Evening star., 1925-06-17
80
One of a series of the
wears best short
stories.

! romance. and has attained the cool
Judgment and the ample leisure which
await those who have finished with
love
II am not the nurse you expect
ed Sally Byrd tried to explain, while
the others kindly humorous eyes,
with their disconcerting expression of
taking everything with a tinge of
irony, gazed at her wonderingly. Il
came because I heard he was all alone
and needed somebody to look after
him.
"Oh. that is it, observed the older
woman. without surprise, and she
asked in gentle voice. Wont you sit
down?''
Sally Byrd sat down, and then, be-
cause she could think of nothing else
to do or say, she stared at the work
basket.
YES. there are a great many. aren I
there?" remarked the other. following
the direction of the girls eyes. Men
are so careless about their things. and
these socks cost 81 a pair. ! thought
I might as we'll go over them while I
sit and wait. There Is so much time.
and I always hate to sit and fold my
! hands" Her glance went back to Sally
Byrd, and she inquired in the same
practical tone. How far did you
! Gomez
From Virginia" Sally Byrds voice
choked as she answered. though there
was nothing to do, she felt. but an
swer. If this competent looking wom-
| an was a sister or an aunt of Stan.
| ley's. she supposed she had the right
to question her.
! You knew Stanley in Virginia ?"
! I'VE met last Spring when he was
there. I thought thought"
"Wait minute" said the other
| quietly. Rising. she went quickly out
of the room and returned almost i'm
mediately with cup of coffee on a
little tray. You look faint. I'm
sorry there isn't any breakfast yet
but we have coffee made early for
the nurses. Do you take cream and
sugar? She put the tray down on
the table beside the workbasket and
gave the cup to the girl. Drink II
while you talk. 1t will make you fee
better. So you knew Stanley ir
Virginia?''
Sally Byrd nodded.
And you fell in love with each
other. Wen, you're pretty enough
and I suppose he is charming enough
| though i never quite understand tha,
part of it
This time Sally Byrd did not nod
She only stared with tragic eyes over
the brim of the cup. The coffee die
make a Wonderful difference. Sht
felt it go all over her. just like happi
ness, only more staying.
| The other woman sat down in the
chair by the table, and, picking III
the sock with the darning egg inside
of it. examined the hole with meticu
lous attention through a pair of rim
less glasses which she had slipped
on her nose. Then she drew the toe
of the sock lightly over the egg ant
ran her needle in precise stitche.
round the hole. THAT was Spring.
she remarked, without glancing up
land this is Autumn. A long time
Tor love affair to last
"It isn't a love affair" protested
Sally Byrd, in anguish. 1T is-oh, il
is She broke down and began tC
cry softly. A miserable feeling had de
scended on her out of the clouds. She
felt vaguely that her bright, beautiful
romance had been pricked like a bub
BILE and was melting away into soap
suds. Glamour had suddenly depart
ed. Stripped of illusion. she was be
ginning to see herself simply as foo
! who would have to pay for her folly
In an instant, by an act of intelli
gence. she seemed to grow up, to at
tain maturity Of judgment.
Still the other did not look up from