The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-11-10

pOlSnantly palnlnS neart. 10 nave
cold and a sense of wrecked happiness
at the same hour!
For long time all had not been
well between her and Kent. They
did not quarrel, they simply grew cold
to each other. Miria's first thought
had been that her husband had ceased
to love her. Such things happened
even after couple had lived together
for eleven years. She thought per-
haps he blamed her for the child's
dying, but she had done all she could
and she could not tell him that she
had known even before the doctor had
confirmed her fears, that if the little
fellow had lived he would never have
been just normal. Love, even mother
love cannot bear a tragedy Of that
sort.
But now when the little boy with his
weak back and head had been gone
three years Kent was colder to her
than he had been at the start. And
she was colder toward him. She
could not help it. She felt that way
and could not hide it. Yet it was only
her resentment that tinctured her
words, her actions. She loved her hus-
band as much as ever, and in her
heart hung waiting upon sign from
him which would restore so much that
at present seemed lost. 1t was not
enough that Kent's business was in
creasing, that he had thrice increased
her allowance until now she had her
own little bank account and need not
ask him for money if she wanted
new dress or a few extras. 1t was
not enough either that her home was
the prettiest on the street and that
Outwardly they were charming, re-
spectacle, financially-lucky pair. All
these were common things besides the
one greatest Of ALLOWING sympathy.
She cried as she sat in the deep
chair. And when her little mauve-
bOrdered handkerchief had become
mere sop which could contain no more
tears she swallowed back her sObs and
went to wash her blue breakfast set,
usually a task she loved, for the china
was uCWs ASul ulu OHl SOluC HOluC W
lunch, and she was going out that day
to lunch at Mrs. Bingham's with
bridge party afterward Bridge par
ties and luncheOnS were frequent with
Mira and becoming trifle stale, she
felt now. Or at least she realized
that it was going to take tremendous
effort to get to Mrs. Bingham's. But
of course she would have to go. She
wanted to go anyway, for she had
new gown to wear-a delightful brown
crepe faced with orchid, and so be-
coming
However, even the brown crepe
failed to carry the thing off. The alli-
gator-pear salad and chicken la king
were dust and ashes in her mouth.
That nasty Mrs. Jaynes remarked on
her high color-"a trife too much
rouge, dear" AS if she ever used
rouge! But her cheeks were flaming
and she felt hot and burny-and queer,
sick at the stomach, too, and her eyes
did not track" When it came to the
bridge she simply could not bring her.
self to stay a minute longer, but had
to excuse herself. Even then she came
near creating a sensation by nearly
topping over, and Mrs. Bingham had
ordered a taxi.
Mira was never so thankful for
anything in her life as she was to get
home and out of her party dress and
upon the davenport with blanket
over her. In spite of her heat she felt
a succession of icy little curls chasing
up her spine She must have been
bit Eighty, too, for the things in the
room looked queer and out of per-
spective. Suddenly she found herself
laughing with a sofa cushion In her
hands.
"A Dutch cheese % she exclaimed.
Then suddenly the door opened and
Kent limped in. He threw his hat and
coat aside, dropped into a deep chair,
took his head between his hands and
groaned. This brought Mira to her.
self.
"Oh, Kent! Are you sick, too?" she
cried
He looked at her Then, still silent,
he went to the telephone and called
the doctor.
An hour later trained nurse was
In charge while Kent lay in one twin
bed and Mira in the other. Outside
the door had been placed red card
"Quarantine."
After the first dreadful confused
night they could talk to each other
across the big intervening space.
"Where do you suppose we caught
it?' Mira asked.
search me! Picked up germ
somewhere. What does it matter where
we got 1t? Pretty caper to cut,
call it."
"Tm sorry for you, Kent"
Kent groaned.
The nurse was purely technical and
the wretched pair were obliged to turn
to each other for sympathy and diver
sion. They could not read, they could
not sleep, so they were forced to talk.
Like pair Of children undergoing
punishment, they besought understand
ing and pity. After time they made
a kind Of game of counting those
dreadful red sDOts which wera tho SION