The Washington times., 1937-02-19

l.
ficulty keeping her impatience
and disappointment out of her
queries. After all-it was none Of
her business, she reflected, and If
he was doing so little that he was
ashamed to talk about it, of course
it was his own affair.
II should think" she did ven
ture to say, rather crisply, "that
one would be frightfully bored-do-
ing-what you seem to be doing.
Have you anything up there to
read-just to while away the
time?"
"Oh, yes" he answered, as if it
didn't matter much.
And you like it?"
"Well-I've got to live some
where, haven't ~"
The frosty outskirts of Wembel-
ton lay in plain sight only five
minutes away.
II mustn't take you any further,
DR.. Paige" said Phyllis, halting.
Il am glad to have seen you be-
cause 1 have felt badly over the
rude way treated you when you
tried to be nice to me-"
will I see you again-wh1le
you're here?" he asked, not very
hopefully.
perhaps. Of course you know
that I'm awfully busy with my
school and you have your-your
work up on the mountain"
He searched her with a peculiar
stare.
How do you mean-my work?"
he demanded almost gruffly.
Then she saw that she had
offended him. Doubtless he de-
served a little prod, if he was loaf
ing his life away. He was humili-
ated over it, too, it was easy to
see, and painfully sensitive on the
subject, as he had right to be.
But wasn't she going to hurt him
still further and carry the image
of his injury back with her.
I'm sorry" she said softly.
"Are you going to leave me with
that-again?" he protested.
She turned and took a step.
cts true" Phyllis tone was
gentle but uttered with sincere
conviction. cts true" she de-
clared pensively. I'm much
sorrier than I was-the other
time"
For me-you mean?"
Eyes! . Why do you throw
yourself aWay?"
Apparently there was nothing
further to be said. Phyllis
"Good-by" tried to sound good
natured, as if nothing unpleasant
had occurred. He responded, in
a tone of discomfort, and watched
her go. Neither of them had
reckoned on Sylvia's dilemma
which now loomed up with
dramatic Importance. For a
moment she stood at Paige's side.
giving short barks directed toward
the receding Phyllis. Then she
bounded down the path and
blocked the way, barking another
noisy fusillade.
Phyllis turned and awaited
Paige's approach. They were both
reluctantly amused. The discon.
certing incident seemed likely to
alter the nature of their leave
taking. They had parted with
such an air of hopeless finality,
and here they were with a com.
mon problem on their hands, He
drew not very happy grin.
60 on-Sylvia!" he COM
manded, trying to be gruff.
why don't you take her with
you?" queried Phyllis. "I should
think a hunter might need a dog"
"You don't understand, Phyllis"
he replied glunly. "Call her,
please .sylvia-Go!" He turned
his back on them and with long,
swift strides started up the path. |
Come, Sylvia" she said. sud-
denly depressed. "He doesn't |
need you" The dog dejectedly
moped alongside. occasionally look
ing back and whining, but resum-
ing the journey down the hill. !
PHYLLIS patted her head. Maybe !
he'll come for you, some day"
Her eyes were hot with tears of !
disappointment What a mess
they had made of everything.
The epochal letter. closely writ
ten on both sides, had been folded |
SO that its last sentence was the
first to catch Phyllis attention.
II am leaving at 1O:40 tonight"
she read mystifiedly, ito have an
interview with DR.. Endicott. |
Here's hoping something comes of
it. Love Sonia"
Coming-Wednesday, Feb. "a
Leisure to Repent" Ursula Par
rotts novel of modern marriage.
Don't miss the opening chapters.
ITO Be ContInued)
Copyright, 1887. by Lloyd c. Douglas.
Distributed by King FsatueOa