Evening star., 1926-04-09
INSTAI.LME\T l..
Celia Announces Her Decision.

~ ONONAN was worried and in
consequence looked grimmer
than usual as she stood
~ watching Celia put her
check book and her little
gold fountain pen into the suede bag.
This trinket. in its rose-leather case,
she had bought for herself She
wouldn't take with her anything that
Hilary had given her The bag also
contained small parcel addressed to
him. which she had placed there the
night before. In the parcel was her
wedding ring. the key of her empty
Jewel case and her copy Of the com
bination to the safe set in her bed
room wall.
She was going to post this parcel
and the letter she intended writing
him on her way to the station.
She snapped the lock OF the bag
and looked up. saying:
do you know whether Mr.. Fraser
Is in the library"
Donovan. who had walked off and
was now coming toward her with
a chinchilla Jacket in her hands, re-
piled:
He was there when I came up.
He says he'll finish his book today"
Celia was looking with disappIUval
at the Jacket The lovely fur had
her furs on all occasions. You were
made for them and they for YOU, Ice
Maiden" he had told her once.
II shan't need that" she said de-
cidedly, I'm be in closed car, you
know"
There's always draughts.' re-
turned Donovan: Mr.. Fraser would
wish you should wear it. Besides YOU
look awful bare in that gown with
no fur"
"Ill wear my green cloth cape"
said Celia.
I'm refining of it
Then my blue one
It's tore. Don't you remember"
"Oh. WE'LL said Celia, submitting
to he helped on with her jacket,
She couldn't afford the time for FUR
ther argument. And. after ALL she
could send it back in the car on the
ground that it was too warm.
AS Donovan gave a last settling
pull and stroke to it. Celia felt that
she would like to kiss the fiat cheek
nearest her. 1t might he that she
would never again see her old and
cranky hut secretly devoted nurse.
Such an unheard-of caress was not
to he thought Of, however Donovan
would Immediately conjecture the
most frightful things. She had to
content herself with squeeze of
the knohby hand that was now hold
ing out the suede bag. and m,W
INJURED:
Thank YOU. nurse dear. You're
always so good and thoughtful of
me-"
We'll. YOU need some one to he
thoughtful for YOU. goodness knows"
replied Donovan in q reserved voice.
She wasn't going to be enticed into
more tender scenes. with dear
nurse" or nurse dear" and then
have the face Of a Gordon" turned
upon her without warning.
Celia gave little laugh, mixed
equally of the ludiCrous and the for
lorn. She laughed. in fact, to, keep
from betray wing to Donovan how sad
she felt
We'll, I'm sure glad to hear you
can giggle. miss" observed that per
sonage when you've looked all
morning like you'd lost every friend
YOU ever had"
Perhaps may lose them yet
sighed Celia. off her guard, and
Donovan retorted bris<ly:
Not If you keep from fooling
with EN-. The best one you've got,
If you'll excuse me. miss. is down
stairs in the library right now"
leave the room, calling hack:
He likes YOU ever So much. too.
He told me so. Good-by. nurse"
Now, why did she say goodhy to
me?" reflected Donovan, looking
thoughtful after Celia. 'Good-by'
amt a usual word with her. l
wonder what she's up to? / wish
to my Maker I knew. Some foolish
ness, I'll wager
She felt uneasy and strangely
anxious, and this feeling grew on her
throughout the day instead of
aba ting.
II do hope" she told herself, Il
amt got one of them presentments
you read about"
Celia stood outside the library Cor
full two minutes. trying to think
what she should say when she had
entered. But her thoughts wouldn't
arrange themselves in any order. so
finally she knocked at the door--the
first time she had ever knocked at
any door in that house.
Hilary's voice said, Come in
She went in to find him standing
by his writing table, filling pipe
A pile of manuscript and page
proofs, neatly squared as If ready
to be wrapped up for posting, lay On
the table.