The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-19
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI
 Rogers condition, result not only of the crack-up but of those two nights and days without medical at- tention, remained critical for some time. Newspapers held out very little hope for his recovery, especially a complete one.
 Jackie spent all her time wait ing for news. Nothing else mattered. She read every line in every single paper she could get. She kept phon- ing the field, or driving back and forth, in hopes she might learn something more. She did not know how big and solemn her eyes were, how pinched her pretty young face. She ate mechanically, forcing her. self to swallow 8 few bites, or to drink some mild stimulant such as coffee or tea. At night she did not sleep, except for an hour or so to- ward daylight when she became completely exhausted.
 Dear mel" Evelyn said, holding up her lovely hands in despair. You look like a former ghost of yourself. darling. You simply cannot go on like this. It is dreadful about poor Roger, of course. But it won't do for my little girl to go into a decline over him."
 Jackie said she was not going into a decline. It was just like her mother to make something horrible and yet romantic out of it. How could Evelyn guess what Jackie was going through? She had never loved anyone as Jackie loved Roger.
 Something must be done about it." Evelyn decided. She drew her lovely brow into thoughtful frown. Let me think ."
 There's nothing to do," Jackie said, harshly. Except what am doing. Wait" She did wish Evelyn would let her alone, cease trying to think up schemes and suggestions. No doubt she meant to help. But nothing could help, except the word tkat Roger was out of danger.
 But the latest report remained much the same-Jackie had just returned from the field-Roger was still unconscious, slightly delirious, his condition critical. She threw herself face down on her bed. She no longer shed tears. She had spent them all in that first dreadful fit of weeping, in the lonely stretches of the long nights. Oh! if only there was something she could do, some way to help. She felt so useless, so helpless. That was what made this waiting so terrible
 T suppose I might as well send these things back to the shop" Evelyn said. She referred to the huge stack of boxes, containing the wedding dresses and veils, that she had had sent out and had insisted Jackie try. I'm afraid we won't use them now |. ." she sighed. It seemed such pity, when she had so hoped to have a June wedding, with all its glamorous trimmings, for Jackie. At least" she added, T suppose we can't use them for some time"
 Please, Mother" Jackie pro- tested. She buried her face deeper in the pillows. Why must her mother remind her of that wed- ding that had only been pretense. anyway, a wedding that was not supposed to have taken place, that would, indeed, never take place now? Unless Roger got well, un- less Jackie could convince him that she really loved him. Even then she did not know if Roger only had been pretending all the time or not; she did not know if Roger loved her.
 I'm sorry, darling-I didn't stop to think how badly that would make you feel" Evelyn came over to sit down on the bed by Jackies side. She leaned over, stroking back the fair hair from the young sweet brow. She could understand her daughter now, at last. Jackie was behaving the way girl should, girl. at heart, was just the same, the wide world over-always had been and always would be.
 T know what I would do if Roger were my young man!" Evelyn said suddenly, for Evelyn, too, was likely to have ideas of her own. Why, once" her beautiful eyes grew misty at the memory, when your poor dear dead father was i'll, darling-though it turned out to be nothing serious then, but thought he was dying and was so terribly upset went all the way up to Schenectady in the most dreadful, the dirtiest old train and then had to drive miles and miles in horse and buggy, of all things! But noth- ing, no nothing, darling. could have kept me from going to him when l thought he needed me-"
 Jackie raised herself on one el- bow. Why, her mother had loved someone then, just as she loved Roger now. Her mother had suf- fered and waited and worried :.