The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-03-29

tDrttteTl him only once from Was
glamour: NOW GO ON WITH 7
Children give you an incentive,
Isabel. They're a justification Of
yourself"
She had stared at him aghast.
"Peter" she had cried, "how can
you think of babies now!"
Peter, looking out of the window,
saw Gloria come slowly up the
cement walk to the bungalow, and
he had half a notion to call out
to her to join him until the arrival
of his first patient of the after
noon.
But he checked the impulse.
Gloria had looked worried lately;
had acted very much as If she
wished to be alone.
DISLIKES RODNEY
And he supposed Rodney was in
back of it all. Rodney, he knew,
was out of town. Because he dis
liked Rodney with something al
most bordering on hatred he
. hadn't asked where he was or
when he'd return. Frankly he
hoped that for Gloria's sake Rod
ney would never come back.
He was enormously fond Of
Gloria. He liked to rough her hair
and rag her about the smoothies
at the hotel who hung over her
counter. He was always saying,
IF Isabel hadn't immunized me,
Clio, I'd have fallen for you like
the proverbial ton of bricks!"
At 4 the patients began to strag-
gle in. They were pitiful lot, with
cuts to be dressed; with Streptococ-
cic Threats to be Swabbed; with
anemia and arthritis and rheuma-
tism.
Grubby hands dug down into
frayed pockets, into battered
purses, and Peter heard himself
saying over and over: Look here,
let that go for the time being. I'll
send a bill-later." And he knew
I he was soft and that he would
never have any money, and yet he
hadn't had it in him to be other.
| wise.
After the last patient was gone
.. Peter lit a cigarette and stood be.
fore his desk, looking down upon
1sabels photograph in its gold
frame. He felt suddenly guilty
before those shining eyes.
1t was almost as If Isabel were
there; as if she had heard what
he had said this afternoon and
was now angrily accusing:
you'll never be anything but
poor doctor, Peter Kent! Never
Never! Never! And if you think ]
want to spend all my life being a
poor doctors wife :"
"Quick, DR.. Peter! Come out
here by de back do and look al
what I done found"
Katie, who was his cook and
housekeeper, stood in the door
Her long black arms were flying;
her round eyes were bullying In
their sockets.
"AN' OAR 1T WAS"
"Dere it was" Katie babbled on
as Peter followed her down the
hail. "a-Squealin' and a,squawlin.
says to masef some tomcat am
sure feelin' his oats and den ]
opens de do and dere it was!
Right dere, DR.. Peter right
dere!" And Katie was pointing a
long, black finger that trembled a
little.
On the back porch was a large
clothes basket tied with a pink
satin bow and covered with a
tufted wooden robe. Peter bent
and lifted the baby out of the
basket.
He carried the little pink-and
blue bundle into the kitchen and
looked down into the small, dis
torted face; and his own changed
and something like a mist came
into his eyes. For the baby was
Jock Matthews.
The very unexpectedness of the
upright position arrested young
Jock, and he stopped his shrek
ing and looked earnestly at Peter
a long, serious look taking the
mans measure and passing unre
lenting judgment on him.
Blue eyes as large as grapes
with a bloom Of black upon them
stood still in the warm, little face
and one Of Elva'S black curls was
suggested over each tiny ear.
Look hyar, DR.. Peter. It's done
got a note pinned on it," And
Katie tore open the envelope ano
handed Peter the crisp, white
sheet. For a moment he was 81
lent, reading the small BLACK
words. The muscle along his jaw
worked a little, his mouth wen
grim. Then he stuffed the sheet
into his pocket and stood gazing
down at Jock, the very house
standing quiet about them.
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