The Blood Red Dawn

y were addressed to the Clay Street flat, so that she was puzzled by this innovation and the unfamiliar handwriting. Glancing swift

nd, if one could believe such a thing, the lady implied that the evening would scarcely be comple

rm of entertainment, even going so far as to confess that she played the piano herself upon occasion. Her first impulse, clinched by the familiar feminine excuse that she had nothing suitable to wear, was to send her regrets. At once she thought of the scorned finery that Gertrude Sinclair had included in her last

at the office, things had gone on smoothly. The other clerks had accepted Claire's advancement without either protest or enthusiasm. Even Miss Munch had veiled her resentment behind the saving trivialities of daily intercourse. She had gone so far as to introduce C

explained later-"the housekeeper for your friend Stillman's f

kness. But Claire knew that such moods were not unusual, so she too

n polite attention. Indeed, her self-absorbed silence, while Mrs. Robson poured out the latest news about Mrs. Finnegan's second sister's husband's mother-who was suddenly stricken with so

er, Claire? Have

some one with a mysterious disease, particularly if

ails her.... Didn't her mother, and her uncle, and her sister's oldest child die of consumpt

periences had confirmed her in pessimism, and every fresh tragedy testified to the soundness of her faith. Her pride at diagnosing peo

... I knew she wouldn't live another winter. They'll feel

r

c Rice! I thought he died years ago. M

luminating to the point of annoyance. What amazed her was the fact that she had remaine

er about the invitation to M

ll be time enough." Although why delay would p

. Robson, as if still puzzled at her daught

ception at the chur

ired Claire, wit

o is a bit slow over taking up the work, but, then, you know, we're poked off here in a corner and I suppose we don't quite realize yet.... Anyway, Mrs. Towne wants us to help with the cof

"Friday night? I'm sorry, mot

unny! You never said anything about it.

again. "Just te

strange that I didn't

n for me until you found

I've been trying to get you in with the right people at th

patiently. "But don't you see? Tha

e the other night. I felt so at first, but I can see now we were at the wrong table. And, after all, everything came out beautifully. We sat with Mr.

s the humiliati

sh about making compromises," flung back Mrs. Robson. "Of course, if yo

anyway. I'm through w

ith your country at war-and ... and ... Even that

to church on Sunda

you might think of me! I've not had much pleasure

stirring her tea, surprised and a little ashamed of her coldness. The truth was that Claire Robson was feeling all the fanatical crue

the thin shadow of a dry reed by some burned-out watercourse. Now a full noon of disillusionment had annihilated this shadow and given her the courage of necessity. And there w

hy you shouldn't go and help Mrs. Towne

her mothe

e seen at such pla

and. She knew by long experience that if this happened it would be fatal. But in a swift flash of decision Claire