San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-14

proving around the house like thi.
for?" Jim demanded irritably Of
Jeanne.
She laughed knowingly.
II suppose / butted in at the crit
zeal moment when you we're making
up a fight and feeling especially
pleasant and calm and that you hats
to sit up and take notice of anyone
but your own wonderful Selves" she
said with a trace of acerbity. "What
came to say is that the doctor and
Lingard have arrived and are locking
out for Perry. and that the telephone
is fixed and Miss Arlette valleau de-
mands speech with you, Anne, and
that I'd like little chat with nv
brother If no one objects seriously"
Thus dismissed ] ran down to tie
living room of the Birches to answer
the telephone.
Good morning Mis- Harrison. you
ell right" demanded Arlette eagerly.
I'm fine" ! said.
"And your husband he have come
- no HARM" the girl went on.
He was frosted a bit. and he's
resting now," l said. But he's all
right"
You're sure he's all right? And
Mr.. Nicholas, too?"
Her voice rang. was not sur,
when its bell-like timber had taken
on its vibrant tone. But it seemed to
me that in asking for Nicholas Perry
the little 17-year-old maid had man
aged to sound amazingly like a ma
ture woman with feelings that could
vibrate like the cords expressing her
voice and her emotions.
The doctor is here" I began. but
the girl interrupted with a pleading
Il have made all the work here by
the Hedgerow. May she do not need
me by Zeke. / think maybe if you
telephone Mrs. Cruikshank and tell
her I shall come by you and help the
little bits. she shall let me. I like to
come. I like to take the snow shoe
and ride to you over the crust. YOU
will do it?"
Its very nice OF you to want 10
help me, Arlette.' / said with elab
crate simplicity. But Tarasov is here
There is nothing too much for him
to do. He went to the village to get
the doctor. can hear him stirring
Ground the kitchen now"
"Oi. he do not do so good like
me-" the girl cried. II know ! shall
make for Mr.. Harrison the fine NUT
ton broth that he shall like-with the
barley and the vegetable. bring big
hone and provision along on pack.
We have lots here. / think you need
lots while you got so many there.
They stay for lunchesn-yes?
Mr.. Perry is likely to stay several
days." I said drily. And my hus-
hand probably won't be able to get
out for little while"
See. you need helps and foods.
the girl pleaded with an eagerness
there was no installing. Il shall
rome-not:"
But who will look out for Mrs.
Cruikshank?" ! asked.
"Tarasov he shall come here" the
rrl said. Then she added urgently {:
II must come. Mr.. Perry he need
me. You need me to help-with Mr..
Harrison. Him / amuse. / think he
Is cross If he is not sick but is in
house" Then she adds 80 low that
I could scarcely hear: And who will
take care of BERTHE Lingard if L am
NOT there?"
why he's quite all right again. l
cried. "He came 10 himself-came to
himself completely last night in the
storm and stress of going out and res
cuing Mr.. Perry and Mrs. Dalton"
Arlette gave an odd little cry. 1t
was something like protest-some-
thing like pean Of praise. / won
dered il what she had been waiting
for all along was sOme word of
.Teanie. Then I realized that Jeanie
had answered the telephone, and that
Arlette had only to use her common
sense to realize that the only place
.Ieanie could be was right in the shell
ter of the Birches. where Perry had
been brought by his rescuer, BERTHE
Lingard.
II got to come" Arlette cried.
"You must not tell me | shall not
come. | get Mrs. Cruikshank SO she
shall let me. / send her Tarasov. /
make right to cone. Maybe Lingard
he is well for few hours-and is
had again like often. So long and see
You soon"
7 laughed as i turned from the tele-
phone. Then / frowned. For / real
lied how sure Of herself is this odd
little Arlette-the sister Of my maid
the possessor of youth and dryad
charm and of voice over which Patl
told Jcsnic all the men up in the
woods we're raying.
"She counts on Tarasov to take
orders from her" ] said IN myself.
"She objects to Jeanie's
very existence. Sne thinks Lingard
and Perry need her-and she tells me
frankly she can get Jim out Of his
black moods and into a good one.
What is this Arlette-genius or wood
nymph. friend or foe?"
Then suddenly | realized how little
and helpless and Intellectual the child
looks. And / recalled how only a
few moments ago Jim had told me how
he objected to my efficiency and
yearncd for a helplessness do not
know how to pretend. Half laughing
> | had told myself then that a little
butterfly woman is due to come and
light on his hand.
Will il he Arlette?
Ito BE Continued.)