Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

542 “He says she comes to him and talks with him and makes him calm.” Another something happened inside Ma- ria Hodge. At first it was relief at her release from this painful rendezvous. Then it was like another blow between the eyes, or—grim thought—she felt as if she had skinned the cat, been turned all the way ever, and landed on her feet, but dizzy and blinded, with the ground swimming under her. She was deluged with unreason- ing jealousy. “Some one named Linda? He won't know me, It isn’t me he’s turning to?” “ It’s some association of ideas, of course. We all ought to be glad, Mrs. Hodge, if anything has brought him peace!” There was a note of reproof in Miss Nixon’s voice. It was easy to be noble when young, and when you were not deeply concerned! Down the long corridor to the conference room she walked silently, bitterly, by the secretary’s side. The very springiness in the young tread filled her with resentment. She gave monosyllabic answers to the haltf- heard prattle. The rows of cases, holding bright colored rugs, scarfs, toys, made by the patients, were like a funny page of a Sunday paper, in which she was the joke. Forty years ago Amos had come full- fledged in to the choir, and into her life. Was the spirit of some girl he had known before that with him now? She bowed her shoulders, inclined to slouch, and watched her ugly button boots appear from under her too full skirt. One ill-advised remark of hers, during his breakdown, had severed him from her forever. It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t fair! The boots, toeing in as they clutched the ground, repeated the refrain. In the conference room Miss Nixon moved about, arranging chairs. A whiff of wind lifted and scattered the papers she had placed on the desk. “Do you mind closing that window, Mrs. Hodge?” Maria stepped over and lifted her hands to the heavy frame. The cold air fanned her face, and she rested-a moment before she pressed down with her weight. It was then that she saw Amos at work in the little garden right near the window. He was planting tulip bulbs, and his back was turned toward her. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, “Amos,” she called softly, leaning out. He turned around. He looked as serene and happy as a child. She evidently had surprised him in some delightful dream. “ Hello,” the said absently, with no sign of recognition. And he turned back to his work. A new wind lashed her face. She pressed the window with unnecessary weight and it slammed down with a bang. Straight ahead, part way down the road, was the elm with swaying branches, where she had made her pact with the Lord. “ It isn’t fair to leave me out, if he is happy!” her heart cried aloud. Miss Nixon came back to that side of the room, ‘Chilly Easter!” Maria remarked with a sardonic twitch of the facial muscles, meant for a smile. A trick of thought brought the ironical reminder that Easter came on April Fool’s Day this year. The doctors were coming in, greeting her with friendly cordiality and seating them- selves in the sunlit room. Dr. Peck, a cheery, grown-up Paddy, sat down at the table desk by Miss Nixon. “Our first case is an old one—Amos Hodge—the husband of this good woman here. Miss Nixon, kindly read the sum- mary of the history.” Miss Nixon read. Dry, meaningless words. Maria, not attune to the phrases, sat like a ramrod, thinking of Dr. Peck teaching Paddy to skin the cat—and other things. ‘““ Admitted in 1903 at his own request; maniac depressive with paranoic tendencies; now senile psychosis.” It was as if she were reading the names on those horrible great skeletons in the Natural History Mu- seum, when she and Amos were in New: York. ‘““ Varying morose and disturbed periods, marked by violence at first.” That stout doctor opposite, with the pimk cheeks, looked like a little boy who kissed her out back of the schoolhouse once. If she went crazy, would his spirit come back and com- fort her? ‘“ Dwells on the period of his life con- CORNICE OOO KS5CO 5}