Evening star., 1934-10-29
qj;;;:) ;;:: MarianG Gordon
by JEANNE BOWvlAN
by JEANNE ROWvlAN

leading to Hondon's room. They step
ped in. The flowers that had smoth-
cred the room with perfume which
still fingered had been removed for
the night. The room was barren, q
gray-green cell with white woodwork,
a white clothed nurse, a white bed
stead and a white, silent figure on the
bed.
Marian looked at him with awe.
This was the man whose life had been
saved with lie.
Tiptoeing, as though they would
achieve the rubber-soled silence Of the
nurses, the three moved into the CEN
ter of the room, then Lon stepped back
to let the two girls 60 alone to the
bedside.
Marian had vision of Cliff Hondon
as she had once seen him-tall.
bronzed, clad in the brief blue and
white of the varsity crew, flushed with
the victory Of the crew and with the
realization that the lovely girl at his
side was his for the asking.
Now he lay. his face the color of the
fiat pad which served as q pillow for
his head, his black hair accentuating
the pallor. And watching him stood
the girl he had had for the asking, and
had given up . for her asking.
Mr.. Hondon," the nurse spoke
softly, "you have guests"
The fainteSt flicker of smile crossed
the blue lips. Show the boys in" he
said.
1T isn't the boys this time" the
nurse said lightly, Its lady"
silver - he whispered the word
in a voice charged more with emo
ton than life. SILVER" as If the hope
it might be she were more than he
could bear to have frustrated.
Marian felt she was treading on
sacred ground. This wasn't her place.
She had no right to let any man ex-
pose the nakedness of his heart before
any one but the girl he loved. She
sought to step back, but Silver's hand
closed on her arm like tentacle.
What will I say?" she questioned
with her eyes, and Marian responded
in a feather-tipped whisper, Useless
sacrifice should have explained
hurry and recover so you can
talk things over"
Silver released Marian and knelt at
the bedside, looking at Lon rather
than at Cliff. "Silly boy" she cooed,
why did you try that useless Sacri-
flee? 1t was wonderful of you, so gen.
erous, but If you'd only explained
things to me I'd have seen . every
thing differently. I didn't under
stand. You and dad have always
treated ME like child how could
you expect me to know what you
knew? But forget that. It's all in the
past. You will forget, won't you.
dear?"
You said it," he whispered. and
the wan, lifeless face began to glow as
though the lamp Of hope had been
lighted behind it.
Cant stay but q moment now
Silver continued, but you must hurry
and get WELL Do what the doctor
tells you, and the nurse :" Silver
flashed smile up at the nurse. let the
smile die and stared with hostile eyes
at the girl.
Marian followed her gaze. This was
the Nora Reilly that Anne had spoken
about. She was lovely. typically Irish,
with dark hair that curled out from
under the stiff white cap, the deep red
and clear white complexion and the
black-lashed eyes of clearest blue.
She was looking at Silver with con-
tempt, the eyes fairly blazing their
knowledge that she knew she was lying
to-. impress the handsome man who
stood near the door.
"Oh, Silver" whispered Cli1, eyes
closed, cold hand warming itself on
her warm, soft one. Silver, to even
guess you cared"
Silver bent to leave q quick kiss on
Hondon's brow and Marian's keen eye
detected q grimace Of diStaSte at the
necessity. Again her disgust for the
girl famed.
Silver Makes 4 Threat-TomOrroW.