Evening star., 1926-03-30

Y WIIARY opens the door Tor
Celia, and watched her slowly
mounting the shallow stair
Lord. What II orrib b
things scenes are" he muttered, as
he turned back. closing himself in
with peace once more. He smiled
acidly
Il might as well be really married,
ha reflected.
Then an his compassion for ms
queerest of queer girls flooded him
again and he wished that he could
simplify matters by pommeling Pad
Iaic OShea within an inch of his lie
and kicking him into the streets.
Going instead TO his writing table,
he called up Maestro Giannini ana
asked him 10 come for a half an hour
Of fencing.
Celia felt that she couldn't put off
any longer letting Donovan know that
she was awake, and as much as she
wanted to be alone just then. she
wanted even more to have her hair un-
bound and brushed. Her scalp had
such a hot. stiff feeling, just as though
It had been pasted on her skull with
hot glue. she really couldn't think
with any Clearness while her head
felt like that. and she must think
clearly. as we'll as quickly.
Three davs--She had only three days
in which both to think and act. Why
hadn't She asked for week? But
perhaps he wouldn't have granted her
Il week After all, it would qbe better
10 get through with ii in a short
time.
She opened the communicating door
into her sitting room and said:
I'm awake. nurse will YOU please
come and brush my hair
Donovan entered with a look of
prim disapproval on her fiat. hard
bitten face. Her tone, too, was re
proachful.
Nov. miss. said she, what call
had you to go and dress yourself. and
me sitting close by all morning and
afternoon? 1t would seem like you
want to be sick again. You look
something awful" she wound up with
= milder expression. as she took in
Celia's deathly pallor and the mauve
shading about her eyes. You really
hadn't ought to have got up at ALL"
She wanted TO undress her and put
her promptly TO bed again, but Celia
insisted she couldn't lie still until her
hair was brushed.
''As for that. l can brush it and you
in YOUR bed, where you ought to be-
said Donovan.
But knowing Celia s stubborn side of
old. she didn't keep on insisting, and
having got her out OF the black velvet
and into a peignoir, began to take out
the big shell hair pins that by now
seemed to Celia each one as large and
heavy as a pair of fire-tongs.
''Oh, that's good, nurse. that's
good :" she kept murmuring,
as Donovan's accustomed fingers first
carded out the long masses, then be
gan to pass the comb gently through
them.
20 nurse, You can't think how de-
licious it is - she said aloud,
wishing to stop these unpleasant
thoughts. Its better than all
the medicine in the world. -
But the word medicine" had
brought up the corollary food" to
Donovan's mind. which mad set its
stiff machinery TO regard Celia as
patient" The soothing comb stopped
half way down tress. and was lifted
out and laid firmly on the dressing
table.
But why" asked Celia. fretfully.
She knew that Donovan was quite !
as obstinate as she was, when the
mood took her that she had some rea- 1
son for stopping and wouldn't con
tnue until she saw fit.
Have you had one single bite to
eat since you woke up?" demanded
Donovan, stepping from her place be
hind Celia'S chair, 50 that she could /.
look into her face.
NO, but really / can't eat =