Evening star., 1940-02-20
CHAPTER S.

A scarlet HUSH CTepG lIltU CAoAilo .
cheeks and she heaved forlorn
sigh. She met Betty's merry eyes
frankly. "I-I know he does. But
goodness knows why. I've never
given him any encouragement and
since I found out how he does feel
I've even gone out of my way to
show him how silly it is"
"It isn't so silly" Betty declared,
eyes flashing. And then before
Elaine could add another word she
changed the subject. will you
write me after you leave?"
"Of course" Elaine told her, glad
they had gotten off the embarrass-
ing subject.
Betty closed her eyes. "And if
you ever need anything want you
to promise me you'll let me know.
I know you don't have much money
and I-well -"
"Yes, I know" Elaine interrupted
gently. She walked on tiptoe to
the door. You'd better 60 to sleep
now. I'll come back later"
I'm not sleepy. I just want to
-" Betty's words trailed away and
in few seconds she was sound
asleep.
Sure Doctor Loves Her.
Once back in her own room,
Elaine again returned to the subject
of DR.. Stuart. 1t was true that he
had fallen in love with her. At first
she had only guessed that this was
So but his actions during the past
two weeks had made her quite sure.
She wondered just how she could
make it clear to him that it was all
rather silly. She could, OF course,
tell him that it was, but remember
ing that he had not even once men,
toned anything that could be con-
strued as declaration of his love,
she was forced to discard this idea.
At that, she might never be con-
fronted with the necessity of doing
anything about it. In another two
days she would be on her way to
New York and she felt certain that
once she had gone DR.. Stuart would
soon forget she had ever existed.
She hoped so, for his sake.
Perhaps the casual manner in
which Eric had discarded her had
caused her to become too cynical
about love. But whether it had or
not her viewpoint concerning this
subject had changed considerably.
After reasoning the whole thing
out very carefully she had decided
she had gotten no more than she
had deserved. Her trouble had been
that she was too innocent of the
ways of men, and too, too eager for
love. Had she not been so blinded
by Eric's charm she would never
have let her feelings for him run
away with her reason. but that, of
course, showed how really naive she
had been. A more intelligent girl
might have cared for man as in
tensel. as she had cared for Eric,
but an intelligent girl would never
have let him feel even for an in
slant that he was the most impor-
tant man in the world.
No Second Mistake.
Well, she had been a fool once,
but never again. She was going to
be as indifferent, yes, even as brutal,
as Eric had been, but Dr. Stuart
had been so kind to her that she
did not want to hurt him. She
hoped he would forget her before
she did hurt him.
The next day she was discharged
from the hospital, pronounced COM
pletely we'll. She and Clara i'm
mediately went on shopping ex-
pedition to replenish her wardrobe
and what with hundred and one
things to do before she left the
sleepy Southern city she forgot to
worry about DR.. Stuart's, or even
her own, feelings.
The night before she took the
train for New York she packed her
dresses and other things, which had
been sent over from the school, and
sent them out with the hotel porter
so that they might be put on the
evening train. This had been Clara's
suggestion, who, wise traveller that
she was, felt it was a nuisance to
have to worry about luggage when
you could just as easily have 1t
shipped to wherever you wanted it.
It wasn't until she was in Betty's
room the next morning bidding her
good-by that she learned that DR..
Stuart loved her and had no inten-
ton of forgetting about her. He
had come into the room just as she
was about to leave and one look
into his shining eyes sent quiver
through her body. Trying to hide
her confusion, she turned around
to Betty.
Remember, I won't write unless
you promise to answer"
"Of course I'll answer" Betty said
mischievously. "And-and I'll even
send you picture of DR..
Stuart"
Not Easily Side tracked.
Elaine had hoped to escape from
che room in full possession of her
poise, but this parting remark only
served to increase her confusion.
Brushing briskly past the doctor,
she walked out of the room and
down the hall toward the staircase.
For q moment she thought she was
going to make good her escape, but
hardly had she traversed half the
distance when he laid hand lightly
on her arm.
so anxious to leave us?" he
ehided, eyes grave.
"why-why no." she stammered,
not daring to glance up. TITS just
that I'm afraid I'll be late for
the train"
He smiled. "Or is it because you're
afraid of me?" His voice suddenly
became husky with emotion. Elaine,
I suppose you know that I've fallen
in love with you? Oh, know that
sounds rather foolish. But to me 1t
isn't. I've felt this way since the
first night you were brought into
the hospital. At first I tried to
fight the whole thing of, telling my
self that it was just an infatuation.
But 1t isn't just an infatuation,