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Show A CHANffiOF MIND By LOUISE OLIVER. 1 "Aleen I" "Yes, Ilnrtl" "I love you 1" "I'm sorry, Uart. I'm nfrald I'vo known It, but It wns too Into to to do anything. I'm Horry, oh', so Borry. Can't wo bo Just very good .friends' as we've always been?" IIo moved restlessly. "Thiit's the trouble. I'm Just a person you've grown used to and now you can't as Hoclnto mo with love. If I'd como 'along a stranger and gono at It right I believe I could have won you. Llko Clark Latshaw," ho added. "Uart I" "I'm1 right moro or less," recklessly. "You've been a different person slnco he came and maybe you don't know It, little girl, but I said good-by to my ihnnccs utter I saw his valet and French cur." "You're saying horrid things things you've no right to say. I think we'd better go back." "Forglvo me, Aleen. I'm a brute. It's all right, little, girl. Forget what I've said and forgive If you can. I want you to be happy, that's sum. Only remember this, Aleen, If you ever need me I'm ready for a homo run every ev-ery time. Promise!" "I promise on ono condition." "Yes?" "That you'll do tho same 1" "A mini never needs help from a woman." "He may. Promise nny way. Ito-member Ito-member jou'ro my best friend, Hurt." "All right. I promise." T A few days Inter Aleen was returning return-ing from tho lake to open thu city house for the family. With her on thu Pullman was Clark Latbhuw, who found that he, was suddenly called to New York on tho sumo day. Aleen had wotrled about Uart, nnd his reinnrk about Clark had set her to thinking. Could It be possible that she did care for his money? But an hour of coin er.su t Ion on tho train opened her ejes nnd It brought relief. "No, It's not his money I like," bhe decided, "It's his mind. I'd no Idea be knew so much uud could tulk of so many things." So she banished dull care and settled set-tled herself to enjoy tho rest of tho ride. Clark wns cnlllng her attention to a cloud effect nrouud u mountain peak, like fluffy ulilto plumes nrouud a purple-cocked hot, whetl Uio done of the stateroom at the end of cur opened and they heard a bnby cry. A quick frown of niiuoyunco crossed Clark's face. "I wish they'd shut that door," he Mild, us the walling kept up and blioued no signs of diminishing. "Poor Httlo thing I" Aleen couldn't help saying. "It bound llko Just u little bit of a thlug. I Imagine It's hard traveling with babies!" And then uppenred the tiny offender In the arms of n very red und, wild-looking wild-looking man. mi, "Hurt!" cried Aleen In sympathetic surprise, while n smllo of annoyed amusement uppenred on Clnrk's fuce. Hart did not see them ut first, but started to pace tho aisle with thq frantic fran-tic air of u person who, having, done all he can with the head, throws reason rea-son to the winds und uses his feet Instead. In-stead. "Of nil fool things 1" declared Clark. 'Let him alone. Why doesn't hq tnko It buck and shut the door? Where's Its mother?" "I think It's his sister's bnby. It's very new nnd I cun't understand!" puzzled Aleen. The cries were coming nearer. Aleen sprang up und met the disturbers lu tho aisle on their return trip. "C5le me thu buby, LIurt," she commanded. com-manded. "No, thank you. I'll not trouble you," he said. Clnrk's disapproving, half-mocking half-mocking faco nettled him, and It stung him to seo them together. She held out her arms. "Iiut you promised," she reminded him sweetly. He thought an Instant. "There are times n man needs a woman's help," came back to him. Ho dumped tho crying buudlo of pink uud whlto luto her arms with relief. "It's sister's youngster. Sho's sick nnd they'ro sending tho baby to a specialist spe-cialist for something or other. Just at train time his nurse hud somebody die and sho couldn't come. There wns nobody but mo to bring him, so I Jumped In and came; but I don't know much about babies. It's It's nwfully good of you." Aleen In tho Instant before sho took the baby had n comprehensive gllmpso of tho two men. Hart big, bojlsh, awkward and tousled nnd smelling htrongly of sour milk, but with It all tenderness and pity In his fuco for tho little mlto ho held; Clurk Immaculate, Im-maculate, brilliant and his faco set In linrd disapproving lines, petulunt over n spoiled day. . "I think I'll hfivo n cigar, If you will excuse me," begged tho latter, us ho retrented to tho smoker. t Aleen noon had tho baby quiet nnd nslerp In her arms In tho stntcrpoiu, -Hurt looked In to sqo If ho could bo of any help. j "Yes, como In," sho said softly. p "What Is tt?" ho whispered. V "Forget what I said Uio other day, Hurt, und" I ' "Yes go on, Aleen, for heaven's sake!' . "Tell mo what you. did all over again." ' "I love you," ho breathed. "And I love you, Hnrt, denrly." Copyright, 191C, by.thfl McClure New paper Hyndlcate.) t |
