 6 Miss Marilla tiptoed softly up the hall and listened at the door of the spare bedroom. It was time her soldier boy woke up and had some dinner. She had a beautiful little treat for him today, chicken broth with rice and some bits of tender breast meat on toast, with a quivering spoonful of current jelly. It was very still in the spare room, so that a falling coal from the grate of the Franklin heater made a hollow sound when it fell into the pan below. If the boy was asleep she could usually tell by his regular breathing, but though she listened with a keen ear she could not hear it today. Perhaps he was awake, sitting up. She pushed the door open and looked in. Why, the bed was empty. She glanced around the room, and it was empty too. She passed her hand across her eyes as if they had deceived her and went over to look at the bed. Surely he must be there somewhere, and then she saw the note. Dear wonderful little mother. Her eyes were too blurred with quick tears and apprehension to read any further. Mother, he had called her that. She could never feel quite alone in the world again. But where was he? She took the corner of her white apron and wiped the tears away vigorously to finish the note. Then without pausing to think, and even in the midst of her great gasp of apprehension, she turned swiftly and went downstairs, out the front door, across the frozen lawn, and through the hedge to Mary Amber's house. Mary, Mary Amber! She called as she panted up the steps, the note grasped tightly in her trembling hand. She hoped, oh, she hoped Mary Amber's mother would not come to the door and ask questions. Mary's mother was so sensible, and Miss Marilla always felt as if Mrs. Amber disapproved of her, just a little whenever she was doing anything for anybody. Not that Mary Amber's mother was not kind herself to people, but she was always so very sensible in her kindness, and did things in the regular way, and wasn't impulsive like Miss Marilla. But Mary Amber herself came to the door with pleasant forgetfulness of her old friend's recent coolness, and tried to draw her into the hall. This Miss Marilla firmly declined, however. She threw her apron over her head and shoulders as a concession to Mary's fears for her health, and broke out. Oh, don't talk about me, Mary. Talk about him. He's gone. I thought he was asleep, and I went up to see if he was ready for his dinner, and he's gone, and he's sick, Mary. He's not able to stand up. Why, he's had a fever. It was a hundred and three for two days, and only got down to below normal this morning for the first time. He isn't fit to be out, either, and that little thin uniform with no overcoat. The tears were streaming down Miss Marilla's sweet dressed-in-china face, and Mary Amber's heart was touched in spite of herself. She came and put her arm around Miss Marilla's shoulder, and drew her down the steps and over to her own home, closing the door carefully first so her mother needn't be troubled about it. Mary Amber always had tact when she wanted to use it. Where was he going, dear, she asked sympathetically, with a view to making out a good case for the soldier, without Miss Marilla's bothering further about him. I don't, don't know, sobbed Miss Marilla. He just thought he ought not to stay and bother me, here, see his note. Well, I'm glad he had some sense, said Mary Amber with satisfaction. He was perfectly right about not staying to bother you. She took the little crumpled note and smoothed it out. Oh, my dear, you don't understand, sobbed Miss Marilla. He's been such a good, dear boy, and so ashamed he had troubled me, and really, Mary, he'll not be able to stand it, why, you ought to see how little clothes he had, so thin and cotton underwear. I washed them and mended them, but he ought to have an overcoat. Oh, well, he'll go to the city and get something warm and go to a hospital if he falls sick, said Mary Amber comfortably. I wouldn't worry about him, he's a soldier, he stood lots worse things than a little cold, he'll look out for himself. Don't, said Miss Marilla fiercely, don't say that, Mary, you don't understand, he is sick, and he's all the soldier boy I've got. He can't be gone very far, and he really isn't able to walk, he's weak, I just can't stand it to have him go this way. Mary Amber looked at her with a curious light in her eyes. And yet, Auntie Rill, you know it was fine of him to do it, she said, with a dancing dimple in the corner of her mouth. Well, I see what you want, and much as I hate to, I'll take my car and scour the country for him. What time did you say he left? Oh, Mary Amber, Miss Marilla smiled through her tears. You're a good girl, I knew you'd help me, I'm sure you can find him if you try. He can't have been gone over an hour, not much, for I've only fixed the chicken and put my bread in the pan since I left him. I suppose he went back to the village, but there hasn't been any train since ten, and you say he was still there at ten. He's likely waiting at the station for the twelve o'clock, I'll speed up and get there before it comes. I have fifteen minutes, I, glancing at her wrist watch. I guess I can make it. I'm not so sure he went that way, said Miss Marilla, looking up the road past Mary Amber's house. He was on his way up that way when, and then Miss Marilla suddenly shut her mouth and did not finish the sentence. Mary Amber gave her another curious discerning look and nodded brightly. You go in and get warm, Auntie Rill, leave that soldier to me, I'll bring him home. Then she sped back through the hedge to the little garage, and in a few minutes was speeding down the road toward the station. Miss Marilla watched her in troubled silence, and then, putting on her cape that always hung handy by the hall door, walked a little distance up the road, straining her old eyes but seeing nothing. Finally, in despair, she turned back, and presently just as she reached her own steps again, she saw Mary's car come flying back with only Mary in it, but Mary did not stop nor even look toward the house. She sped on up the road this time, and the purring of the engine was sweet music to Miss Marilla's ears. Dear Mary Amber, how she loved her. The big blue soldier, cold to the soul of him and full of pain that reminded him of the long horror of the war, was still sitting by the roadside with his head in his hands when Mary Amber's car came flying down the road. She stopped before him with a little triumphant purr of the engine, so close to him that it roused him from his lethargy to look up. I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself running away from Miss Marilla like this and making her worry herself sick. Mary Amber's voice was as keen as icicles, and the words went through him like red hot needles. He straightened up, and the light of battle came back to his eyes. This was girl again, his enemy, his firm upper lip moved sensitively and came down straight and strong against the lower one, showing the nice line of character that made his mouth beautiful. Thank you, he said coldly. I'm only ashamed that I stayed so long. His tone further added that he did not know what business of hers it was. Well she sent me for you, and you'll please to get in quickly, for she's very much worked up about you. Mary Amber's tone stated that she herself was not in the least worked up about a great hulking soldier that would let a woman wait on him for several days hand and foot, and then run away when her back was turned. Kindly tell her that I am sorry I troubled her, but that it is not possible for me to return at present. He answered stiffly. I came down to send a business telegram, and I am waiting for an answer. A sudden shiver seized him and rippled involuntarily over his big frame. Mary Amber was eyeing him contemptuously, but a light of pity stolen to her eyes as she saw him shiver. You are cold, said Mary Amber, as if she were charging him with an offense. Well that's not strange as it. On a day like this, I haven't made connections yet with an overcoat and gloves, that's all. Look here, if you are cold you've simply got to get into this car and let me take you back to Miss Marilla. You'll catch your death of cold sitting there like that. Well I may be cold, but I don't have to let you take me anywhere. When I get ready to go, I'll walk, as for catching my death of cold, that's strictly my own affair. There's nobody in the world would care if I did. The soldier had blue lights like steel in his eyes, and his mouth looked very soldier-like indeed. His whole manner showed there wasn't the least use in the world trying to argue with him. Mary Amber eyed him with increasing interest and thoughtfulness. You are mistaken, she said grudgingly. There's one, there's Miss Marilla, she's like that, and she hasn't much to care for in the world either, which makes it all the worse what you've done, oh I don't see how you could deceive her. Deceive her, said the astonished soldier. I never deceived her. Why, you let her think you were Dick Chadwick, her nephew, and you know you're not. I knew you weren't the minute I saw you, even before I found Dick's telegram in the stove saying he couldn't come, and then I asked you a lot of questions to find out for sure, and you couldn't answer one of them right. Her eyes were sparkling and there was an eager look in her face, like an appeal, almost as if she wanted him to prove what she was saying was not true. No, I'm not Dick Chadwick, said the young man with fine dignity, but I never deceived Miss Marilla. Well, who did then? There was disappointment and unbelief in Mary Amber's voice. Nobody, she isn't deceived, it was she who tried to deceive you. What do you mean? I mean I guess she wanted you to think I was her nephew. She was mortified I guess because he didn't turn up and she didn't want you to know, so she asked me to dinner to fill in. I didn't know anybody was there till just as I was going in the door, then I had to go and get sick in the night and ruin the whole thing. I was a fool to give in to her of course and stay that night, but it did sound good to have a real night's sleep in a bed. I didn't think I was such a softie as to get out of my head and be on her hands like that, but you needn't worry, I intend to make it up to her fully, just as soon as I can lay my hands on some funds. He suddenly broke into a fit of coughing, so hoarse and croopy as to alarm even Mary Amber's cool contempt. She reached back in the car and grasping a big fur coat sprung out on the hard ground and through the coat about him, tucking it around his neck and trying to fasten a button under his chin against his violent protest. You're very kind, he gasped loftily as soon as he could recover his breath, but I can't put that on and I'm going down to the telegraph office now to see if my wire has come yet. Look here, said Mary Amber in quite a different tone. I'm sorry I was so suspicious, I see I didn't understand, I ask your pardon, and won't you please put on this coat and get into this car and let me take you home quick, I'm really very much troubled about you. The soldier looked up in surprise at the gentleness, and almost his heart melted, the snarly look about his mouth and eyes disappeared, and he seemed a bit confused. Thank you, he said simply, I appreciate that, but I can't let you help me, you know. Oh please, she said, a kind of little girl alarm springing into her eyes. I won't know what to say to Miss Marilla, I promised her to bring you back, you know. His eyes and lips were hardening again. She saw he did not mean to yield, and Mary Amber was not used to being balked in her purposes. She glanced down the road, and a sudden light came into her eyes and brought a dimple of mischief into her cheek. You'll have to for my sake, she said hurriedly in a lower tone. There's a car coming with some people in it, I know, and they will think it awfully strange for me to be standing here on a lonely roadside talking to a strange soldier sitting on a log on a day like this, hurry. Leem and Gage glanced up, saw the car coming swiftly, saw too the dimple of mischief, but with an answering light of gallantry in his own eyes, he sprang up and helped her into the car. The effort brought on another fit of coughing, but as soon as he could speak he said, you can take me down to that little telegraph office if you please and drop me there, then nobody will think anything about it. I'll take you to the telegraph office if you'll be good and put that coat on right and button it, said Mary Amber commandingly, she had him in the car now, and she knew she could go so fast he could not get out. But I won't stop there unless you promise me on your honor as a soldier that you won't get out or make any more trouble about my taking you back to Miss Marilla. The soldier looked very bulky indeed, and his firm mouth got itself into fine shape again, till he looked into Mary Amber's eyes and saw the saucy beautiful lights there, and then he broke down laughing. Well you've caught me by guile, he said, and I guess we're about even, I'll go back and make Maya use myself to Miss Marilla. A little curve of satisfaction settled about Mary Amber's mouth. Put that coat on please, she said, and the soldier put it on gratefully, he was beginning to feel a reaction from his battle with Mary Amber, and now that he was defeated, the coat seemed most desirable. Don't you think it would be a good idea if you would tell me who you really are? Asked Mary Amber, it might save some embarrassment. Why certainly, said the soldier in surprise. It hadn't occurred to me, that's all, I'm Leman Gage of Chicago. He named also his rank and regiment in the army, then looking at her curiously, he said hesitating. I'm perfectly respectable, you know. I don't really make a practice of going around sponging on unprotected ladies. Her cheeks flamed a gorgeous scarlet, and her eyes looked rebuked. I suppose I ought to apologize, she said, but really, you know it looked rather peculiar to me. She stopped suddenly, for he was seized with another fit of coughing, which had so shrill a sound that she involuntarily turned to look at him with anxious eyes. I suppose it did look strange, he managed to say at last. But, you know, that day when I came in, I didn't care a hang. He dropped his head weirdly against the car and closed his eyes for just a second, as if keeping them open was a great effort. You're all in now, she said sharply, and you're shivering, you ought to be in bed this minute. Her voice held deep concern. Whereas that telegraph office will just leave word for them to forward the message if it hasn't come, and then we'll fly back. Oh, I must wait for that message, he said, straightening up with a hoarse effort and opening his eyes sharply. It is really imperative. She stopped the car in front of the telegraph office, the little operator sensing a romance, scuttled out the door with an envelope in her hand and a different look on her face from the one she had worn when she went to her lunch. To tell the truth she had not much faith in that soldier nor in the message he had sent collect. She hadn't believed any answer would come, or at least a favorable one. Now she hurried across the pavement to the car, studying Mary Amber's red tam as she talked and wondering whether she could make one like it out of the red lining of an old army cape she had. Your messages come, she announced affably. Come just after I got back, and I got your check all made out for ya. You sign here, see? Got anybody to identify ya? Ain't necessary, see? I can waive identification. I can identify him, spoke up Mary Amber with cool dignity, and the soldier looked at her wonderingly. That was a very different tone from the one she had used when she came after him. After all, what did Mary Amber know about him? He looked at the check half-wonderingly, as if it were not real. His head felt very strange. The words of the message seemed all jumbled. He crumpled it in his hand. Ain't ya going to send an answer? Put in the little operator aggrievedly, hugging the thin muslin sleeve of her little soiled shirt waist to keep from shivering. He says to wire him immediately. He says it's important. I guess he didn't take notice to the message. The soldier tried to smooth out the crumpled paper with his numb fingers, and Mary Amber, seeing that he was feeling very miserable, took it from him and capably put it before him. I'm sending you a thousand. Wire me your post office address immediately. Good news, important, signed Arthur J. Watkins. I guess I can't answer that now, said the soldier, trying his best to keep his teeth from chattering. I don't just know. Here I'll write it for you, said Mary with sudden understanding. You better have it sent in Aunt Real's care, and then you can have it forward at anywhere you know. I'll write it for you, and she took a silver pencil from the pocket of her coat and wrote the telegram rapidly on a corner she tore from the first message, handing it out for his inspection and then passing it on to the operator who gathered it in capably. Send this collect, too, I suppose. She called after the car as it departed. Yes, all right, anything, answered Lehman Gage, weirdly sinking back in the seat. It doesn't matter anyway. You are sick, said Mary Amber anxiously, and we are going to get right home. Miss Marilla will be wild. The soldier sat up, holding his precious check. I'll have to ask you to let me out, he said, trying to be dignified under the heavy stupor of weariness that was creeping over him. I've got to get to a bank. Oh, must you today? Couldn't we wait till tomorrow or till you feel better, said Mary anxiously. No, I must go now, he insisted doggedly. Well, there's a bank on the next corner, she said, and it must be about closing time. She shoved her sleeve back and glanced at her watch. Just five minutes of three, we'll stop but she'll promise to hurry, won't you? I want to get you home, I'm worried about you. Lehman Gage cast her another of those wondering looks like a child unused to kindness suddenly being spoiled. It made her feel as if she wanted to cry. All the mother in her came to her eyes, she drew up in front of the bank and got out after him. I'll go in with you, she said. They know me over here and it may save you trouble. You're very kind, he said almost curtly. I dislike to make you so much trouble. Perhaps it was owing to Mary's presence that the transaction went through without question and in a few minutes more they were back in the car again, Mary tucking in her big patient fuzzly. You're going to put this around your neck, she said, drawing a bright woolly scarf from her capacious coat pocket and around your head, she added, drawing a fold comfortingly around his ears and the back of his head and keep it over your nose and mouth, breathe through it, don't let this cold air get into your lungs. She finished with a business like air as if she were a nurse. She drew the ends of the scarf around, completely hiding everything but his eyes and tucked the ends into the neck of the fur coat. Then she produced another blanket from some region beneath her feet and tucked that carefully around him. It was wonderful being taken care of in this way. If he only had not been so cold, so tired and so sore all over he could have enjoyed it. The scarf had a delicate aroma of spring and violets, something that reminded him of pleasant things in the past but it all seemed like a dream. They were skimming along over the road up which he had come at so laborious a pace and the icy wind cut his eyeballs. He closed his eyes and a hot curtain seemed to shut him out from a weary world. Almost he seemed to be spinning away into space. He tried to open his mouth under the woolen fragrance and speak but his companion ordered him sharply to be still till he got where it was warm and a sharp cough like a knife caught him. So he sank back again into the perfumed silence of the fierce heat and cold that seemed to be raging through his body and continued the struggle to keep from drifting into space. It did not seem quite gallant or gentlemanly to say nothing nor soldierly to drift away like that when she was being so kind. And then a curious memory of the other girl drifted around in the frost of his breath mockingly as if she were laughing at his situation almost as if she had put him there and was glad. He tried to shake this off by opening his eyes and concentrating them on Mary Amber as she sat sternly at her wheel, driving her little machine for all it was worth, her eyes anxious and the flush on her cheek bright and glowing. The fancy came to him that she was in league with him against the other girl. He knew it was foolish and he tried to drive the idea away but it stayed till she passed her own hedge and stopped the car at Miss Marilla's gate. Then it seemed to clear away and common sense reigned for a few brief moments while he stumbled out of the car and staggered into Miss Marilla's parlor and into the warmth and cheer of that good woman's almost tearful affectionate welcome. I want you to take that, he said hoarsely, pressing into her hand the roll of bills he had got at the bank. And then he slid down into a big chair and everything whirled away again. Miss Marilla stood aghast looking at the money and then at the sick soldier till Mary Amber took command. He never remembered just what happened nor knew how he got upstairs and into the great warm kind bed again with hot broth being fed him and hot water bags in places needing them. He did not hear them call the doctor on the telephone nor know just when Mary Amber slipped away down to her car again and rode away. What Mary Amber knew this was the afternoon when the Perlingbrook Chronicle went to press and she had an item that must get in. Quite demurely she handed the envelope to the woman editor just as she was preparing to mail the last of her copy to the printer in the city. The item read, Miss Marilla Chadwick of Shirley Road is entertaining over the weekend Sergeant Lehman Gage of Chicago but just returned from France. Sergeant Gage is a member of the same division and came over in the same ship with Miss Chadwick's nephew, Lieutenant Richard Chadwick, of who mention has been made in a former number and has seen long and interesting service abroad. Mary Amber was back at the house almost before she had been missed and just as the doctor arrived, ready to serve in any capacity, whatever. Do you think I ought to introduce him to the doctor? Asked Miss Marilla of Mary in an undertone at the head of the stairs while the doctor was divesting himself of his big fur overcoat. She had a drawn and anxious look like one about to be found out in a crime. He doesn't look to me as if he were able to acknowledge the introduction, said Mary with a glance in at the spare bed where the young man lay sleeping heavily and breathing noisily. But ought I to tell him his name? That's all right, Auntie Rill, said Mary easily. I told him his name was Gage when I phoned and said he was in the same division with your nephew, it isn't necessary for you to say anything about it. Miss Marilla paused and eyed Mary strangely with a frightened appealing look and then with growing relief. So Mary knew, she sighed and turned back to the sick room with a comforted expression growing round her mouth. But the comforted expression changed once more to anxiety and self was forgotten utterly when Miss Marilla began to watch the doctor's face as the examination progressed. What has this young man been doing? He growled rising from a position on his knees where he had been listening to the soldier's breathing with an ever increasing frown. Miss Marilla looked at Mary quite frightened and Mary stepped into the breach. He had a heavy cold when he came here and Miss Chadwick nursed him and he was doing nicely but he ran away this morning. He had some business to attend to and slipped away before anybody could stop him. He got very much chilled I think. I should say he did, exclaimed the doctor. Young fool, I suppose he thought he could stand anything because he went through the war. Well, he'll get his now, he's in for pneumonia. I'm sorry Miss Chadwick, but I'm afraid you've got a bad case on your hands. Would you like to have me phone for an ambulance and get him to the hospital? I think it can be done at once with a minimum of risk. Oh no, no, said Miss Marilla, clasping one pale hand and then the other nervously. I couldn't think of that, at least not unless you think it's necessary, not unless you think it's a risk to stay here. You see, he's my, that is, he's almost like my own nephew. She lifted appealing eyes. Oh, I beg your pardon, he said with a look of relief. In that case he's to be congratulated, but madam, you'll have your hands full before you are through. He's made a very bad start, a very bad start indeed. When these big husky fellows get sick, they do it thoroughly, you know. Now, if you'll just step over here, Miss Mary, I'll explain to you both about this medicine. Give this every half hour till I get back. I'll run up here again in about two hours. I've got to drive over to Plush Mills now to an accident case. But I'll be back as quick as I can. I want to watch this fellow pretty closely for the first few hours. When the doctor was gone, Mary Amber and Miss Marilla stood one on each side of the bed and looked at each other, making silent covenant together over the sick soldier. Now, said Mary Amber softly, I'm going down to the kitchen to look after things. You just sit here and watch him. I'll run over first to put the car away and tell mother I'll stay with you tonight. Oh, Mary Amber, you mustn't do that, said Miss Marilla anxiously. I never meant to get you into all this scrape. Your mother won't like it at all. I'll get along all right. And anyway, if I find I can't, I'll get Molly Poke to come and help me. Mother will be perfectly satisfied to have me help you in any way I can, said Mary Amber with a light in her eyes. And as for Molly Poke, if I can't look after you better than she can, I'll go and hide my head. You can get Molly Poke when I fail, but not till then. Now, Auntie Rill, go sit down in the rocking chair and rest. Didn't I tell you I'd help get that turkey dinner? Well, the dinner isn't over yet, that's all. And I owe the guest an apology for misjudging him. He's all right, and we've got to pull him through Auntie Rill, so here goes. Mary Amber gave Miss Marilla a loving squeeze and sped down the stairs. Miss Marilla sat down to listen to the heavy breathing of the six soldier and watched the long dark lashes on the sunken tanned cheeks. End of chapter six. Chapter seven of The Big Blue Soldier by Grace Livingston Hill. This sliverbox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Like Mini Waters. Chapter seven. For three weeks, the two women nursed Leem and Gage with now and then the help of Molly Poke in the kitchen. There were days when they came and went silently, looking at each other with stricken glances and then at the sick man with pity. And Mary Amber went and looked at the letter lying on the bureau and wondered whether she ought to telegraph that man who had sent the soldier the money that day. Another letter had arrived and then a telegram, all from Chicago. Then Mary Amber and Miss Marilla talked it over and decided to make some reply. By that time, the doctor had said that Leem and Gage would pull through and he had opened his eyes once or twice and smiled weakly upon them. Mary Amber went to the telegraph office and sent a message to the person in Chicago whose name was written at the left-hand corner of the envelopes. The same that had been signed to the first telegram. Leem and Gage very ill at my home, pneumonia, not able to read letters or telegram, slight improvement today. Signed Marilla Chadwick. Within three hours an answer arrived. Much distressed at news of Gage's illness cannot come on account of fractured bone, automobile accident, please keep me informed and let me know if there is anything I can do. Signed Arthur J. Watkins. Mary wrote a neat little note that night before she went on duty in the sick room stating the invalid had smiled twice that day and asked what day of the week it was. The doctor felt that he was on the high road to recovery now and there was nothing to do but be patient. They would show him his mail as soon as the doctor was willing which would probably be in a few days now. The day they gave Leem and Gage his mail to read the sun was shining on a new fall of snow and the air was crisp and clear. There were geraniums blossoming in the spare room windows between the sheer white curtains and the Franklin heater was glowing away and filling the place with a warmth of summer. The patient had been fed what he called a real breakfast, milk toast and a soft boiled egg and the sun was streaming over the foot of the bed cheerfully as if to welcome him back to life. He seemed so much stronger now that the doctor had given permission for him to be bolstered up with an extra pillow while he read his mail. He had not seemed anxious to read the mail nor at all curious even when they told him it was postmarked Chicago. Miss Marilla carried it to him as if she were bringing him a bouquet but Mary eyed him with curious misgiving. Perhaps after all there would not be good news. He seemed so very apathetic. She watched him furtively as she tidied the room putting away the soap and towels and pulling a dry leaf or two from the geraniums. He was so still and it took him so long to make up his mind to tear open the envelopes after he had them in his thin pale hand. It almost seemed as if he dreaded them like a blow and was trying to summon courage to meet them. Once as she looked at him his eyes met hers with a deprecatory smile and to cover her confusion she spoke impulsively. You don't seem deeply concerned about the news. She said brightly. He smiled again almost sadly. Well, no, he said thoughtfully. I can't say I am. There really isn't anything much left in which to be interested. You see about the worst things that could happen have happened and there's no chance for anything else. You can't always tell, said Mary Amber cheerfully as she finished dusting the bureau and took herself downstairs for his morning glass of milk and egg. Slowly Leem engage toward the envelope of the topmost letter and took out the written sheet. In truth he had little curiosity. It was likely an account of how his lawyer friend had paid back the money to Mr. Harrowar or else the details of the loan on the old Chicago house. Houses and loans and such things seemed far from his world just now. He was impatient for Mary Amber to come back with that milk and egg. Not so much for the milk and egg as for the comfort it gave and the cheeriness of her presence. Presently Miss Marilla would come up and tell over some little incident of Mary's childhood exactly as if he were Dick, the real nephew. And he liked it. Not that he liked Dick, the villain. He found himself hopelessly jealous of him sometimes. Yet he knew in a feeble far away sense that this was only a foolish foible of an invalid and he would get over it and laugh at himself when he got well. He smiled at the pleasantness of it all, this getting well business and then turned his indifferent attention to the letter. Dear Gage, it read, what in the world did you hide yourself away in that remote corner of the world for I've scoured the country to get trace of you without a single result till your telegram came. There's good news to tell you, the unexpected has happened and you are a rich man old fellow, don't let it turn your head for there's plenty of business to occupy you as soon as you are able to return. To make a long story short, the old tract of land in which you put all you had and a good deal more has come to the front in great shape at last. You will remember that the ore was found to be in such shape when they came to the mining of it and that it would cost fabulous sums for the initial operations and it fell through because your company couldn't afford to get the proper machinery. Well, the government has taken over the whole tract and is working it. I am enclosing the details on another paper and you will perceive when you have looked it over how very much you are needed at home just now to decide numerous questions that have taxed my ingenuity to the limit to know just what you would want done. There is a great deal of timber on those lands also, very valuable timber it seems. And that is another source of wealth for you. Oh, this war has been a great thing for you young man and you certainly ought to give extra thanks that you came out alive to enjoy it all. Properly managed your property ought to keep you on Easy Street for the rest of your life and then some. I took pains to let Mr. Harrow or know how the wind blew when I paid him the money you had borrowed from him. He certainly was one surprised man. Of course I don't speak officially but from what he said I should judge that this might make a big difference with Miss Eleanor so you'd better hurry home old man and get busy. The sun is shining and the war is over. Yours fraternally as well as officially Arthur J. Watkins. Over the first part of the letter Lehman Gage dallyed comfortably as he might have done with his grapefruit or the chicken on toast they had promised him for lunch. He had lost his sense of world values for the time being and just now a fortune was not more than a hot water bag when one's feet were cold. It merely gave him a sense that he needn't be in a hurry getting well and that he could take things easy because he could pay for everything and give his friends a good time after he was on his feet again. In short he was no longer a beggar on Miss Marilla's bounty with only a thousand dollars between him and debt or even the poor house. But when he came to that last paragraph his face suddenly hardened and into his eyes there came a glint of steel as of old. While his jaw set sternly and lines came around his mouth hard bitter lines. So it was that that had been the matter with Eleanor was it? She had not grown tired of him so much but had wanted more money than she thought he would be able to furnish for a long time. He stared off into the room not seeing its cozy details for the first time since he began to get well. He was looking at the vision of the past trying to conjure up a face whose loveliness had held for him no imperfections. He was looking at it clearly now as it rose dimly in vision against the gray of Miss Marilla's spare room wall. And for the first time he saw the spoiled underlip with the selfish droop at its corners the pout when she could not have her own way the frown of the delicate brows the patulent tapping of a dainty foot the proud lifted shoulder the haughty stare the cold tones and crushing contempt that were hers sometimes. Grace had seldom been for him and when he had seen them he had called them beautiful and had gloried in them full that he was why had he been so blind when there were girls in the world like well say like Mary Amber misjudging Eleanor well perhaps but somehow he did not believe he was something had cleared his vision. He began to remember things in Eleanor Harrow that he had never called by their true names before it appeared more than likely that Eleanor had deliberately left him for a richer man and that it was entirely possible under the changed circumstances that she might leave the richer man for him if he could prove he was the richer of the two. Bah, what a thing to get well to. Why did there have to be things like that in the world? Well it mattered very little to him what Eleanor did. It might make a difference with her but it would make no difference to him. There were things in that letter of hers that had cut too deep. He could never forget them, no never. Not even if she came crawling to his feet and begging him to come back to her. As for going back to Chicago, business be hanged. He was going to stay right here and get well. A smile melted out on his lips and comfort settled down about him as he heard Mary Amber step on the stairs and the soothing clink of the spoon in the glass of egg and milk. Good news asked Mary Amber as she shoved up the little serving table and prepared to administer the egg and milk. Oh, so so, he answered with a smile sweeping the letters away from him and looking at the foaming glass with eager eyes. Why you haven't opened them all? Mary Amber laughed. Oh, haven't I? He said impatiently sweeping them up and tearing them open wholesale with only a glance at each. Then throwing them back on the coverlet again. Nothing but the same old thing hounding me back to Chicago, he grinned. I'm having much too good a time to get well too fast, you may be sure. Somehow the room seemed cozier after that and his sleep the sweeter when he took his nap. He ate his chicken on toast slowly to prolong the happy time and he listened and smiled with deep relish at the little stories Miss Marilla told of Mary Amber's childhood. The gingerbread men with current eyes, the naughty Dick who stole them. This world he was in now was such a happy clean little world, so simple and so good. Oh, if he could have known a world like this earlier in his life, if only he could have been the hapless Dick in reality. Molly Polk was established in the kitchen downstairs now and Miss Marilla hovered over her anxiously leaving the entertaining of the invalid much to Mary Amber who wrote neat business letters for him telling his lawyer friend to do just as he pleased with everything till he got back and who read stories and bits of poems and played chess with him as soon as the doctor allowed. Oh, they were having a happy time, the three of them. Miss Marilla hovered over the two as if they had been her very own children and then one lovely winter afternoon when they were discussing how perhaps they might take the invalid out for a ride in the car someday next week. The fly dropped into the ointment. It was as lovely a fly as ever walked on tiny French heels and came in a limousine lined with gray duvetine and electrically heated and graced with hot house rose buds and a slender glass behind the chauffeur's right here. She picked her way daintily up the snowy walk, surveyed the house and grounds critically as far as the Amber hedge and rang the bell peremptorily. Miss Marilla went to the front door for Molly Poke was busy making cream puffs and couldn't stop. When she saw the little fly standing hotly on the porch, swathed in a gorgeous, small-skinned cloak with a voluminous collar of tailless ermine and a little toque made of coral velvet embroidered in silver. She thought right away of a spider, a very beautiful spider, it's true, but all the same a spider. And when the beautiful red lips opened and spoke, she thought so all the more. I have come to see Leem engage, she announced freezingly, looking at Miss Marilla with the glance one gives to a servant. Miss Marilla cast a frightened glance of discernment over the beautiful little face. For it was beautiful, there was no mistaking that, very perfectly beautiful, though it might have been only superficially so. Miss Marilla was not used to seeing skin that looked like soft rose leaves in baby perfection on a person of that age. Great baby eyes of blue set wide, with curling dark lashes, eyebrows that seemed drawn by a fairy brush, lips of such ruby red pout and a nose chiseled in warm marble. Peaches and cream floated through her startled mind and it never occurred to her that it was not natural. Oh, the vision was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. Miss Marilla closed the door and stood with her back to the stairs, a look of defiance upon her face. She had a fleeting thought of Mary and whether she ought to be protected. She had a spasm of fierce jealousy and a frenzy as to what she should do. You can step into the parlor. She said in a tone that she hoped was calm, although she knew it was not cordial. I'll go up and see if he's able to see you. He's been very sick, the doctor hasn't let him see any. She paused and eyed the girl defiantly. Any strangers? Oh, that'll be all right. The girl laughed with a disagreeable tinkle. I'm not a stranger, I'm only his fiance. But she pronounced fiance in a way that Miss Marilla didn't recognize at all and she looked at her hand. It wasn't wife anyway and it hadn't sounded like sister or cousin. Miss Marilla looked at the snip. That was what she began to call her in her mind and decided that she didn't want her to see Lehman Gage at all. But of course Lehman Gage must be the one to decide that. What did you say your name was? She asked bluntly. For an answer the girl brought out a ridiculous little silk bag with a clattering clasp and chain and took from it a tiny gold card case from which she handed Miss Marilla a card. Miss Marilla adjusted her spectacles and studied at a moment with one foot on the lower stairs. Well, she said reluctantly. She hasn't seen anyone yet but I'll go and find out if you can see him. You can sit in the parlor. She waved her hand again toward the open door and started upstairs. The blood was beating excitedly through her ears and her heart pounded in pitiful thuds. If this snip belonged to her soldier boy she was sure she could never mother him again. She wouldn't feel at home and her thoughts were so excited that she did not know that the fur-clad snip was following her clothes behind until she was actually within the spare bedroom and holding out the card to her boy with a trembling little withered rose leaf hand. The boy looked up with his wide pleasant smile like a benediction and reached out for the card interestedly. He caught the look of panic on Miss Marilla's face and the inscrutable one on Mary Ambers. Mary had heard the strange voice below and had arisen from her reading allowed to glance out the window. She now beat a precipitated retreat into the little sewing room just off the spare bedroom. Then Leem and Gage realized another presence in the room and looked beyond to the door where stood Eleanor Harrowar. Her big eyes watching him jealously from her swathing of gorgeous furs while he slowly took in the situation. It had been a common saying among his friends that no situation, however unexpected, ever found Leem and Gage off his guard or ever saw him give away his own emotions. Like lightning there flitted over his face now a sudden cloud like a curtain shutting out all that he had been the moment before. Putting under lock and seal any like or dislike he might be feeling allowing only the most cool courtesy to appear in his expression. Miss Marilla watching him like a cat could not tell whether he was glad or sorry, surprised or indignant or pleased. He seemed none of these. He glanced with cool indifference toward the lovely vision smiling in the doorway now ready to gush over him and a stern dignity grew in the set of his jaws but otherwise he did not seem to have changed and most casually as if he had seen her but the week before, he remarked. Oh, is that you Eleanor? Seems to me you have chosen a cold day to go out. Won't you sit down? He motioned toward a stiff little chair that stood against the wall though Mary Amber's rocker was still waving back and forth from her hasty retreat. Miss Marilla simply faded out of the room although Gage said politely, don't leave us please. But she was gone before the words were out of his mouth and with a sudden feeling of weakness he glanced around the room wildly and realized that Mary Amber was gone too. Mary Amber stood in the sewing room and wondered what she ought to do for the other door of the sewing room was closed and barred by a heavy iron bed that had been put up for convenience during the soldier's illness and the only spot that was long enough to hold it was straight across the hall door. Obviously Mary Amber could not get out of the sewing room without moving the bed and she knew by experience of making it every morning that it squeaked most unmercifully when it was moved. Neither could she go out through the spare room or she felt that her appearance would cause no end of explanations and equally of course she dared not shut the door because it would make a noise and call attention to her presence. So Mary Amber toed softly to the farthest end of the little room and stood rigidly silent trying not to listen yet all the more attuned and sensitive to whatever was going on in the next room. She fairly held her breath lest they should hear her and pressed her fingers upon her hot eyeballs as if that would shut out the sound. That's scarcely the way I expected you to meet me, Limey in the sweet wilt of Eleanor Harrowar's pampered voice. I was scarcely expecting you, you know, after what has happened. Came chillingly in Lehman Gage's voice a bit high and hollow for his illness and all the cooler for that. I couldn't stay away when I knew you were ill, Limey dear. The voice was honeyed sweet now. What had that to do with it? The tone was almost vicious. You wrote that we had grown apart and it was true. You are engaged to another man. Well, can't I change my mind? The tone was playful, kittenish. It smote Lehman Gage's memory that he had been want to call it teasing and enjoy it in her once upon a time. You've changed your mind once too often. The sick man's voice was tense in his weakness and his brow was dark. Why, Lehman Gage, I think you are horrid. Cried the girl with a hint of indignant tears in her voice. Here I come a long journey to see you when you're sick and you meet me that way and taunt me. It's not like you. You don't seem a bit glad to see me. Perhaps there's someone else. The voice had a taunt in it now and an assurance that expected to win out in the end, no matter to what she might have to descend to gain her point. But she had reckoned without knowledge, for Lehman Gage remembered the picture he had torn to bits in the dying light of the sunset and trampled in the road. Those same brilliant eyes, that soft-tinted cheek, those painted lips that had smiled impudently up at him that way as he had ground them beneath his heel. And this was girl, his natural enemy, who would play with him at her pleasure and toss him away when he was no longer profitable to her, expecting to find him ready at a word again when circumstances changed. He straightened up with sudden strength and caught her words with a kind of joyful triumph. Yes, there is someone else, Mary, Mary Amber. Mary Amber trying not to hear caught her name, heard the sound in his voice like to the little chick that calls its mother when the hawk appears and suddenly her fear vanished. She turned and walked with steady step and bright eyes straight into the spare bedroom, a smile upon her lips and a rose upon her cheeks that needed no cosmetics to enhance its beauty. Did you call me, Lehman? She said, looking straight at him with rescue in her eyes. He put out his hand to her and she went and stood by the bed over a cross from the visitor who had turned and was staring amazedly, insolently at her now. Lehman Gage put out his big, wasted hand and gathered Mary Amber's hand in his and she let him. Mary said, Lehman Gage possessively and there was both boldness and appeal in his eyes as he looked at her. I want Miss Harrowar to know you, Miss Amber, Miss Harrowar. Eleanor Harrowar had risen with one hand on the back of her chair and her crimson lips parted, a startled expression in her eyes. Her rich furs had fallen back and revealed a rich and vampish little frock beneath. But she was not thinking of her frock just then. She was looking from one to the other of the two before her. I don't understand, she said haughtily. Did you know her before? Lehman Gage flashed a look at Mary for indulgence and answered happily. Our friendship dates back to when we were children and I spent a summer with my aunt Marilla, teasing Mary and letting the sawdust out of her dolls. She gave a daring glance at Mary and found the twinkles in her eyes playing with the dimples at the corner of her mouth and his fingers clung more warmly around hers. The two were so absorbedly interested in this little comedy they were enacting that they had quite failed to notice its effect upon the audience. Eleanor Harrowar had gathered up her fur robes about her and was fastening them proudly at her throat. Her dark eyes were two points of steel and the little white teeth that bit into the pouting crimson underlip looked vicious and suggestive. I did not understand, said Eleanor haughtily. I thought you were among strangers and needed someone. I will leave you to your friends. You always did like simple country ways I remember. And she cast a withering glance around. Why, where is Aunt Rilla, Mary? Asked Lehman, innocently ignoring the sneer of his guest. Aunt Marilla, he raised his voice looking toward the door. Aunt Marilla, won't you please come here? Miss Marilla, her heart a perfect tumult of joy to hear him call her that way, straightened up from her ambush outside the door and entered precipitately. Just as the haughty guest was about to stalk from the room, if one so small and exquisite as Eleanor can be said to stalk, the result was a collision that quite spoiled the effect of the exit and the two ladies looked at each other for a brief instant, much as two cats might have done under similar circumstances. Mary Amber's eyes were dancing and Lehman Gage wanted to laugh, but he controlled his voice. Aunt Marilla, this is Miss Harrowar, a girl who used to be an old friend of mine and she thinks she can't stay any longer. Would you mind taking her down to the door? Goodbye Eleanor, congratulations and I hope you'll be very happy. He held out his free hand. The other still held Mary Amber's and the smile upon his lips was full of merriment. But Eleanor Harrowar ignored the hand and the congratulations and drawing her firm mantle once more about her small haughty shoulders, she sailed from the room, her coral and silver toque held high and her little red mouth drooping with scorn and defeat. Miss Marilla all hospitality now that she understood, offered tea and cake, but was given no answer whatever and so in joyous wondering silence, she attended her soldier's guest to the door. Lehman Gage lay back on his pillows, his face turned away from Mary Amber, listening, but his hand still held Mary Amber's and Mary Amber, standing quietly by his side, listening too, seemed to understand that the curtain had not fallen yet, not quite upon the little play for a smile wove in and out among the dimples near her lips and her eyes were dancing little happy lights of mirth. It was not until the front door shut upon the guest and they heard the motor's soft purr as the car left the house that they felt the tenseness of the moment relax and consciousness of their position stole upon them. Mary, Mary Amber, whispered Lehman Gage softly, licking up into her face. Can you ever forgive me for all this? He held her hand and his eyes pleaded for him, but it's all true, there is another one. I love you, and oh, I'm so tired. Mary Amber, can you forgive me and, and love me just a little bit? Down upon her knees went Mary Amber beside the bed and gathered her soldier boy within her strong young arms, drawing his tired head upon her firm sweet shoulder. When Miss Marilla trotted back upstairs on her weary glad feet and put her head in at the door fearfully to see how her boy had stood the strain of the visitor and to berate herself for having allowed a stranger to come up without warning, she found them so. Mary Amber, soothing her patient to sleep by kisses on his tired eyelids and the soldier's big pale hand and folding Mary's little one contentedly while the man's low voice growled tenderly. Mary, you are the only girl I ever really loved. I didn't know there was a girl like you when I knew her. So Miss Marilla drew the door closed softly, lest Molly Polk should come snooping round that way and trotted off to the kitchen to see about some Charlotte Ruse for supper. A great thankful gladness growing in her heart, for oh, suppose it had been that other, hussy. End of chapter seven, End of the Big Blue Soldier by Grace Livingston Hill.