The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-24
CHAPTER XIII-Continued

Is
II don't understand that either, of
course. But l do know that some Of
the things we've always spoken of
as supernatural seem to occur much
more frequently since the war, or else
people are not so ashamed or so afraid
to speak about them as they used to
be. believe the body and the spirit
are in some way much more closely
interviewer than we've realized. That's
one reason why we must try SO hard
to make the one worthy Of the other"
"Tve always known they were close
ly interviewer In Philip. Oh, Mary,
will-will he be much changed. do you
Think"
He was not. He looked, indeed, so
serene, so supremely happy, that.
Blanche, kneeling beside him. burst,
for the first time. into healing tears.
And the nurse who had taken care of
him told her that he had suffered
very little.
'Tt was all so quick" she said. "He
simply wouldn't let US send for you,
and we really didn't think 1t was nee
essary--until 1t was too late. He said
you must be saved all the grief and
care you could. He'd just had let
ter"
HE got 1t in time so that he could
read it?" asked Blanche, with such
sudden leap of Joy in her voice that
Mary wondered instantly what had
been in that special letter.
-Oh yes. He was awfully happy
over it, that was. plain to see. and
now that I've met you, Mrs. Starr, I
don't wonder he wanted to save
lovely child like you from all the
anxiety he could. He didn't suffer
much, honestly. And just before he
debut l don't know as ought to
tell you"
''You must"
something strange happened"
"Yes," said Blanche breathlessly,
looking pom the nurse to Mary.
HE had been having some trouble
with his breathing. He was uncon-
scious for little while. thought,
and delirious, off and on. Suddenly
he opened his eyes and looked toward
the foot of the bed, smiling as If he
saw something there that pleased him.
Then he turned to me and said, You
did send for my wife, after all, didn't
you? / told him no, that we'd done
just as he wanted about everything.
uo loolyad bind of pu11Iad ond uyanf
on, But she's standing there with her
arms stretched out, dressed all in
white. She looks exactly as she did
the last night we had together--the
first night really found her."
Blanche laid her cheek against the
quiet hand lying on the spread.
go on" she said, after moment.
II was stupid enough to look there
myself. for he kind of startled me.
But of course there was nothing. So
l shook my head, and said not to
worry. that everything was all right.
The puzzled expression faded, gradual
ly. and he smiled again. And then he
spoke just as If he was talking to
someone"
"What did he say?"
$50 you've come, little countess.
But you mustn't ever come to anyone
again. This must be the last time,
And I'm not sorry. It's all been so
perfect-so perfect, while it lasted
Do you know what flashed into my
mind, / don't know why? There
wasn't any real connection THAT
line about a full. perfect. and suffi-
cient sacrifice"
That was. blessedly. what it seemed
to Blanche. Even in her first grief,
she found. after all, the compensa-
tion. the glory of achievement that
she thought she had been denied.
She did not ask, she did not need, any
longer. to understand. She needed
only to feel. and as soon as her mental
and physical exhaustion left her, to
work.
She worked all the rest of the win
ter, and the next summer. and every
woman in Hamstead worked with her.
France, with its thousands of widows,
was three thousand miles away. but
Blanche was in their midst. Through
her they reached out and found those
others
When fall came, she was not work
ing any longer, but the rest of Ham
stead, thinking of her, worked harder
than ever. For she was lying. very
still and happy. in the big four-poster
bed in the soft-colored chamber of
Carte Blanche. with the golden. downy
head of Philip Stars son against her
breast.
CHAPTER XIV