The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-29
BY Ann Isle,
whose Serials Of Married Life
Have Won . Bic Popular
Success.

some old woman win hide him
away az Grandma Sampson did
this lad. Maybe It was Neal
maybe I should have stayed"
Anne, It wasn't Neal. But 4
was lad. very much like him.
wen find the boy. We VIII !"
Never sIrieked, my voice
rising above the hum Of the
motor and terrifying me e. Il
walled out In desperation.
Then suddenly lost control 81
myself. felt myself shaking ~
IL / were freezing with cold. The
car seemed to be racIking me to
pieces IS It rushed through the
darkness. couldn't stand the
movement. / couldn't endure the
whimpering rush Of wind past
my ears.
Stop I shrtelxed.
Then ! feIt myself slipping
away into = vast darkness:
reached out to clutch something
and found RaIph's arm. The car
came to q sliding, grating stop.
Don't let me faint" / heard 4
voice crying from Tar away.
Then blackness closed ia.
II tainted, didn't IT.
It was my own voice I heard
murmuring plaintively stirred
and realized suddenly that Ralph,s
arm was supporting me. Then
he cried with 4 tender brusdue-
ness which brought mo to myself
completely.
You've Just had . bad col
lapse, Anne. You've been q brick
and have strained your nerves .
little beyond the breaking point.
Now try not to think for d mo-
rnent. Just relax and try to
feel like = tired child who's going
to be alI rested ana better after
8 moment
For q second Or two I did as
he bade me. was worn out and
I couldn't pun myself together.
All the hopes and longings ia
felt on the drive home to the old
white farmhouse seemed to turn
into mockery. Suddenly I pulled
myself upright and began sob
bing wildly:
whats the use Of hoping and
believing? Wen never find Neal
now. I'll never see him again.
He's gone. And the sooner / REQ
oncile myself to the facts the
better. I can't stand any more, Of
this. haven't nerve that isn't
pounding and aching and strain
ing so that feel TIL 90 mad"
"Anneg' said Ralph gently.
'.Don't you know that this Is just
a merciful reaction? It's an out
let for your nerves, dear. Go
ahead ana cry It out on my
shoulder as IL I were Grandma
Sampson with plenty cot room
for you to make yourself COM
Portable"
At the comparison, and the pic
ture it called up, what Ralph was
undoubtedly hoping for happened,
and began to laugh. But after
a moment or two my laughter
turned to hysteria. I couldn't
keep from laughing and crying
and shaking with the emotions
both called up and increased in
turn,
"I was 90 sure 1t was. Nealp' /
cried. $50 sure"
That's my fault. Anne" said
Ralph gravely. 81 was sure. I
made you believe it, too, and now
you're paying for my being so
positive when I had no right to
get my hopes fixed up with my
conon sense, IL / have any
Don't be absurd" said prac-
tically. Its your wonderful
friendship that has made me 80
hopeful"
1 Strengthened up in the car
and Ralph turned back to the
wheel. I had a sudden shamed
consciousness that I'd let 50 Of
myself utterly and lost every
particle OF self-control. But
though my mind was working
now and reproaching me for per-
hitting myself to collapse, I was
so weak and miserable dldn'
know how to pull myself to-
gether.
Can you stand It II start
driving again?" Ralph asked.
Perhaps the rush Of tho ar will
be good for you. You aren't the
fainting sort, Anne, and the fact
that you did go out for a minute
shows how hard hit you are and
Its all my fault"
you're a wonderful friend" !
managed to say. you've been
the one person to stand by and
try to help me. You've been the
only one to believe in Neal and
| try TO help me, I-I'm ashamed