The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-03

dear wife, from John
With gentle fingers, which must
have soothed the hurt feelings of
the little fir tree, Nan returned the
parcel, still unopened. She and
John would open their gifts together
when he came back. Christmas was
z heavenly time, after all. Gather
ing Curtis gifts into her arms, Nan
ran from the room. up the stairs.
just before reaching the child's
door, her clear, unframed, but true
voice lifted in joyous song:
1T came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song Of old
A S she opened the door, still
IA carOling softly, an insistent
query pushed its way through her
exultation: Il wonder how he sd-
dressed Iris gift-.For my former
wife. from Jack?" How she had
hated to hear Iris call him Jack"
making him small and trivial by
the small device Of using a nick
name which was gross miSf1tl
Then shame and contrition flooded
Mans heart, for the words her lips
were singing were:
Peace on the earth,
Good will to men
From Heavens ALL gracious King"
That's a Christmas carol" Curtis
called weakly from his bed. Eve
learned two Christmas carols to sing
at school last Friday Can you
sing Little Town of Bethlehem"
Nan? Can you? I cant"
of course I can! But look who
7 ami Santa Claus! And there
are some big presents downstairs
for you, as soon as you're we'll
enough to play with them" Nan
answered.
The next hour was almost pure
happiness, heightened, Nan was
half ashamed later to realize, by the
casual way in which Curtis inspect
ed and laid aside the exquisite
miniature of herself which Iris had
sent to her son.
In later years he might-un-
doubtedly would--treasure it, take
it with him everywhere, build I'M
true, poetic legends about the Worn-
an whose beauty it immortalized;
but now he was only a greedy, fe-
verish little boy, tearing open pack
ages to find treasure more suited to
his tastes. Poor Iris! Nan forced
herself to say, but Immediately came
the strong suspicion that the NINA
ture had been really intended for
the father, not the son.
Wouldn't you like to write a
note to your mother at the hospital
and thank her for her gift?" Nan
suggested. In her new happiness
she could afford to be generous to-
ward that other woman, who, it
seemed, was to be Yanquished. For
my dear wife" her heart sang.
over and ever.
Huh? At the hospital?" Curtis
repeated. with childish scorn for
Mans ignorance. She anti
mean. isn't at the hospital any more.
She went to the Wellington Arms
yesterday. Father and took her.
She's got a swell room. Ats a hotel.
Why don't they say wellington no.
tel. Nan? Silly, calling a hotel an
Arms!" He lay back upon his pill
lows. looking suddenly tired and
peevish. Sing to me, Nan. You
sing pretty"
Before Nan. whose voice was a
little husky with unshed tears, could
finish the carol he had asked for,
the child was asleep. Her hand
upon his forehead told her that, de-
spite the excitement of receiving SO
many gifts, his temperature was per-
ceptibly lower.
TWICE, during the long after
i noon, Nan was sorely tempted
to call the Office. 1t would make
her even more happy to be abso-
lutely sure that he was there. work.
ing on the Bradley case. But each
time she refrained. Was she de-
generating into one Of those jealous,
suspicious wives who can't trust
their husbands out of their sight.
who resort to low tricks to catch
them in lies and deceit?
At five DR.. Black came. When
he had completed his examination
of the sick child. he drew Nan with
him out into the hall. AS the door
closed his joyial grin faded instant
". and was replaced by a grave
frown.
rs it anything serious. doctor?"
Nan asked in terrified whisper,
as they descended the stairs.
The doctor did not answer until
they reached the front hall. II
can't be sure. Children are pesky
patients. Scare you to death one
Gay, and provoke you into spanking
them the next by their high spirits.
To be frank, Nan, it looks a little
like appendicitis. D.. Hey, hold
Oh to yourself. girl Nothing to hit
the ceiling about if it is. And it
may not be. of course, or. at worst,
a very mild attack which may never
be repeated. if you watch his diet.
. That woman! That woman!"
he added savagely.
II have been very careful Dr..
Black" Nan said bleakly. Not for
her to utter accusations against the
boys mother
Dom I know that?" Dr. Black
clustered. Believe me. I gave Iris
Morgan a piece OF my mind today "
You saw hero Nan cried. But
Curtis told me she had left the hos
pital-"
Right But the hotel manager
called me this afternoon. Ali ex-
cited Said Mrs. Morgan was in a