The Second Violin

he wore his working clothes. He glanced down at them now with an expression of extreme distaste, then from Celia

on't appreciate the privilege of wearing clean lin

at's been the part that has tried your soul, hasn'

hat my wonderful dignity is compromised by my occupation. Better men than

a standing in the door to wave a h

these months in the shops have meant to him. It isn't as if he were training for one of the engineering specialties, and were

ere's nothing Doctor Churchill can't do in the way of repairing; and when I told that to Uncle Ray he said that all good surgeons needed to be born mechanics, and usually were.

family from their beds, early hours having now

vine-covered back porch. The breakfast work and the bed-making were over, the kitchen was

taken the baby around the corner to a pretty park, where the two spent long hours no

r arms above her head,

And how little I realised all the cares that were always on mother! Oh, if it were only time for them

along the little path which led diagonally from the back of the Birch premises through a gateway and off toward a back str

head, with hand pressed to the forehead, did not suggest her brother. At the next instant the man lifted a w

stain. As she put her arm about him he smiled wanly down at her, murmuring, "Thought I couldn't

shoulder as they crossed the threshold of Doctor Churchill's little office, C

Lanse yielded, none too soon. His face had lost all colour by the time he had stretch

ll; then, as nobody appeared, she explored the

memorandum on the doctor's desk: "Out. Return 10:30 A.M."

ught not to lie there with the bleeding unchecked. She went to the door of the small private office; her eyes fe

s of cotton, she laid one on each side of the wound, forcing the edges together. After a little experimenting she found

without speaking, but she did not lighten h

hen I press this way, and I'm sure that's better for you. The docto

n, not only from the pressure upon the wound, but

the clock, her hands neve

be up and father and mother come back to find us

his watch, and noting that he was fifteen minutes later than he had ex

otte! What'

hit at the shop--wrench slipped out of

ctor answered, surv

ed the character and extent of the inju

please, Miss Charlotte, while I make things rea

office. "I've got to hurt you quite a bit," he said to his patient. "I don't want t

hat he had counted on--her help. "

, with arms, surgically c

s sister's hands on the sides of his head never varied, and her eyes watched the doctor's rapid movements with absorbed attention. Doct

worker seemed never at a loss what to do, that his touch was as light as it was practised, and that his eyes were full of keen interest in his work. At length Do

the doctor, as he helped his patient back to a couch. "It took pl

for his company so I slipped out. It was farther home than I thought," Lanse

front porch behind the vines strikes me as a restf

ves. The doctor came over to see him after supper, and found him in a high state of restlessness. He got him to bed, stayed with him until he fell into an uneasy slu

rather have Celia with him, and I was sure she wanted to t

still in that hammock; let me fix the pillows a bit. Yes, do, please. Do you know i

ctor Chu

you've assumed. And I suspect, besides the cares, you kee

for a few feet at the end nearest the door. She had been working harder than ever all the spring over her designs for Chrystler & Company, and

-the drone--and I've not yet learned to work in the quiet way my sister does, which accomplishes so much without any fuss. Now that she can ge

ish-washing and dinner-getting and baby-tending were me

taken at one's own estimate," she admitted. "I confess

after an instant's silence, "you g

Ho

ou stood by y

, astonished. "But I

ld steady. Those are the hardest things

. You didn't know that, but I did. And I do

. I think sometimes--do

m in the darkness. Praise is alw

d stand by a friend

e answered, low and honestly, "If he were

he same loyal

d I sh

ngs definite. I don't like to say to myself, 'I think that man is my friend--I'm sure he is--he shows it.' No, I want him to say so--to shake h

hard. She knew already that Doctor Churchill was the warm friend of the family. Could he mean to single her

ut her hand, and he could see that she was looking steadily up at

he said, eagerly

harlotte fancied he might have gras

oonlight?" he asked, happily. "Just up and down

r told his companion about several interesting cases he had among the children, and of one little crippled boy upon whom he had recently operated. The gir

e were saying good-night at the foot of the s

ient quiet?

e mutters in

t blow; but I don't anticipate serious trouble. Let Jeff sleep

s. "It's strange," she said, "for I know Lanse isn't badly hurt, but

ay," said Charlotte, with her

"But just remember that though they were on the other side of the world to stay f

e-wheels rapidly rounding the corner and coming toward them made all three turn to look. The carriage came on

Celia. "Nobody has writt

t couldn't be--Celia

d toward them as if trying to make sure who they were, then waved its arm. The familiar

ager cries of "Mother!" and beheld the second occupant of the carriage fairly dragged out, to be smothered in two pairs of impetuous young ar

oman, no longer young, but beautiful with the beauty which neve

now, for she's not much more than a child, and I wouldn't ask too much too soon. But some da