The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-02
The
Greater
!. Love
sv VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE
WATER
CHAPTER XVIII
A NEW ROMANCE


when Ruth had gone into this
house with her flowers, Kenneth
Lang did not turn to the papers or
magazines laid ready on the table at
has side.
Instead. he relapsed into his favor
tie pastiu1e during this period of con-
valescence-day dreaming. And this
morning his dreams were OF a pleas
ing nature.
He was reviewing the occurrences
of the past hour. To be sure. Dr..
Smith had been here and had acted
as If he were quite at homo in this
house. That was natural--as DR..
Grant/was his friend who helped him
in various ways in his practice.
But, Ruth had not seemed spe-
cially glad to see him, nor had she
offered him one of her flowers. In
deed she had not selected a blossom,
for him even when he asked for one.
The young doctor had made his own
choice, then had fastened 1t in his
coat. On the other hand, the girl
had, OF her own accord, asked Ken
meth If he would like a bud, and
picked out an especially fine one for
him, and had pinned it in his button
hole.
Again he lifted the lapel of the
coat to his face and shifted at the
rose. Then, with glance at the
window to make sure that his action
was not observed he pressed the pink
bud to his lips. He did not ask him
self why he did this. There was no
need of his asking. He knew the an
swer only too well.
There was Victoriai The thought of
her thrust itself upon him. But he
shook his head impatiently. He liked
he of course. But he was not going
to hink of her seriously Just now.
He was too happy to do so. Later, 1t
would be time enough to consider
where the present trend of events
was leading him. He was no cad. He
would not even fancy that Victoria
Walsh preferred him above other
men. Yet she had given him cause to
fancy that she did.
Martha Sings
His common sense told him that
he was letting his mind dwell too
much On the daughter of his host.
He must not consider dangerously
pleasant possibilities.
He listened to sounds from within
the house. In the kitchen Martha was
beating eggs and singing hymns.
There is land of pure delight
she sang Justify.
! the listener on the eiue Fetdnuei
snarled. He felt as IL he were pretty
close to that land now. The breeze
swayed the honeysuckle covering his
retreat, and the fragrance grew
sweeter. Bees hummed drowsily
While the air was hot, II was not
humid, oppressive heat-and. sitting
still as he did, he did not feel too
warm. Yes-he certainly was in a
haven of peace.
He must have fallen asleep for he
opened his eyes with start as car
drove into the sideyard.s Or. Grant
! ana his Young colleague had re-
turned. The invalid heard them ex-
change good-bys, then DR.. Smith
drove off and his host entered the
house. Kenneth was glad that Smith
had noc come in again.
RUTH the father called. Here's
your mail, Honey. I'll leave II on the
hall table. I'm in a hurry to get of
to make some calls before dinner
Anything you want me to do on my
way back?" .-.
mo thank you" came the clear
young voices. "Why not let Abe bring
the car around? Don't you go out tc
the garage for It,"
"Nonsense!" was the hearty re-
joinder "A little exercise will do mt
good. ! sometimes Think" with a