The Washington times., 1931-03-05
CHAPTER ID


that year, was to be a great
event. It was the first Christ
mas since Travers Lorrimer's
return from France, that his
mother felt she could throw
herself Fundamentally into the
festive preparations. She had
very much to be thankful for.
In the first place, Lorrimer
was decidedly better, he had
not had one Of his nervous
seizures since that Of the day
of Mary Louis arrival. He con-
tiiiued to eat and to sleep oet-
ter and was much in the open
air: He was beginning to
laugh again, to put on weight
and to tolerate the presence
of other people, outside Of those
OF his household. Tolerate is
the exact, most descriptive
word, as he did not, as yet.
genuinely welcome them. But.
as his mother had told him II
was not fair to Delight" to
keep her a virtual recluse from
her kind, he accepted the occa-
sional visits from outsiders,
notably those of Jenny Wynde
and her frivolous crowd, and
contented himself In thinking
that it was for Delights sake
The mere fact that he had be-
gun to think of the happiness
and comfort. the pleasure and
welfare Of another person he
side himself was a very ex-
ceIlent sign that he was be-
coming more normal. more
"human," as Mary Lou ex'
pressed it to DR.. Mathews.
A Bit More Free
Then. too, Margaret Lori
mer was able to go about more,
Co see her old friends, to have
them. now and then. in her
house. And she herself was
happy in Mary Louis companion
ship which she found unfall-
ingly friendly. sunny. attec'
tionate and understanding.
Shortly before Christmas Mrs.
Iorrimer and Mary Lou per-
mitted themselves several mys-
terious trips to New York
Iorrimer grumbled. but only
half-heartedly. A few months
earlier and he would have been
overtaken with such a panic
of nerves on being left alone
that his mother, whatever had
been her plans, would have
cancelled them. rather than
distress him. AS it was, the
first time they left him for the
entire day, they found him on
their return, wandering rest
lessly about, unhappy and
nerve-ridden. He could not
seem to shake off the depres-
sion which had seized him the
instant of their departure and
it took all Mary Louis diplo-
matte chatter to win him back,
at dinner time, to something
more approaching his recent
self. Later Mrs. Lorrimer COM
niented doubtfully upon this re-
action and wondered If they
should go on with their Christ
mas plans, which included other
trips to town. But Mary Lou
suggested that it was wise for
him to accuStom himself to
these perfectly natural alb
sences on their part. So, more
or less ignoring his uneasiness.
they went ahead. and yet
again. On one occasion they
saw o popular matinee after
their shopping, upon another
Mary Lou made @ flying trip
60 Oakdale, armed with many
bundles marked DO Not Open
Until ChristmaS!"
Not Missed Especially
BILLY greeted her with pleas
ure but some abstraction. He
had acquired q passion for his
teacher in school and had
made a number of intimate
friends among his school fel-
lows including one little girl
with curly hair and a way
with her. So that Mary Lou
was relieved to find that, after
all, he did not miss her espe-
cia1ly, although he was glad
to see her; relieved, and a lit
tie. hurt. being human. She
found Adelaide with six inter
esting new symptoms and as
many new pounds. And Gram
as active and buStling and de-
voted to her entrancingly in
valid daughter and lively,
healthy grandson as well.
Adelaide demanded chapter
and verse of Mary Louis COM
panions and was terribly disap-
pointed when Mary Lou was
unable to report any malignant
disease or mania. However,
Adelaide insisted that, on her
arrival, Mary Lou wash her
hands vigorously in some new
tangled disinfectant which was
The invalid's latest alteration,
'for." said Adelaide, gloomily,