The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-12-16
CHAPTER XIII

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When in that moment after Dan
went racing to find Barbara, Mrs.
Sentry stopped to pick up the tele-
gram she had dropped, and could
not do so, and saw-though she felt
nothing-her own nerveless fingers
lying like a dead hand on the rug,
she thought: This is the beginning of
the end for me. AS she thought: Oh,
I am glad, glad! Let it not be too
long. To be with Arthur soon!
But then when Phil returned and
she spoke to him, mumbling her
words, feeling her tongue thick and
clumsy in her mouth, she saw the
terror in his eyes, and she made
herself smile to reassure him; and
he came toward her, urged her
quickly: est down, mother. Lie
down. I'll call Doctor Mainton."
''I'm all right, Phil" she said.
cts nothing. My hand went to
sleep, that's ALL" He started toward
the telephone; but she checked him.
''No, Phil. It's nothing, really. I'm
all right now" Her tongue was nor
NAL; her hand too. Only she saw
that her thumb was uncontrolled,
when she tried to straighten it she
could not, and she thought: It's my
left side, of course. AS though it
were asleep. If only it would not
wake. If only I could sleep, sleep,
all of me. Till Arthur comes.
Dams voice above-stairs was no
longer audible. Phil said heartily,
fighting his own fears: "Of course
you're all right! But just the same,
Doctor Mainton-"
''I'l see him tomorrow" she
promised. cat his office"
Phil looked toward the hall, as
though expecting his sister to ap-
pear. "How do you feel-about
that?" he asked. "About DAM"
Barbara is the one to decide. If
she is-if she loves him, then shall
be happy too" She was thinking:
Since I am to die, what does it
matter? Certainly not to Barbara.
She is so young, such a child. Dan
will love her; and she will forget :.
Then she heard their voices, their
steps on the stairs; and they were
here, their eyes shining, yet with
sober gravity. Barbara came to
her mother; and Mrs. Sentry wait
ed, and Barbara asked slowly, dan
has told you, mother?"
eyes, Barb"
"We've been hoping and hoping
he could find something!"
Mrs. Sentry smiled almost teas
ingly. 'Oh, you had it all decided,
already planned?"
eff he could-find the job he want
ed, yes" Barbara confessed. "And
Il hoped it would be soon.''
Mrs. Sentry's eyes fell, so that
Barbara might not read them. Dan
said quickly, 81 have to be ready to
start work out there on Monday,
Mrs. Sentry"
''That is-July first?"
"Yes."
Phil thought her voice was mirac-
ulously steady. "You will come back
for Barbara later?"
II thought we'd be married at
once, go to Cleveland together!"
Mrs. Sentry nodded gently. 81
used to think hurried weddings
lacked dignity" she confessed. ''But
] expect they are sweeter than
dignity. - Nellie came to announce
dinner, and she said, "Stay, DAMP"
But he could not. "I've still a
job here" he reminded them. "I'n
have to rum" Barbara went with
him to the door; and Phil asked his
mother in a low tone, "An right
now?"
.'Of course, Phil"
''If Barbara knew about you,
she'd waltz
She shook her head, smiling. 81
won't cry-baby, spoil Barbara's
happiness. She loves him, Phil.
Only-it will be hard to have her
CO."
They heard Dan depart, heard the
door close. Then Barbara, as they
moved toward the dining-room, met
them in the hall; and for a mo-
merit she held her mother close.
Thank you. mother" she said.
you're wonderful to me. Dan
S to take me with him: and-I
terribly to be q coward and