The Primrose Ring

ven before the postman had made his first rounds. The operators at the telephone switchboards we

trying to get one another; while the Senior Surgeon was rapidly covering the distance between his home a

festal attire, although nobody was outwardly conscious of it. It was all the more inexplicable because Saint Margaret's had gone to bed miserable, and events

se ring, looked up with apprehension. The tears she had shed over Michael's crib were quite dry, and she had a brave little speech on the end of her tongue re

ing her voice with great care. "He has gone where

in fact, that for the moment she tottered perilously near the verge of hyst

at's what!" And then she added, as an afterthought

d wondering. As for the children, they lay back peacefully in their beds, their eyes laughing riotously. And every once in a while they would look over at one another, giving the funni

her again before his official visit. "Are the children very m

him and pointed to the eight occupied

ring precipitously back to the door again; but

han we are. I have the distinct feeling this morning of b

perhaps they won't take your going away so drea

l going together? At any rate, I am not going to tell them anything. If it must be it must be

r from one of the nurses who had gone South, and another in an unfamiliar hand-writing. S

er outside the profession i

r look gone for ever from his face, and in its place a worshipful proprietorship. The effect of the letter was undeniab

t? How did you know

at it was all about when one of the n

clock; everybody's here and acting decidedly peculiar, I think. Why, as I passed the door I am sure I saw t

rgeon. "If we walk down very slowly we will h

he window; after which the President sat, not behind his desk, but upon it-an open letter in his hand. His whole

prologue to our reconsideration of the incurable ward," and the ghost of a smile twitched a

I had every intention of so doing; but I cannot think now that my husband would wish me to continue his support of an institution whose directors have so far forgotten the n

hind him on the desk, while the

ed!" muttered the D

-writing it!" burst fo

on, but nothing followed it; undoubtedly th

-indignant; we should have censured the writer severely. As it is-hmm-" The Pre

nd went on-"we have decided to reconsider the removal of the

nificant little woman think that we were influenced by anything she might write. Wouldn'

? We could settle the business in hand, this time, without your assist

t be continued for the present, until we investigate the home condition of the patients and understan

t Trustee gave it the form of a question, but his m

charge?" The Executive Trustee interrogated each i

Youngest and Prettiest threw it, Jason-fashio

d embarrassed. "I should like to withdraw my request for a

et MacLean and the House Su

We are having what you professional people call a reaction. I hardly know what

caught on the wrong side of the fence, the stolen fruit in their pockets. It was gone in less time than it takes for the telling; but it would have left the careful observer, had

al composure returned. "Will some one motion that we adopt the two measure

ted to continue in charge." There was a note of relieved repression in the voice of th

ng forth protesting hands. "You would spoil the very best thing that

ly compared it with the one behind him on the desk. "So-you

zzled. "Oh, you know!

r communication 'the best thing that has happened in years.'" An

" Margaret MacLean re

who finds that it is too large and too lonely for her to live in, and too full of haunting memories to be left empty. There

y to speak of a lot of

but no one paid any

an we

you persuade the House Surgeon that it is high time for him to become Senior Surgeon, and the new home is the place for him to begin. Together we should be able to equip it without delay; so that the children co

little-girl look spreading over her face-"you see, you mustn't take us back again. I could not pos

uld have to start her home with other childre

ing it for something more up to date or interesting. But let a rival collector march forth with igniting enthusiasm and proclaim a desire for the scorned objects, and that very moment does the possessor t

when there is more time. I should like to insist on a more careful supervision of-curious visitors." And

e made actual, had suddenly retreated beyond her reach, and she was left as empty of heart and hand as she had been before.

ees and birds and flowers all about. Many of them could wheel themselves out of doors, and the others could have ham

l a special interest in these children. They are beginni

to be the only person who wanted me at all, and I wasn't dreadfully keen about it myself." Then she clapped her hands with the suddenness of an idea. "After all, it's the

amusement, but no dissent. The Disagreeable Trustee smiled secr

s ass affair, but, as Miss MacLean

ot wait an instant lon

"Bring Bridget

Bridget will know better than any one else what will make the children happiest. Now wouldn't it be fun"-and she smiled adorabl

y, it had caught a breath of Fancy. And then-the House Surgeon re-entered

was. He crossed hands with the House Surgeon, thereby making a swinging cha

try-a home of your very own. But the trustees of Saint Margaret's hardly want to give

her givin' a penny to the wee one yondther for the home?"

re on the threshold s

st Tr

ar? How could you hav

an asked it in

et shouted gaily across to the gray wisp of a woman. "Ye te

fell on the open letter on the President's desk. "I am so sorry I wrote it-that is why I have come; not that

d written in another way, a more helpful way. Why not add your second surgical ward to Saint Margaret's and do all the good work you can, as you had planned? Only let me have these children to start a home which shall be a future harbor for all the cases you cannot mend with your science a

d, softly: "Suppose we three go home to

ave for it. As the children specified, there are no "trusters"; and it has all the modern improvements, i

one was surprised; in fact, everybody acted as though he belonged there. Perhaps the surprising thing would have been not having the promise kept. Tob

d. And you might like to know that many of the trustees of Saint Margaret's come as often as anybody, and are always welcomed with

d her the truth about it. And if it happens, as it does once in a great while, that some one is missing in the morning, there is no sorrowing for him, or heavy-he

"; and Margaret MacLean, having nothing better to tell them, keeps silent. But she has thought of the nicest custom: A new picture is hung in the Home after a child ha

r a heart or a back that he can do nothing for, he sen

ousand for you, Margaret MacL

tee prophesied, and gossip says that they are very happy. This much I know-

My life, too, is a faery-tale written by God's finger."

en! He wrote

en. The children still regard her, however, as a very mysterious person; and she has taken the place of Susan's mythical aunt in the ward conversation. It has never been argued out to the complete satisfact

she? and everything come thrue, has