The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-18

AoAhlIy lAO hOASC0 Va AAOPS esAO S0S
visitor.
She would not undress yet, she de-
cided, because she must show the
Rev. Devine to his room. She would
do, however, what she could, like
washing her face and saying her
prayers. >. Poor lister Rupert -.
there was something sad in using
his wash-bowl, and not knowing if
he would ever come back to it any
more! -.
Mary. having washed her face,
had just sat down in Mister Rupert's
leather-covered chair beside the
lamp when she became aware that
the blur of conversation in the next
room had become clear, disturbingly
clear.
Hope had said something-Mary
could not tell what, because she had
not been listening-and now the
Rev. Devine was replying. His voice
sounded as If he had risen. as il he
stood beside the outer door which
was not far from this door here.
He said:
II will not be party to any such
thing. What wonder that you are
i'll? Your cure lies only with your
SELF"
Again the blurred murmurs-
Hope speaking. the Rev. Devine
speaking. MARY could have heard
that, too, If her ears hadn't been so
poor.) Then an audible parting word
from the Rev. Devine:
You have no right to stay here;
no right to sacrifice others. will not
be party to it," .-i's't
A door opened and closed. There
was silence. }1n
Or was there? Mary's ears could
not be sure. But she was fearful for
her charge (the next time she rec
commended visit from estranged
parents!) and she opened the door
beside the cot, and went into Hopes
room.
Hope was sitting up in bed. her
wide, diIated eyes on the other door.
"See where he's gone!" she cried
to Mary. See what he's doing! =.
Don't let him go to Dirk"
Mary went out into the hall In
time to see the Rev. Devine finish
the descent of the stair. take hat
and coat from the table near the
door. and depart-all very sternly.
very quietly.
Hes gone," she said. returning
to the room.
Hope lay back on the pillows
Ii with closed eyes. Mary felt the
small quick pulse. rubbed the cold
hands. Her thoughts were profane.
She drew the covers about Hopes
shoulders, and raised a window TO
air the room. j.. How would she
ever tell Mister Dirk that her pre-
scription had acted like this? :.
She needn't. -.
There now. it's not worth it. It's
not worth worrying over" Mary
patted the shoulder underneath the
cover.
GO to sleep. poor lady. 1t will all
be right in the morning. I've seen
many a hard father in my day"
Mary wanted to add. But this Is
the worst of the lot" Instead. she
said. They all lived to be sorry.
They did. indeed"
Hopes dark gaze moved up to her
face
What do you mean? Why do you
say he is hard?"
"She don't want even me to
know" thought Mary. and answered
| soothingly:
His leaving so soon. Ma'am. And
I'd got the south room ready for
him"
He had to co." said Hope. eff
Dirk asks about it, please say that
he had to go. I'm not so :. very
i'll. I've had these i. F. these illnesses
before always get we'll. He knows
that. 1t was nothing to come on for.
Dirk shouldn't have wired him."
Mary looked away before the
searching eyes.
shes wondering IL 1 heard him:
thought Mary. Treacherous 5 ears
with their housekeeping nerves!
Often they woke at just the wrong
moment, and captured what was not
intended for them.
81 understand. iMa,am. I had Just.
come in my room. and heard him go
out. He hadn't been here haitian.
hour. but that was enough" CIT
was indeed" thought Mary.)
Il didn't want him to disturb
Dirk" added Hope more quietly. II
really feel better F.. now that it's
over. Now that I've seen him. I
mean"
Mary hoped this was true. She
removed the bed-jacket from her
patients shoulders, took away all
the little pillows except the big soft
one that Immediately engulfed the
small white face. Her hand moved
to the chain of the night-lamp.
Good night. Ma'am."
Obediently Hope closed her eyes.
(cet,visEt. 1888 Margaret Bell RossfosD