The Washington times., 1937-01-19


She had never seen compound
fracture Rf lime-hardened bones.
Not until now. Miss Arlen had not
uncovered her scars with a morbid
wish to shock, or a self-piteouS bid
for commiSeration. With cool un-
concern she had exposed her ire.
parable injuries, and Phyllis had
grown almost to full stature at the
sight. She had even ventured to
offer a possible remedy.
The disclosure had come about
naturally enough. They had been
strolling through the Cathedral
grounds at Salisbury on brown
and-gold mid-October afternoon.
Funny you never married, Pat"
remarked Phyllis. Il wonder how
you escaped it,"
I'm not unwilling to tell you.
1t is quite a long story though"
Pat deliberated a suitable begin
ming. After a moments reflection
with averted eyes she said calmly,
"He fell in love with my sister"
Phyllis WINGED and gave quick
little breath of panied surprise, but
offered no comment, for it was to
be quite a long story and she must
not interrupt. She waited, with
startled eyes.
That's ALL" said Pat, in the
same tone Phyllis had often heard
her use when dismissing a class.
That's except that the invi.
tations we're out and the presents
we're coming in-and I found them
in each others arms when I came
down to the library to show him
my new travelling suit-and my
favorite brother fought him and
was hurt-and I ran away where
they couldn't find me for ever so
long-and they were married, and
there are children I have never
seen-and my mother lives with
them-and all my people are in
the same town-and I can't go
home"
"Oh-my dear!" Sympathized
Phyllis. How can you bear it?"
It can't" replied Pat woodenly.
"That's the trouble. The effort
to bear it has frozen me-"
But you aren't, Pat!" Phyllis
frightened hopefully. II never
felt so close to any one, outside my
own family"
Pat sighed, smiled wistfully, and
nodded.
II know, dear. have been very
selfish, warming myself at your
bright fire. I'm surprised it hasn't
chilled you. 1t really has been a
Godsend to me-much more than
you realize"
Phyllis murmured an inarticu-
late little protest and laid her hand
on Pats affectionately.
II do wish you could talk with
my mother" she said, searching
the heavy eyes with loyal concern.
"She has helped so many people.
You'd be surprised"
Nothing would help me, Phyl-
lis. but utter forgetfulness of it
all. Your mother couldn't help
me to that, however kindly she
might try"
But that's just it," exulted
Phyllis. "She does it! It's some
thing our Dean taught her when
my little brother was drowned. I
was only a baby then, so my
mother has always had it, ever
since I can remember"
Your Dean?" repeated Pat,
mildly inquiSitive.
Dean Harcourt-of our Cathe-
dral-at home"
I'm not religious-not the least
Bit"
"Oh-but neither is he!"
Don't be silly!" laughed Pat.
"I mean-this thing that I'm
thinking about isn't religion; heaps
bigger and more important than
that. I'll try to tell you. But it
won't be easy. You see-I've never
been hurt. You have to be, I
think, before it means very much" :"
Perhaps could qualify" said
Pat dryly. Lets have it."
| For more than two hours they
sat on the gray stone bench at
the entrance to the cloiSter. Phyl-
lis was conscious, all the time, that
she was making a very poor job
of it; and when, at last, her vague
ideas were exhausted, an extended
silence meant nothing other than
that Pat had remained uncon-
vinced and unstirred.
It think you get just a flash of
it," pursued Phyllis, unwilling to
surrender-"nott the real essence
of it, of course, but just a faint
glimpse, among these old things
we've been seeing lately. I've
thought about it, a lot.
(TO Be Continued)
Copyright. 1897. by Lloyd c. Douglass
Distributed by King FeAtureA