Show The DIM LANTERN II I I By TEMPLE BAILEY i 0 C TENN SERVICE SER I ITI r. r X Continued X I 16 the thing for you ou and Del He lie U really loves fine ne stock And you ou and he think he-think think of it riding it-riding riding over o the country planning country planning your our gardens gardens- I having a baby or two Edith was wasI I going very fast It sounds heavenly hea said Lucy Then make It ft Heaven Beaven Oh Lu Lucy cy Lucy Luc you ou lucky girl you girl you are ore going to marry the man you ou love Live away from the world world share share happiness and unhappiness unhappiness- She rose from t tit J table ta ble restlessly push push- pushIng Ing lag back her chair dropping her napkin on the floor Do you know how I envy emy you ou She went lent to the window and stood sto looking out And here I 1 sit day after aCler day like a prisoner in a tower and and my page sings that sings that was the beginning of it and it-and and it will wit be the end No Lucy was very ery serious you mustn't let it be the end You you you must open the window Miss Towne Edith carne came back bark to 10 the table Open the window Her lIer breath came fast Open the window Oh little Lucy how wise you are arc i When Lucy had gone Alice came In and dressed Edith's hair She SheI I found her lady thoughtful Alice what hat did they do with my wedding clothes We put them all In the second suite guest she said some of oX them we left packed In the trunks just as they were and some of ot them are hung on racks Where is the wedding dress In a 1 closet in a white linen bag Well finish my hair halt and we will go and look at It As they tiley entered it the second suite guest-suite was WIlS heavy with the scent of orange blooms How dreadful Alice Edith ejaculated Why didn't you throw the flowers away Miss Annabel wouldn't let me She said you might not want things touched Silly sentimentality Edith was I impatient The room was in all the gloom of at drawn curtains The dresses hung on racks and encased In white bags gave a ghostly effect e They are like rows of tombstones Alice Yes Miss Towne said Alice dutifully The maid brought out the wed wed- wedding wedding wedding ding dress and laid it on the bed Edith surveying it was stung by bythe bythe bythe the memory of the emotions which had swayed her when she had last worn It It had seemed to mock her She had seen her own tense countenance in the mirror as she had controlled herself before Alice Then when the maid had left she had thrown herself on the bed and had writhed In an agony of humilia tion And now all her anger was gone She didn't hate Del She didn't hate Lucy She even thought of Uncle Fred with charity And the wed wed- wedding wedding ding gown was after all aU a robe for fora a princess who ho married a 11 king Not Nota a robe for a 8 princess who loved a page A tender smile softened her face Alice Allee she said suddenly there a little heliotrope din din- dinner dinner ner ncr frock among my trousseau things Yes Miss Towne Informal Al AI Alice ice hunted in the third row of tomb tomb- tombstones tombstones tombstones stones until she found it itI ItI itI I want ant long sleeves put in It Will you tell Hardinger and have him send a hat to match Yes Miss Towne The heliotrope frock had simple and lovely lines It floated in sheer beauty from the maids maid's hands as she held it up There isn't a pret pret- prettier prettier tier one in the whole lot lot Miss Edith Edith having ha dispatched the box with a charming note to Lucy Lo Lo- Logan Lo- Lo gan had a feeling of ecstatic tic free dom darn All AU the hurt and humiliation of the bridal episode had departed She didn't care what the world thought of her Her desertion by Del had been material for a days day's gossip then gossip then other things had filled the papers had been headlined and i emphasized And what difference did it Pt tl tI make CHAPTER XI The day after atter Christmas Baldy darling The operation Is over and the doctor gives us hope bope That is the best I 1 can tell you I haven't been allowed to see Judy though they have bave let Bob have havea a peep at her and she smiled Give my love to everybody I have had Christmas letters from Evans and Edith and Mr Towne Baldy Mr Towne wants to marry me I haven't told you before It Ii is rather like a dream and Im I'm not going to think about bout a it I 1 dont don't love him and so of course that settles it But he says he can make me and Baldy sometimes I wish that ne he could It would be such a heavenly enly thing for the whole family Of course that Isn't the way to look at it 11 but I believe Judy She s in love in a cottage but she says saYI that love in a palace might be equally satisfying with fewer things to 0 worry about Somehow that doesn't fit In with the things Ive I've dreamed But dreams of course arent aren't every every- everything everything thing I 1 had to toll you ou dear old boy bo Because weve we've never nc kept things from each other And youve you've been hlen so perfectly frank about Edith Are things a bit blue In that direction Your our letter sounded like it Jt Be De good to yourself old dear love lo me more titan than ever Jane signed sl ed her bet name and stood up stretching her arms above her head hend It was late laic and she was very tired A great storm was shaking slinking the windows The wind from the lake beat against the Ule walls with the boom of nt guns She walked the floor a n tense little figure fighting against fear The storm had become a whistling pan She gave a cry of re ye- relief relief lief lie when the door opened and her brother law entered Im half frozen Janey Jancy It was wasa a fight to get through The cars i I I 7 I 1 i n. n 1 f I I I I r y I M r. r f L I I 4 V f 7 ir irS S 4 C I Cant you trust the maids are stopped on all the surface lines How is Judy Holding her own And by the way Janey that friend of yours Towne sent another bunch of roses Pretty fine I call it She's no end pleased Its nice of him Gee I wish I had his money Money Isn't everything Bobby Dobby I i It means a lot at a time like ke this Ills His face wore a worried frown Jane knew that Judy's hos hospital pital expenses were appalling and bills were piling up upI upI upI I work like a slave Bob said ruefully and weve we've never been Ln In debt before When Judy is well things will seem brighter Bob She laid her hand on his arm He looked up at her and there was lear fear in his eyes Jane she must get well I cant can't face losing her We mustn't think of that And now come on out in the kitchen and Ill I'll make you some coffee Jane was always practical She knew that warmed and fed he would see things differently dl Yet in Itt spite of ot her philosophy Jane lay awake a long time that night And later her dreams were of Judy Judy of of Judy and a gray and dreadful phantom which pur pur- pursued pursued sued The next day she went to the hospital and took Junior with her When he saw his mother in bed Junior asked Do you like it Moth dear er-dear Like what darling Sleeping in the daytime I dont don't always sleep She looked at Jane Does little Julia miss me I think about her In the night Jane knew what Judy's heart wanted She docs does miss you I r know it when she turns away from me Perhaps I oughtn't to tell you But I thought you'd rather know I do want to know said Judy feverishly I dont don't want them to forget Jane you mustn't ever let them them forget Jane felt as if she had been struck a stunning blow She was for a moment in the midst of a dizzy universe in which only one thing was clear Judy wasn't sure of get get- getting getting getting ting well Judy wIth her brown eyes wistful wistful ful went on Junior do you want Mother back in your own nice house Will you make cookies Yes darling Then I want you back Aunt Janey made cookies and she didn't know about the raisins Mother knows how to give cook men le-men raisin eyes Mothers know a lot of things that aunties dont don't darling Well Well i wish you'd come back He stood by the side of the bed Id Jd like to sleep with you tonight May I. I I Mother dear Not tonight darting darling flat But you ou may mn when I come home homo Rut nut days dayt da s 's passed and weeks week and Judy cud dd not come tome homo home And the first of ot February found her het still In that narrow hospital bod And it was in February that Frederick l Towne wrote roto he was coming Corning to Chicago I have ha only enly a day dil but I 1 must see se you you OU The next time she slit went to the hospital she told Judy J ud of his Ills ex r. expected arrival Tomorrow Oh Jane Tane how delightful Is it Im I'm not sure Judy Jud It II would be he perfect If It you'd ud ac or accept him Jane J a nl Hut But Im I'm not In love Ime with him fob Bob lob and 1 I were vere talking about a It It Judy's voice was almot pain painfully pain fully eager enger of ot how splendid It would ouId be he for for all nil 11 of ot us LIS For nil all of us Judy and Bub and the babies ba bils bil's It was the first time that Jane had thought thou ht of ot her mar onar- marriage marriage with lIh Towne as liS a way ny out for tor Judy and lob Bob From his hotel nt at the tho moment of ot arrival Towne To called Jane tip up Are Arc you OU glad Im I'm here Of course Dont say It that way 11 How lIow shall I say it As if It you meant It Do you ou know what a frigid little thing thins you are Your letters were like frosted cakes She laughed They were the best I could do I dont don't believe It But nut I am not going to talk of that now When can an I come rome and see sec you And how much time have ha you to spare for forme forme forme me Not much I 1 cant can't leave the ba ha- Ides bies Your sisters sister's children Cant Can't you trust the maids Maids Listen to the man mali We haven't nt any You oo dont don't mean to tell me trio that you are doing the housework Yes why not I am strong end and endwell well and the kiddies arc are adorable We are going to change that Ill I'll bring a trained nurse up with me Please dont don't be a tyrant Tut little girl she heard hoard his big laugh over the telephone Ill bring the nurse and someone to help her and a load lond of or toys to keep klep the kiddies quiet When I 1 wan Jane I usually get it II lIe He and the nurse arrived together A competent was to fol follow tol- tol tollow low in a cab Jane protested It H seems dreadfully high highhanded They were alone In the living- living room Miss Martin had at once car car- carried carried ried ned the kiddies oft off to unpack the toys Frederick laughed Well what j are you going to do about it You 1 cant can't put out me out I But I J can refuse to go with you there was the crisp note in her voice which always stirred him But you wont won't do that Jane Jonc lIe He held out his hand to her drew her a 8 little towards him She released herself hersel flushing I Iam Iam Iam am not quite sure what I 1 ought to todo do Why think of We will just play playa a bit together Jane That's all And youre you're such a II tired little girl arent aren't you His sympathy was comforting Ev Everybody Ev- Ev Everybody leaned on Jane It was de delightful de- de delightful to shift her burdens to this strong man who gave his commands like a king Yes I arn nm am tired And if the ba babies I bies bles will be all right right right- I Soon they were dining In a charm charm- charming charmIng ing French restaurant The waiter walter with the first course Interrupted them When he once more mote disappeared disappeared Frederick persisted Im going away tomorrow Wont Won't you give me my answer tonight After lunch Ill I'll take toke you home and you youcan youcan youcan can rest a bit and then Ill I'll come fr you ou and together and see sec R a play pia She tried to 10 protest but he plead Id t-d. This Is my m day clay Don't Dont spoil It It Jane It 1 was three o'clock when hn hen they the left the blue and they had a along aIon along long Ion drive e before them Darkness had descended when I wn they reached the till house houe It still stilt snowing snO nub flub was upstairs around the Ihl little room like lUe n a man In a ta dream I cant can't tell tIll you ou he ho confided to Jane otter after Frederick had loft left how queer I foil when I 1 came lIme In and found md Miss MIlito with the tho 1 ell and that stately old woman In the kitchen And Andr everything r going like Miss 1 explained and well Towne Town Just waves rs a n annd wand doesn't ho it Jitney makes things happen I I dont don't know that I ought 1 to 10 let him do ilo no so much Jane Iane 1 tine said Oh why wit wh not nolo Janey Just take tutu the gouid gOIl the gods provide Before rick Frederick Towne Town reached his hotel he passed a hop khop whose windows 8 were le lighted II against the early darkness In one of cut the windows win vin dows flunked by b slippers stock stock- stockIngs Ings logs and a n fan tan to match was H n French gown all nil silver slI and faint blue n a shining wisp of a thing tiling In lace lore and satin Towne stopped topped the car went In and bought the gown with its matching Ina accessories He lie carried the big box with him to his hi hotel Besting a bit before dinner he permitted himself to dream of ot Jane in that gown the pearls that he would give her against the white of her slender throat the slim bare ness of ot her arms the tho swirl of at a II silver sll Ince lace about her ankles the ankles the swing of ot the boyish figure in its sheath of or blue He lie wondered if he offered o It to Jane would she accept lie knew she Adelaide would have made no bones about It There had been blen a lovely thing In black velvet he hue had given her too loa a n wrap to match The evening stretched ahead of ot him lilt full of ot radiant promise lie Ill knew Junes June's strength but bUI he h was ready for conquest Ills His telephone rang And Jane spoke to him Mr Towne she sold said I 1 cant can't dine with you But Bul Oil cnn you come conic over later Judy is Js desperately ill Iii Ill I'll tell you more about It when I J Isee Isee see you Bob had cried when the news came from tram the hospital It kind had been beell dreadful Juno June had never seen seena a u man cry They had been Jeen hard sobs with broken brol ln apologies be tween Im u Ii fool to act net like this this Jane had tried to say soy things then had bad sot sat silent and uncomfortable while Bob Dob fought for self control Miss Martin had gone cone home be be- fore the message arrived hub Hob was told that he could not tee ee his wife Out hut the surgeon would be glad to 10 talk Lalk to him at eight And Arid I 1 know what hot hell he'll say Bob flab had lad said sold to Jane drearily that If I 1 can get that specialist up p from Hot lIot Springs he may be able to 10 ding dlag diagnose nose the trouble But Dut how am I 1 go go- goIng goIng Ing log to get the money Janey It will cost a II thousand dollars to rush him here and pay his tee fee And ray rny in in- income income come has practically stopped With all these labor troubles theres there's there's theres no building And Judy's nurses cott twelve dollars a day day and and her room five Oh poor people haven't any right to be sick Janey There Isn't any place for tor them Janes Jane's face was pale and looked pinched Theres the check Baldy Huldy sent me for Christmas filly fifty dol lars Dear girl It wouldn't be a drop in the bucket no 10 10 nr m COT |