Copyright Macrae-8mith Ce. SYNOPSIS To the quiet household of Doctor Ballard, in Mulberry Square, youthful Dr. Hugh Kennedy, comes as an as- sistant, to stay a year. He first meets Janie, nineteen-year-old daughter of Doctor Ballard. Her older sister, Cella, a petted beauty, is away from home. Hugh regards Janie, a universal favor- ite, as a small girl, to be treated as a chum, Hugh sees a photograph of Celia, and is impressed by her love- liness. He continues to regard Janie as, as he expresses it, a “good little fellow.” a “funny kid,” but she has a far different feeling for him. Celia re- turns home. She accepts Hugh's open admiration as her due, just one more in her train of admirers. Tom MecAl- lister is another, and Carter Shelby, whom she has met on her recent trip. is a third, Shelby is believed to be wealthy, and escape from the “drabness” of Mulberry Square. Follow visit by Shelby to the Ballard home, Cell is visibly depressed. Hugh unexpected. ly announce Janie, heartbroken, arra to return to col. lege. She is = rr ed 1 ie when her father ] an auto accident, Celia longs to their nent, is seriou CHAPTER I—Continued The early watch, prayers. moving at passed. The more thickly now her green fastened the beaver col green then sat The train ran tunnel of shed. Sh stream of passengers toward the door, She felt the wind ping her cheeks and her fingertips. A red-cap had her bag. She was followl him through the crowded stat “New Kir “Has {it gone?” “Waitin' Oh, thank or whoeve A quarter ing. Icy steps, “Well, Jan! She looked up 1 ! iliar face. It was Mr. Mapes, the conductor, lived in New “Father? “He's holding “How? *Acclident, night in the storm.” train twilight. ey y al or cap eq iar of her her galoshes and new coat, buckled very still, slowly in under the with moved the who last The sound « famill volee after the long, weary broke the ice around clung to the pressed her face against his buttons, sobbed gratefully In his i “There, there, ie.” He led her into the car. “We're ready to go. In half an hour we'll have you home.” She heart, cnndnet conductor, rms. safe at I Hugh was waiting Janie saw his face, raised to the windows as the train moved past. Her heart turned over. She knew that he would be sorry. of course. She had not expected to find him so haggard on the platform. watch The Train Rushed On Through the Early Twilight. and white and distressed, and lifted his hand. [is eyes. be neath the down-turned brim of his hat, brightened for a moment and then were somber again. “Hugh! Oh bere I am, Hugh!" She tumbled dowr the train steps straight fato his arms, “Janie! Thank God you are here!” Horatius was parked in the station drive, chugging sturdily, covered all over with snow, “Tell me about It, Hugh.” “He crashed Into a gully beyond the White Marsh creek.” They were moving now, Horatius was plowing through the snow. “Was he alone?” “Yes,” Hugh's volce was rough and husky, “He was coming howe from He saw her the Weaver place. There's another baby out there.” “Is—is he terribly hurt? Hugh did not answer. Icy fingers clutched Janie's heart. “Tell me, Hugh" She clutched at his arm. “I have to know. Is he—" The word stuck tight In her throat. “He's still unconscious, They don't know yet" Hugh repented the words dully as though he had sald them a great many times. “He's at the pital” “Can | see him tonight?™ “Not tonight, little fellow, row, perhaps.” He told her, In words which Janle could understand, what Father's condl- tion might be. She couldn't somehow he was talking about Father, She had heard Father and Hugh dis cuss cases like that dozens and dozens of times. It couldn't be Father, This dreadful thing couldn't be true “God wouldn't let Father die, sald with a sort of cenfidence, always been %o kind and so good. couldn't let Father dle.” “Do you believe that, Janle?' Hugh asked brokenly. “I—I'm trying to” “Keep on,” fe sald, “and make me belleve it, too.” The car drew up at th of the hos- Tomor- believe, " she ul {e's God old brick house, stairs windows fan-light was a yellow crescent, It was home, »] her out of the car, held it before he set her down on her feet. “I'm glad you're het Her Was The The were lighted. f lanterns were twinkling. little fellow.” cheeks cheek wet, nigh @ i nelting Snow, “Oh, Hugh !™ A wave of the snowy steps as clinging to would never let older full years by three time ago. left hand to bear. After ) -at least, not so m “Where's Mother?” 80 usual ; slender the hospi : There was a Celia She had neser taking “Car sweetness about : looked so lovely, er out some things.’ i't 1 go?" Janie “You couldn't see Father” Celia's eyes brimmed over with tears. “And you must be tired. Take care of hen Hugh, Stoney will drive me out” red around the hall Janie's arms were around Khe Rachel, suspicio eyes, lumbered out “Rachel I” her neck. was clinging hard to something that was familiar and solid and dear, “Go on wid you!” into the Rachel was wip- ing her eyes on her apron, “I'm fixin' a bite of somethin’ to eat.” She lum- bered back toward the kitchen, grum- bling. It was Hugh removed Janie's coat and set her on the Chesterfield to unbuckle her galoshes, Celia picked them up to put them in the closet, “They're so tin never remember who away y.," she said. that small” “Small, She's a very good * Janie lay on the living room daven port pulled close to the crackling fire Hugh sat on a stool and fed her things from a tray, “Open your One more bite, getting sick.” She swallowed the bite obediently. In spite of everything, it was lovely to be at home, “I'm getting warm.” into the cushions, all day.” “Poor baby!" Hugh held her hand in both of his. “It's my fault, Janie” he said. “What is, Hugh?’ “All—all this.” “You mean-Father?" He nodded his head. “Why is it your fault, Hugh? “It was my patient.” His voice was rough and husky. “1 knew that baby was coming. 1 had been there at noon,” “Where were you? “I'm ashamed to tell youn” He stared: miserably at the fire. Janle could feel that his hands were shaking. “Please, Hugh. Tell me, please.” “lI was at the movies, They called twice, Then Doctor Ballard went, “I was, Janie,” he repeated dully. “1 was sitting In the movies. Doctor Ballard went out to do my job. He hadn't expected to go out at all last night. He had given Stoney the ove foot nouth, We small person. can't have you She snuggled “I've been so cold ning off. It had bezun to storm. You know he doesn't see well enough to drive at night” “Oh, Hugh!” She could only say It over and over, that husky reproach- ful “Oh, Hugh!" “I'd have done anything for him.“ Hugh dropped his head on the edge of the davenport over her hand and his own. She felt a wetness on his cheeks, There was no snow In here, “He's been like a father to me. It's my fault, Janle I can see well enough to drive at night. 1 shouldn't have let her—" he stopped abruptly, Janie was, all at and very still “It wasn't her fault,” Hugh said quickly. “1 shouldn't have let her" “She coaxed you to take her?” Janie Oh, Celia! Hugh once, breathless asked evenly. “1 have a defense for Cella. time to take her p sweet about it, Celia I" framed haven't had She's been I'm horribly jealous, heen busy.” Janie ™ “She body “She might.” ted I was thinking to the sald she would ' go with some else? His hands were knot. fists, Some into “1 that. ime, she might, ‘ [1 took her movies” Janie wanted to comfort him. hurt her to him so miserable. only she knew what to say see Sit down, to talk “Come here, Hugh. “Do I shot Diesyp! you You 1 loved you want to me, Janie? would despise me, you i You loved loved matter what the people they were sorry and hi them Just the 1't quite reason It out, he pana of , in the case of ugh's eyes were youn “1 swear wu, Janie, iwvthing to make ythin i his forehead t hr bE “I talk like a was ad Inughing and “You're a comfortabl Hugh sald + CK to the Squs wearily. “Janie ™ “What 1s it? Janle, her her heart In switched on light be. Mother's bed. Celia, huddled in a bathrobe, was closing the hind her. “1 was frightened. here with you?” mouth, the door be Can 1 Janie snapped off the light. They lay curled together in the middie of the wide soft bed. “It wasn't my fault, Celia presently asked. “1 don't know." “Janie, please say It wasn't” Cella was trembling all have happened any that it wasn't my fault.” “1 don't know,” Janie repeated “How could 1 know? Cella close to hysterics, - Father dearly. Hugh is ab wasn't his fault or mine” “Don’t think about it now." said gentl; “Father wouldn't you to be unhappy.” “I'l be nicer” prom God will let Father get well, only say that it wasn't my you'd only tell me, Janie” Janie couldn't say couldn't scold her, either. Celia was trembling so, She put her arms around her instead and nestled very close, They cried in the soft wide bed. Towards morning they slept, curled together, Celia's cheek against Janie's, the brown head and the golden head nestled into the same warm hol low of pillows, CHAPTER 11 There were anxious days in the old brick house. Father rallled, at times, only to sink back Into unconsciousness again. Mother stayed on at the hos pital. She had a small room next to Father's with a eommunienting door. They sat there, sometimes, In the afternoon, Mother and Celis and Janie, holding each other's hands, waiting, talking In whispers, listening for sounds beyond the closed white door. “We're doing everything possible,” Doctor Alden, the chief of staff, would say. “We can't tell yer." Once the door opened - ' Janie saw Father, He looked ver. ug and thin in the narrow white bed. His eyes were closed under white wrap was it, Janie? over, might way. Please say v was ove urd. It Janie want Celia ised, “if If you'd fault. If that. She pings of bandages. His hand was lying on the counterpane, thin and brown and familiar. Janie remem- bered how he had stroked her hair that day on the White Marsh creek. She heard again the rustling sound of the reeds, saw the bird with the speckled brown breast. That day she had run away from Father, She had been thinking only of Hugh. If they might go fishing again Doctor Alden sent them out for drives In his car, Father's car could never be used again. Hugh plowed grimly around In Horatius, trying to do all of Father's work. Stoney drove Doctor Alden’s big closed ear. Mother and Cella and Janie would sit together on the back seat. Downtown was gay with Christmas, the air and the bustle, with holly wreaths In along Manor street. fe the windows signs of Christmas, the the bustle, were could bear. nem out along ich were clear They i talked of ssh ey'e to ¢ HAR 8 DOR BS care of, any other woul glance grate hand. sup he ring on Celia's left and 1 could manage, 1 oom table, i and poured the or tea. ather's vacant chalr was more than Janie could stand. “You sit there, Hugh, ed one evening at supper, “I couldn't, Janie™ His face working queerly. “Father would like it." “Do you think soY eagerly. “I'm sure of it.” Hugh seated himself in the vacant chair He looked, Janle thought, as though a general had pinned a ribbon on his and kissed him on both of his cheeks place coffee she suggest. was he asked chest A shadow lay across the Bquare. knocked at the kitchen 3 with unashamed in their eyes: girls from the mill, the frowsy citizens of Vine and Juniper door, tears People shabby people siroeis the Doctor this morning? “They're doing everything possible, They can't tell yet” "How's The Square, proper, called at the front door; the rector and Mrs, War den. The rector cleared his throat very often and quoted things from the 3ible . . . "Greater love hath no man” . it belonged in church, Janie thought, or cut in a marble tombstone, It had nothing to do with Father who had been Inst summer so healthy and happy and brown, All day there was a stream of eall- ers. From uptown and downtown, from Manor street and the mill see tion, people came to inquire for Fath- er. Celia, very pale and lovely In de- mure little gray wool frocks, an swered questions, smiled faintly, led callers In and out of the living room. Cella was wonderful, Janie thought. She wished she herself could talk and smile, She couldn't. There was al ways a lump in her throat, Aunt Lucy came, unexpectedly, with Muriel and Uncle Frank. “1 was so anxious,” she sald. Aunt Lucy's face, framed In an astrakan collar, looked very anxious Indeed. “We're going to open ‘Sportsman's Hall’ and stay until after the New Year, at least.” “Anything 1 can do to help?” Uncle Frank said. “T'" be In and out every day.” Muriel hugged both Janie and Cella. « +» +» Cella and Janie and Muriel WNU Services playlng house in the Square. That wns & long time ago, , . bustle of brick house mas eve, There was no preparations in the old this , year, ‘There anxiety, a new the rang. tion changed very little from day to day. “We're the doctor said. Janie and Celia clung to each other, Hugh worked on with a dogged sort of persistence. He slept In Father's telephony doing everything on the table beside the bed. Some. Janie heard him ing u middle of the nig) Once times y In the ¥ ¥ It was seven o'clock on Christmas Alden was shining: eve when door. were Doctor opened His face his eves Mother stopped rockin back h. Celia's hands up to weart. Janie stood very stil They all looked at Doctor Alden, “Merry Christmas” he said blew his nose very loudly. “You -“ Mean —7 Mother's able to frame, means,” door into Father's room. conscious and asking for you. can see him for a moment.” Mother gave a happy cry. Celia flung herself at Doctor Alden and kissed his gray mustache, Janie just stood still “Can [ go in first? she asked Her grave little face was pale. Mother murmured. Celia made a low sound of Doctor Alden nodded and blew his nose again, Father's room was dim and fall of shadows. There were flowers every- where and Father's head on the pil in a dim circle of light, He wa pale and woefully thin but the eyes under the bandages were Father's eyes, They looked at her and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Janie,” Father's dear voice said. In a moment she was beside the bed with her cheek against Father's hand. “Father, oh could say. “You look like a Christmas candle.” Father tilted her chin, “I'm happy.” Her eyes were shin. ing: her lashes were jeweled with tears, “I'll be home pretty soon.” Father's voice was pitifully weak, “We'll go to Canada next June, Jumping Trout lake.” Father's eyes brightened. “You and I, Janle It's a date TO BR CONTINUED. “But he's You protest. low Father!” was all she Canada’s First Incorporated Town Saint John, N. B, is the oldest in- corporated city In Canada, It takes {ts name from the river at whose mouth it lies, christened by Champlain when he arrived there on the twenty. fourth of June, 1604, the day of the feast of St. John the Baptist. The City of Saint John was first called Parr Town, being founded In 1788 by United Empire Loyalists, and named after Colonel Parr, the governor of the province. In 1755 It was Incorporated as a city and the name changed to Saint John, CORRECTED A fourth-grade boy was reading his weekly composition in English class for the eriticism of his One of the sentences he “Edgar did not hit birds.” When he sat down, the teacher asked for remarks about the compo- sition, Willlam Jumped to his feet and ex- “He said airy d nairy.” classmates, read wae: alry one of the claimed: ought to 8: when Empty A lawyer was endeavoring press the court with his clients had always beer to settle “Your months ago we branch.” “Yes” there the the cas Honor” respond were no ols Confession EXPLAINED IT As Time Flies Learn to Cook, B “Tr: » ¥ er Mo ey “Rise every morning.” a rother man in cot determination advised a fixed wife realize that sot the bouse and see what We know what have to get ton Transcript. will happen. his own breakfast One Consolation “It must be dreadful have your own son in riding.” “Anyhow, it's a comfort where he is at nights"—Bo Cites Star. Bills and Bills Mr. Zipp—Meet Mr. Zink, wifle. You often heard me talk of old Bill Mrs. Zipp i 1 old bills I can’t remember them all, alk about so many Life's Darkest Moment “Pa. what's “Dignity, my son, is what yon think you possess until the boss says 5 oo. ‘What is the meaning of this? dignity ?™ Real Tragedy Falr Young Thing (to friend) Not only has he broken my and wrecked my whole life, but meseed up my evening! heart he's 3
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