Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-07-02
Ey Way of a
Kittyclysm
Dy DUFoR0 JENNIE
ID. e. Western Newspaper UnIon.l

Nun. She staggered to her feet, and
he did the same, and the kitten. with
which he had been playing, made
tracks for the hail.
THAT was almost a cataelysm," he
said. with a quick smile.
She had time to note that his eyes
were a clear, deep brown. "Or a kit
tyclysm,' she added
Mrs Mccarthy, busy in her kitchen,
looked up with a smile as Tess en-
tered. Hello, Mischief, you look as if
y0u had something on your mindl"
Il have, Mother Mae | have just
seen slim, handsome, young man
with the eyes Of poet. You better
make way with him or l may fall in
love with him. | almost fell onto him
as it is"
Mother Mac" ehuckled But don't
you 20 TO falling in love with him.
dearie. He's booked up"
Booked up-meaning?"
Stupid, he's engaged to the girl
who TOOK the alcoye room. They are
to be niarried soon"
Il knew it It's always that way"
Hush child, what a way to talk"
You wait till the next one comes
along, and see what happens to him.
Say, I'd like to see her!"
Tess did see the lucky girl that eve
ming. Her name was Evelyn Harms,
and Tess had to admit she was "a
worthy mate for the brOwn-eyed
'poet'-only 1t turned Nout that he
was not a poet, but musician. Tess
also discovered that he and his be-
trotned had known each other only a.
month.
Attractive as Evelyn was in form
and feature, she did not appeal in
one way to Tess, whose warm, inlpul-
sive, fun-soving heart reacted like q
thermometer to the moods of others
one reason why she was making a
great success as a registered nurse.
There was little, cold, calculating air
about Evelyn that depressed Tess.
1.-THE Poet" became Arkley Chandler
by name, and to Tess much more than
name, for he discovered that she
liked the foolish songs he liked; and
the two of them spent cheerful min
utes at Mrs. McCarthy's piano.
Then, suddenly, quietly, on silent
feet trouble came Tess had been
away oh a case for week. When She
returned, she found that Arkley was
i'll in his room with a cold and that
Evelyn was almost i'll herself. And
then, to top all, that first evening, the
heavy cold developed into pneumonia.
\ When Tess found that no nurse had
been engaged, she went up to the room
and offered her services to Evelyn
who accepted them eagerly
There Tess. changed from her gay,
impulsive self into the quiet, trained
worker, and during those long hours.
the first heart-ache she had ever
known developed
in the deep trance of tie fever, and
once she confessed to herself-"Dear
Lad with the merry heart and the
singing soul, hope we can keep you
here for ~her-though l wish sou were
staying for me!'
The delirium grew and waned as the
crisis passed. The doctor said he
would live, butSit would be days before
he was himself, probably.
On one Of the days when he lay I'M
conscious and Tess was keeping close
watch, Evelyn came in, her eyes hard
and dark.
Miss Lane, don't know what to do
/ supposed he was we'll paid at the
store, and had funds to pay all these
bills; but they told me that his salary
was really low; and7-I hate to take
my money to pay
"What?N Tess gaSped
Fl know how it seems to you, but
I/supposed he had money enough to
take care of US both-and he hasn't"
'Why, Evelyn, that is the fine thing
about it, Just YOU two in the great
city! YOU love each other and that
means that one can look out for the
other. Think how terrible it is to be
i'll, and not a soul caring whether you
live or die. Your money can help him
now; and then, if you are i'll, he can
help you Don't you see? You
wouldn't desert him now? That simply
can't be what you mean?'
"Er-no-of course not" she an
swered, looking at the white, still
handsome face on the pillow. Il am
disappointed in finding out the truth
about his financial affairs"
she went out abruptly, and Tess
stared after her. 80 that's what
love means TO you. To have nice
things, be comfortable. have money to
spend; and he will never know just
what"
She turned to the bed and started.
with little cry Had he become
conscious while they We're talking
and Kept still?
She went swiftly to the bedside and
leaned over him.
81 heard what-she said," he whis-