Show I 1 the DIM LANTERN I 1 L ANT RN by amy TEMPLE BAILEY IRAI LEY 0 PENN publishing COMPANY SERVICE 1 CHAPTER X continued 16 the thing for you and del he really loves fine stock and you and he think of it riding aidina over the country planning your gardens having a baby or two edith was going very fast it sounds heavenly said lucy then make it heaven oh lucy lucy you lucky girl you are going to marry the man you love live away from the world share happiness and unhappiness she rose from the table restlessly pushing back her chair dropping her napkin on the floor do you know how I 1 envy you she went to the window and stood looking out and here I 1 sit day after day like a prisoner in a tower and my page sings that was the beginning of it and it will be the end no lucy was very serious you let it be the end you you must open the window miss i towne edith came back to the table open fihe the window her breath came fast open the window oh little lucy how wise you are 1 when lucy had gone alice came in and dressed editha hair she found her lady thoughtful abife alife alice what did they do with my wedding clothes we put them all in the second guest suite she said some of them we left packed in the trunks just as they were and some of them are hung on racks where is the wedding dress in a closet in a white linen bag well finish my hair and we will go and look at it As they entered it the second guest suite was heavy with the scent of orange blooms how dreadful alice edith ejaculated W why hy you throw the flowers away miss annabel let me she said you might not want things touched giuy silly sentimentality edith was impatient the room was in all the gloom of drawn curtains the dresses hung on racks and encased in white bags gave a ghostly effect they are like rows of tombstones alice yes miss towne said alice dutifully the maid brought out the wedding dress and laid it on the bed edith surveying it was stung by 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 s 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 humiliation and now all her anger was gone she hate del she hate lucy she even thought of uncle fred with charity and the wedding gown was after all a robe for a princess who married a king not a robe for a princess who loved a page A tender smile softened her face alice she said suddenly there a little heliotrope dinner frock among my trousseau things yes miss towne informal alice hunted in the third row of tombstones until she found it 1 I want 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 hands as she held it up there a prettier one in the whole lot miss edith edith having dispatched the box with a charming note to lucy logan had a feeling of ecstatic freedom all the hurt and humiliation of the bridal episode had departed she care what the world thought of her her desertion by del had been material for a days gossip then other things had filled the papers had been headlined and emphasized and what difference did it all make CHAPTER XI the day after christmas baldy bald y darling the operation is over and the doctor gives us hope that is the best I 1 can tell you I 1 been allowed to see judy though they have let bob have a peep at her and she smiled give my iny love to everybody I 1 h have ave had christmas letters from evans and edith and mr towne baldy mr towns towne wants to marry me I 1 told you before it is rather like a dream and im not going to t think hink about it I 1 dont love him and so of course that settles it but he says he can make me and baldy sometimes I 1 wish that he could it would be such a heavenly thing for the whole family of course that the way to look at it but I 1 believe judy wants it she believes in love in a cottage but she says that love in a palace might be equally satisfying with fewer things to worry about somehow that fit in with the things thinas ive dreamed but dreams of course arent everything 1 I 1 had to tell you dear old boy because weve never kept things from each other and youve been so perfectly frank about edith are things a bit blue in that direction f your letter sounded like it be good to yourself old dear and love me more than ever jane signed her name and stood up stretching her arms above her head it was late and she was very tired A great storm was shaking the windows the wind from the lake beat against the walls with the boom of guns she waleed the floor a tense little figure fighting against fear the storm had become a whistling pandemonium dem she gave a cry of relief when the door opened and her brother in law entered im half frozen janey it was a fight to get through the cars p r ayrl cant you trust the maids are stopped on all the surface lines 10 how is judy holding her own and by the way janey that friend of yours towne sent another bunch of roses pretty fine I 1 call it ashes no end pleased its nice of him gee I 1 wish I 1 bad his money money everything bobby it means a lot at a time like this his face wore a worried frown jane knew that audys hospital expenses were appalling and bills were piling up 1 I work like a slave bob said ruefully and weve never been 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 fear in his eyes jane she mu must t get well I 1 cant face losing her of we think of that and now come on out in the kitchen and ill make you some coff coffee ee t jane was always practical she knew that warmed and fed he would see things differently yet in spite of her philosophy jane lay awake a long time that night and later her dreams were of judy of judy and a gray and dreadful phantom which pursued the next day she went to the hospital and took junior w with ith her when he saw his mother in bed junior asked do you like it moth er dear like what darling sleeping in the daytime 1 I dont always sleep she looked at jane does little julia miss me I 1 think about her in the night jane knew what audys heart wanted she does miss you I 1 know it when she turns away from me perhaps I 1 to tell you but I 1 thought rather know ow 1 I do want to know said judy feverishly 1 I dont want them to forget jane you ever let 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 sure of getting well judy with her brown eyes wistful went on junior do you want mother back in your own nice house will you make cookies yes darling then I 1 want you back aunt janey made cookies and she know about the raisins mother knows how to give cook ie men raisin eyes mothers know a lot of things that aunties qunties dont darling well I 1 wish come back he stood by the side of the bed id like to sleep with yo you u tonight may 1 I mother dear not tonight darling but you may when 1 I come home but days passed and weeks and judy did not come home and the first of february found her still in that narrow hospital bed and it was in february that frederick towne wrote that he was coming to chicago 1 I shall have only a day but I 1 must see you the next time she went to the hospital she told judy of his expected arrival tomorrow oh jane how delightful Is it im not sure judy it would be perfect if accept him jane but im not in love with him bob and I 1 were talking about it audys voice was almost painfully eager of how splendid it wo would uld be for all of us for all of ofus I 1 us judy and bob and the babies it was the first time that jane had thought of her marriage with towne as a way out for judy and bob from his hotel at the moment of arrival towne called jane up are you glad im here of course dont say it that way how shall I 1 say it As if you meant it do you know what a frigid little thing you are your letters were like frosted cakes she laughed they were the best I 1 could do 1 I dont believe it but I 1 am not going to talk of that now when can I 1 come and see you and how much time have you to spare for me not much I 1 cant leave the babies your sisters children cant you trust the maids maids listen to the man we any you dont mean mead to tell me that you are doing the housework yes why not dot I 1 am strong and well and the kiddies are adorable we are going to change that ill bring a trained nurse up with me please dont be a tyrant pl tut tut little girl she heard his big laugh over the telephone aifili ill bring the nurse and someone to help her and a load of toys to keep the kiddies quiet when I 1 want a thing jane I 1 usually get it he and the nurse arrived together A competent was to follow in a cab jane protested it seems dreadfully highhanded high handed I 1 they were alone in the living room miss martin had at once carried carrid the kiddies off to unpack the toys F rederick frederick laughed well what are you going to do about ii it you cant put me out but I 1 can refuse to go with you there was the crisp note in her voice which always stirred him but you wont do that jane he held out his hand to her drew her a little to wards towards him she released herself flushing 1 I do am not qui quite t e sure what I 1 ought to why think of we win will just play a bit together aether ee ther jane all and youre such a tired little girl arent you his sympathy was comforting everybody er leaned on jane it was delightful to shift her burdens to this strong man who gave his commands like a king yes I 1 am tired and if t the i e b babies a b le s will be all right soon they were dining in a charming french restaurant the waiter with the first course interrupted them when he once more disappeared frederick persisted im going away tomorrow wont you give me my answer tonight after lunch ill take you home and you can rest a bit and then ill come for you and well dine together and see a play she tried to protest but he pleaded this is my day dont spoil it jane it was nearly three when they left the table and they had a long drive before them darkness had descended when they reached the house it was still snowing bob was upstairs walking around the little room like a man in a dream 1 I cant tell you he confided to jane after frederick had left how queer I 1 felt when I 1 came in and found miss martin with the babies and that stately old woman in the kitchen and everything going like clockwork miss martin explained and well towne just waves a wand he janey and makes things happen 1 I dont know that I 1 ought to let him do so much jane said oh why not janey just take the good the gods provide 11 before frederick towne reached his hotel he passed a shop whose windows were lighted against the early darkness in one of the windows flanked by slippers and stockings and a fan to match was a french gown all silver and faint blue a shining wisp of a thing in lace and satin towne stopped the car went in and bought the gown with its matching accessories he carried the big box with him to his hotel resting a bit before dinner he permitted himself to dream of jane in that gown the pearls that he would give her against the white of her slender throat the slim bareness of her arms the swirl of a silver lace about her ankles the swing of the boyish figure in its sheath of blue he wondered if he offered it to jane would she accept he knew she adelaide would woul d have made no bones about it there had been a lovely thing in black velvet he had given her too a wrap to match the evening stretched ahead of him full of radiant promise he knew janes strength but he was ready for conquest his telephone rang and jane spoke to him mr towns towne she said 1 I cant dine with you but can you come over later judy is desperately in ill ill tell you more about it when I 1 see you bob had cried when the news came from the hospital it had been dreadful jane had never seen a man cry they had been hard sobs with broken apologies between im a fool to act like this jane had tried to say things then had sat silent and uncomfortable while bob fought for self control miss martin had gone home before the message arrived bob was told that he could not see his wife but the surgeon would be glad to talk to him at eight and I 1 know what hell say bob had said to jane drearily that it if I 1 can get that specialist up from hot springs he may be able to diagnose the trouble but how am I 1 going to get the money janey it win will cost a thousand dollars to rush him here and pay his fee and my income has practically stopped with all these labor troubles theres no building and audys nurses cost twelve dollars a day and her room five oh poor people any right to be sick janey there isn t any place for them jan janes es face was pale and looked pinched theres the check baldy sent me for christmas afif fifty ty do dollars 1 lt dear girl it ant be a drop in in the bucket TO BE CONTINUED |