had-rather more than
little. She put her hand on his
forehead. and found 1t sickeningly
hot 4 flame under the skin.
Lois took q firm hold on herself,
set her teeth. and steadied her voice.
She was fighting a mounting fight.
The Ben of her engagement was lost
in the mists now, sure enough-in
his place a sick man, strangely and
oai, 1I,r he