Copyright Macrae-8mith Co. WHU Service SYNOPSIS To the household of Doctor Ballard, in Mulberry Square, youthful Dr. Hugh Kennedy, comes as an assistant, He first meets Janle, nineteen-year-old daughter of Doctor Ballard. Her older sister, Celia, a petted beauty, is away from home. Hugh regards Janie as a small girl, to be treated as a chum. He sees a photograph of Celia, and is impressed by her loveliness, He con- tinues to regard Janie as, as he ex- presses it, a “good little fellow,” but she has a far different feeling for him, Celia returns home. She accepts Hugh's open admiration as her due, just one more in her train of admirers, Tom McAllister is another, and Carter Shel. by is a third, Following a visit by Shelby to the Ballard home, Celia is visibly depressed. Hugh and Cella un- expectedly announce their engagement, Janie, heartbroken, returns to college. She is summoned home when her fa- ther is seriously hurt in an auto ae- ecldent. Hugh bitterly blames himself, feeling res gible, for allowing the elderly physician to drive at night, his evesight not fitting him for the task Kennedy had been at a theater with Cella, she insisting on his going. Part Two CHAPTER I1I—Continued se Rpm They were quiet after that. had no words to express the in her heart. F ather understood, hand was her hair. She could feel his fingers, gentle, cares- sing, but very weak. Janie felt a holy sort of hap The chimes were ringing for Christmas . “Look here, young lady.” Doctor Alden opened the door. “Somebody else wants a chance.” “Good night, Father," sh cheek, “Good night, baby.” “A happy Christmas.” “It will be, Father . . . Good night,” She couldn't go back Into Mother's room, She wanted to be alone, The corridor was dim and quiet The sill of the window was wide and deep. Janie curled herself up in a ball with her cheek against the pane. The sky with frosty stars, The wi ws of the i church made s the snow. TI Christmas, Jd world was a beautiful place, “Th: you, Pg whispered God, from the depths of a grateful heart, the Janle singing His piness, e kissed his He smiled. was spri shes of color across wills were chi ing for was lovely, The ink she They stood on Celia and Janie and radiance about them. wore an uplifted expression. Hugh's eyes had lost their haunted look. Janie tie a candle lighted for Christmas ev The windows of the Catholic church made splashes of color on the snow, “Let's go In,” Janie suggested. glanced up at them quickly to see it they were smiling. They weren't smiling. They walked across the street to the church, up the narrow aisle, Celia and Janie and Hugh, with a radiance about them They entered a pew at the front and knelt facing the altar, Above them the chimes were ringing for Christ- mas, Hugh thought of Doctor Ballard’s words, “It's all right, my boy. 1 un- derstand.” He thought of how he would try to deserve the Doctor's con- fidence. Nothing mattered so much as that, What was C@!a thinking as she knelt there beside him, her face lifted to the flickering candle flames? Would he ever be permitted to share her thoughts? She eluded him, some how, Her loveliness was a will-o-the- wisp. Was he too clumsy to capture it? She nestled close against him. He breathed the fragrance of her halr. There was a hammering in his ears. He loved her, he loved her so much . , | Cella was thinking of Father. She was glad, so glad he was better. That proved that it wasn't her fault. She was the blue-robed saint in a niche near the altar. The gaudy colors were softened by the candle light, The saint in her gilded niche reminded her of a painting she once had seen. When Hugh took her abroad she would see the paintings of Botticelli. She felt Hugh's eyes fixed upon her. Was he thinking that she looked like the blue-robed saint in the golden niche? She moved a little closer to him, She felt that he was trembling, How terribly he loved her, More than she loved him. Her lips cufved in a remote ethereal smile. She wore her “Saint Cecelia” expression. Janle was filled with a happiness too high and too holy for thought. Her hazel eyes lifted to the candies on the altar were brighter than the Jets of golden flame. Her grave little face was entirely unconscious of the exalted expression it wore. The hap- piness was a pain. It hurt her even to breathe, Her heart grew larger and larger. She had to share It with somebody. She glanced shyly up at Hugh, wanting to share with him this aching happy emotion, Hugh was looking at Cella with all of his heart in his eyes, Janie's eyes returned to the altar candles, The Jets of flame had changed. They were crosses, golden crosses, staggering through a mist of ae in a blurred uneven line, hospital Hugh, Celia steps, with =a She CHAPTER 111 There was a Christmas tree, after all, in the living room of the old brick house, Mrs. Quillen trimmed it for a surprise assisted by Uncle Charlle. It was starred all over with tiny bulbs and the wax angel hung at the top Just as it had hung always. The angel and Janie were twins, Uncle Charlie had brought it from Germany for Janle's first Christmas tree, Christmas day was a happy time; snow and sunshine outside: hope In- side, and misty smiles and a letting down after the strain. Mother came home to stay. Hugh whistled In the bathroom again. Rachel cried Into the turkey stuffing, which didn't hurt it at all. Stoney almost roasted them out so faithfully did he tend the fur nace. Cella wore an uplifted expres sion. Janle smiled her wide gay smile. “Father is better,” they told each other at intervals during the day. There were presents. awakened by a rough pink tongue ecstatically licking her cheeks. The tongue was part of a small Scotch ter. rier, ugly and perky and lovable. His eyes were as bright as shoe buttons. One ear stood erect and the other flopped, which gave him a saucy ex- pression, He wore a Scotch plaid col lar, banded and buckled with brass. There was a card attached: “For a good little egg “From Hugh" “You darling!" Janie whispered and hugged the small Scotch dog very hard, “1 love him, Hugh breakfast and smiled smile, “His name is ‘Klitie'.” happy this morning. it If you like." “It's a lovely name. breakfast with the pe dog in her lap, “You mustn't, Jane,” Mother sald “You'll teach him very bad manners.” “It's Christmas and Father is bet. ter.” She made a song of it. The laughing notes, which had for so long been hushed, sprinkled through the air. Mother smiled and forgot to worry about “Kiltle's"” learning bad manners. “Yes, Father is better,” she sald, Rachel, coming In with a pile of golden-brown waffles, looked with glum disapproval at button eyes and jaunty ear perked up above the edge of the table, “Is we all gwine to be pestered wid another dawg? she inquired of the family at large, “Do you cail that varmint of Cella's a dog? It was lovely to have Hugh teasing again and smiling his crinkly smile, “Aunt Rose likes “Tweedles'” Celia was admiring the shine of a jeweled bracelet, “I think I'll give him to her.” “Praise Gawd! lachel exclaimed and siapped down the plate of wales Later, In the living room, Hugh thanked Janie for his handkerchlefs, “Did you really make them? he asked, “Every single stitch.” “They're grand. Nobody ever sewed things for me before” “The Initials are wobbly,” Janle's expression was apologetic. “Those curly ‘K's’ are very hard to manage.” “I think they're beautiful” He selected the handkerchief with the most uneven initials and tucked it into the breast pocket of his coat “1 shall wear one every day of my life—right here tucked in with your smile.” He swung her up from the floor and lightly kissed her brow where the chestnut hair grew down in a peak. For a moment the wax angel on the tree seemed to be swimming In a misty blur of green. Then Janie was admiring Celia's gifts and feeling bet- ter again, “I never saw anything so lovely.” Celia's fingers were caressing petal tinted trifies of lace and ribbon and silk. “It looks like a box of sweet-peas” Janie said admiringly. She read the message on a thick creamy card: “For Hugh's pretty Celia “From Hugh's sister Louise.” Hugh's pretty Celia! It hurt for a moment. Then she could bear it. Per. haps, after a while, It would hurt hardly at all “Hugh sent her my picture,” Cella was saying. “We were to visit her for New Year's. [I suppose it's out of the question now.” “Entirely out of the question” Hugh was standing with his arm around Celia. But out of his breast pocket poked the edge of a handker chief marked with uneven Initials, It was comforting, for some peculiar roa. son that Janie could not understand, “I wanted to go,” Celia sighed. A fretful shadow slipped across her face. It was gone in a moment, Janie saw it. Hugh could not have seen it at all. He was looking at Celin's halr, honey-colored and silky, caught in a knot at the nape of her neck, Christmas day was a happy time. The days which followed were pleas ant, too. Janie was permitted to stay, each afternoon, a little longer with Janie was she sald at her wide gay Hugh looked “You can change . She was eat. small black ing themselves the es Father. She took Klitle to see him, Together they laughed at the ear which perked, and the ear which flopped down, One day Father was strong enough to throw a ball across the room and to pull it from the tenacious grasp of Klitie's sharp white teeth, His arms were strong, Janie noticed. jut he never moved his legs. “Do asked, “Not much.” “You never move them)” “They deserve a vacation” lightly. “They've been very for more than fifty years” He threw the ball for Klitle, then, and in a moment Janie was laughing with him at the frisking small black dog. Father was certainly better. They talked about the fishing trip to Canada next June. “You'll have to walk, Janle, Not even horses can get through those for- est trails” “1 ean walk,” She thought of walk- ing with Father beside her, Father brown und healthy in his flannel shirt and corduroy trousers. She was sure that she wouldn't mind the walking at all “Polish up on your French” “Why “The Indlan guides speak French.” “Je vous aime.” Her accent was very bad, “Look here!” be alarmed. love to Indian guides?” “That was for you" cheek against his, “Je vous aime.” the compliment. worse, But they weren't concerned with ac- cents, Father was getting Every afternoon when she left he sald: “Tell batter, soon.” Then, at the end learned that Father would not Doctor Alden told them . they hurt you, Father?" she he sald faithful Father pretended to “Are you going to make She laid her Father returned His accent was even better, lachel to stir ap some waffle I'm coming home pretty of the week, they come He home “What ls It?” Celia Asked, Pausing on the Stairs, sat beside the living room fire and told them as kindly as he could that Father might never walk again. It was something about the spine. Janie, curled up in a corner of the davenport, told herself that he couldn't be talking sbout Father. But he was. He was telling them that Father might have to live In a rolling chair. There was a chance, he sald. If Father might be removed to a pri- vate hospital in New York. He men- tioned the name of a specialist. He talked of an operation. Mother rocked back and Celia sobbed hysterically. looked up at Hugh, He was standing beside the window. Ills face against the dull blue drape was white and drawn, “Could Doctor Ballard be removed 1” Hugh asked evenly. His hands were knotted Into fists, The vein In hia forehead was throbbing. , Doctor Alden thought that would be possible, In a week or two Father would be strong enough to endure the trip. He would make the necessary arrangements. Mrs. Ballard would want to go? Mother wns uncertain, “Oh, Mother,” Janie cried would be so lonely alone.” “Of course, Mother,” Celia sald. “We can manage here at home” “Good girls!” Doctor Alden smiled at Celia. He smiled at Junle. He blew his nose, They discussed It after he had gone, “The money-" Mother sald. “There's never more than enough, You know how Father 18." “1 ean arrange that, Mrs, Ballard.” Hugh's eyes were somber. All his gnyety was gone. “But Hugh—" Mother protested faintly, “We can't let you" “This isn't a question of money,” sald Hough, “It's a question of hap. plness." forth, Janie “He “You-—~you're sweet, Hugh" Celia's eyes were like raln-drenched violets, The silver harp strings were quivering. Janie looked at Hugh with a world of tenderness in her eyes. But Hugh was looking at Celia with the firelight shining across her hair, There was a family conference that evening. Aunt Lucy was present and Uncle Frank, Aunt Rhoda, Uncle Brad. ford and Great-aunt Rose, Great. uncle Charlle was not invited, But Great-uncle Charlle came, too, They were all very much distressed. The ladies wept and the gentlemen cleared their throats, “Hugh has offered to arrange for the expenses,” Mother sald anxiously. “But it seems to me t's a family mat- ter. I don't think John" Bradford uneasy bout the stock market. regretted that, after all, was Inadequate, Aunt luvked at Uncle Frank “lot me take care of it, sald, Already he was checkbook and pen. “That's very kind of you, “It's nothing Mother's shoulder, wnys glad to help™ ruddy features were wreathed In sat- isfaction. For, twenty-five years ago, his money had been a source of discom- fort, now it was proving its worth. “Well, here's to mules and war!" Uncle Charlie ible giass, “You mustn' ‘ncle " grati tu my dear.” The n's wag nh lle was softened subdued, * 1 it sell my t wine” arrangements Uncle talked a Lose and Aunt her in- Lucy looked One Helen,” he reaching for Frank.” ing.” He patted Glad to help. Al- Uncle Frank's the Civil raised an Invis- Charlie” Simple old n have been obliged to hree bottles of sherry So the made, Father was to be taken to New York a8 soon as he was strong end dure the trip He had soon to the were ugh to en- been told. Janie knew as as she saw him when she went hospital with Hugh on New Year's eve, His face was whiter than had been. There was a look in his eyes which was very hard But he smiled at them and tie's coat, + ’ Oi pa- rs through Kil he said Tears spliled down Hugh turned and out the window, that look of un- ing away,” ither.” over Ja e's cl stared Father smiled with bearable patience, “Legs aren't Important,” he said “father!” A heart-broken little ery. “There's a good chance, Doctor Bal- lard.” Hugh's knuckles showed white through the tan, “Legs aren't | peated. “1 can Stoney’'s and" “And mine,” Hugh offered brokenly. “1 wish I could give them to you." “They'd run the rest of me ragged.” It was like Father to make It easy for them, Legs aren't Important! Never to walk again “It isn’t so bad.” Father smiled at them both. “If we can wake them up, all well and good.” He touched his useless legs, “If we can't—well, I won't have to run for trains or buy new shoes or—" “T'll stay here as long as you need me.” Hugh's band was clasped In Father's. “Thank you, my boy. ioned that" “T'll stay,” Hugh repeated huskily. “I'll do the best I can.” “Do you think we should, Aunt Lucey?” Janie was talking at the tele- phone In the hall “What Is It? Celia asked, pausing on the stairs, Janie covered the mouthpiece with her hand, “Muriel has some guests from Wash- ington, Aunt Lucy wants us to come out for the evening. It isn't really a party. Tom will be there and Dolly Bruce and the Washington people and Carter Shelby" Janie saw Celia’s expression change. Her hand on the banister trembled and was still, “1 don't see why we shouldn't,” she sald casually, “But Hugh has office hours even on New Year's day.” “He can come out later.” Celia's cheeks were flushed. There was an eagerness in her eyes. “Will Aunt Lucy send William for us?’ Janie nodded. “Then tell her, Yes” Cella was flying upstairs, “Father wouldn't want us to stay at home here and brood.” Janle wns ready first. She went into Celin's room. Celia, In a slim black frock, was smoothing her hair at the dressing table, “Don’t wear that,” Janie sald sharp- ly. The slim black frock looked the- atrical., Cella wns posing again, “lI couldn't bear the gay ones” Celia's eyes In the mirror were bright with tears, Janie felt ashamed of herself, She had thought that Celia must know how fragile she looked In the plain black dress with her creamy skin and the pale soft gold of her hair. But Celia was thinking of Father. And Celia had been sweet. Janie made an im portant announcement, Weeks, nt." Father re- use Janle's and I never ques- “I'!n uot going back to college.” “Why not?” Cella asked absently, “You'd be lonely®here after Mother has gone.” It was pleasant to be able to love Celia again, She had been 80 dear and unaffected ever since Father was hurt. “I couldn't bear it.” she added, “to be so far away. I'd rather stay here with you.” “Funny little brown girl!” Celia did not look at Janle, She was using a lipstick lightly, Her hand trembled a little, There Hall” door, Carter Shelby, dark, had fireplace, were lights In Aunt Lucy “Sportsman's net them at the tall and graceful and left the around the was walking to meet them across the hall, “It's nice to was smiling down at both of her hands, “Thank you, Carter.” lovely face, group He holding " again, Cella, sce you Celia lifted a “We've had an un- wy time" “And this is—Janle.” “Good evening, Mr. Shelby." Janie reeted him stiffly. She hated it be- Celia had given him both of her Hugh was at home in the office was letting “¢his Carter both of her pretty hands, Cella. It A Use ands, and Cella hold But she mustn't spy on Shelby naid took their wraps. They yup around the fire, There tions. Tom pushed for- for Celia. Janie gat on a cushion and hugged her knees In her arms. Carter Shelby devoted him- self to Muriel. The rose of her velvet frock made a faint color in her cheeks. Her eyes, when she glanced at Carter, warm and faintly amused, Tom and the two sleek . ashington, whose n and Jeiry, ted themselves Jolned the gre were introduc ward a chair were devo at with her hands li hike d lox (ed on ie, he smiled at one of the Her eyes strayed shadowy corner Muriel sat with Carter Shelby. Janie wor nen. intervals to where the dered what she ossibl the radio into the quiet Carter Shelby up y from her chair. Janie the vacant place beside m Joined t ght for me, hem, children” Muriel flicked the ash arette, laughed. He bent his curly dark head “Gamble for it," he sald. “Who ever pulls out the longer hair wins” “Couldn't think of it" Muriel smiled. “Your bailr Is your greatest beauty.” The sacrilege was prevented. Uncle Frank called from the library door. “Can 1 speak to you, Tom?" “Certainly, Mr. Grove,” Tom turned away from the fire, strode briskly across the hall, “Remember when Tom used to mow the grass? Janle asked, settling her self comfortably on the long uphol stered settee, “He was the Sir Galahad of my youthful dreams,” Muriel sald with a sigh. “I think he's splendid. I shall always be fond of Tom." “Does he know you like him?" Janle presently asked. Some men were instance, was Hugh. “He should,” Muriel sald frankly. “I've told him dozens of times.” “What does he say?” “He calls me a forward brat or something equally tender™ Muriel smiled at Janie. "I get discouraged at times™ about through the dimly lighted hall gether, trast, coat. of shadowy corners, through pools of shaded light, into the shadows again. “Does Cella love Hugh? Muriel sud. denly asked. TO BE CONTINUED. Spider Not an Insect A spider is not an insect, but an arachnid. The phylum Arthropoda, or jointed invertebrate animals, has three principal classes, Insecta, arachnida and crustacea, The class arachnida includes such familiar creatures as spiders, order Araneida; scorplons, or der Scropionida, and harvestmen, or daddy-long-legs, order Phalanjida, True spiders are distinguished from insects by possessing four (Instead of three) pairs of walking legs, and by having the body divided Into only two main divisions separated by a narrow waist; a cephalothorax, bearing the legs, mouth parts and eyes, and an vnsegmented abdomen, which is short and rounded and bears two or more spinnerets at the posterior end, for spinning silk threads. Spiders are pre dacious and have polson glands near thelr jaws, some being able to flict bites painful or even dangerous to man. The young develop without a metamorphosis, such as is typical of TOO MUCH FOLIAGE A man who had been absent for a considerable time, and who during his travels had cultivated a great crop of whiskers and mustaches, vis- ited a relative whose little girl had been his special favorite, The little girl made no salute him with the usual “Why, child” sald “don’t you give your kiss?" “Mother,” don't see offer to Kiss, mother, id a the old frier Ruswesed th ~ Lab No Work After Hours The maid sp the door, thing. You'll after five, when m “I'm sorry, any pl ke sh arply y IEE, When Old Age Begins A magazine article is headed: “When d Ve are reminded of an same question once n who did not look ges old a; lady “To me, ghe said, “ol ways 10 years older than I am. 1 Transcript. ” LINE llit—V¥Yery soon postal you were her 1 sweep out the Those Conferences First Business Man—Was the con- ference a success? What did you decide? Second Bu great. We decided to conference next week. giness Man-—-1It have was another The Ideal Bank Teller—Sorry, madam, but your account is already overdrawn, Madam-— Well, what if it is, young man? Can't 1 do as 1 please with my own account?—Pathfinder Maga. zine, Mothers-in-Law “Dad, what Is the difference be- tween & visit and a visitation?” “When my mother comes {0 see me, that is a visit. When your mother's mother comes that is a visitation," Prague Prager Presse. Early Bird Suitor (sighing)-—Well, since you don’t want to marry me after all, per haps you'll return my ring. Girl (acidly)—If you must know, your jeweler has called for it al- ready.—~Moustique, Staying Power “Your wife seems a woman.” “Garrulous? Why, if I suddenly went dumb it would take her a week to find it out.”—Der Lustige Sasche. THE FLAVOR garrulous
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