Evening star., 1930-11-30

wanting me to let him keep me in a comfort
able home or santarium or asylum or some
thing of the sort
But for the first time, think in my life
could not agree to that. was so used to the
old house, and felt as If it would tear my
heart out to leave my oleander tree. 1t was
more than ever my only real friend and COM
fort. I was quite willing to compromise, how
ever though Gilbert had to lose his temper with
me once or twice first. I agreed finally to stay
in my room during the daytime and to go out
only at night when they were asleep The new
cook brought me my meals, and 1t was really
a better arrangement all around.
For one thing discovered that, like the fool
I am, I still felt just the same old way about
Anne was just as glad to hear her voice SO
seldom and not to feel that she was so hope
lessly near me-
That was three years ago.. I thought a great
deal about Anne. 1t seemed to me that she
wasn't happy, though why can't imagine OF
course, she might have been grieving over the
little girl they had lost, or perhaps it was dull
for her in the country; she had been city girl.
Certainly it seemed to me very foolish OF her
to quarrel with Gilbert, as so often could not
help hearing her do. Surely in all those years
she should have grown to know, as all our
family did, that his quick temper didn't mean
anything that it was just his way. There was
always a reason for it, and all anybody had
to do was to say nothing and let 1t blow over
we always had since he was tiny child.
Even that time he shot Anne's dog he was
quite right in saying it had howled and annoyed
hinl-I heard it myself, though perhaps it
would have been better for him to have tried
to control himself, since she was so fond Of it.
I confess I came nearer to being angry with
Gilbert then than ever had done before,
especially after heard her crying. But that
he shot it before her eyes can scarcely believe.
All I could do to show my sympathy with
Anne was to make the same little gimcracks for
har hat nSed tn ake for
them to her by the cook.
She was very sweet about it, once when
was lying under the oeander, just thinking, she
stole up to me-Giibert would not have liked it
at all, but he was at work on the ranch
CHE took my hand and said I was her only
friend. had to seem quite cold and
casual and send her away, for was trembling
so I could hardly talk. 1t must have taken
tremendous courage for ner to come close to
me like that and look right at me, and it
wasn't necessary. I told her so.
Somehow think Gilbert found out about it.
Anyway that night I heard them quarreling
bitterly, and several times heard my name
mentioned. 1t was all could do to keep from
rushing in and telling them that wasn't worth
upsettng themselves over. But kept quiet,
and after while heard sound as if Gilbert
were slapping his hands together, and then
there was no other sound except a little
whimpering that suppose must have been the
cat trying to get into the house. called it,
but couldn't find it.
Two days later Anne went away on a visit
to see some friends. Although I had heard
little of her around the house. it seemed very
empty without her. 1t almost as bad as
when she stopped visiting me in the hospital at
the time of my dreadful accident. / asked
Gilbert when she would be back and he was
very angry about it. I hope he didn't mean
his answer the way it sounded.
Never. while you're on my hands," he said.
But where could go?
1t was the next day while was asleep in
my room that I heard it happening. knew
instantly, springing from my bed what it was.
Continued on T,0enty-frSt Pare