man's got to look sorrow in the eyes he goes blind
and don't know what way to turn, lessen a woman leads him. But he ain't
neither here or there and--"

"Where is he?" demanded Miss Wingate in her soft dove notes as she
looked the tragedy-stricken young Doctor's mother straight in the face,
with her dark eyes completely unveiling her heart, woman to woman.
"I--I want HIM!"

"What's left of him is in the office, and you are welcome to the
pieces," answered his Mother, a comprehensive joy rising above the
sorrow in her eyes. "I reckon I can trust him with you, but if you need
any help, call me," she added, as the singer girl fled down the steps
and around to the office wing.

And they neither one of them ever knew how it really happened, though
she insisted on accusing herself and he claimed always the entire
blame, but he had been sitting where his Mother had left him for an
hour or more with his face in his hands when he suddenly found himself
clasped in soft arms and his eyes pressed close against a bare white
throat and a most wonderful dove voice was murmuring happy, comforting
little words that fell down like jewels into his very heart of hearts.
And his own strong arms held very close a palpitating, cajoling, flower
of a woman, who was wooing for smiles and dimpling with raptures.

"I don't care, I don't, and please don't you!" she pleaded with her
lips against his black forelock.

"I can't help caring! The one thing I asked of all my years of hard
work was to give the music back to you--" and again he buried his face
in the soft lace at her throat.

"You say, do you, that I'll never sing again?" she asked quickly, and
as she spoke she lifted his head in her hands and waited an instant for
the smothered groan with which he answered her.

"Now, listen," she answered him in a voice fairly a-tremble with joyous
passion and as she spoke she laid his ear close over her heart and held
him so an instant. "Does it matter that only you will ever hear the
song, dear?" she whispered, then slipped out of his arms and across to
the other side of the table before he could detain her.

"No, Tom Mayberry," she said as he reached for her, and her tone was so
positive that he stopped with his arms in the air and let them sink
slowly to his side. "We'll have this question out right here and if I
have trouble with you I'll--call your Mother," and she laughed as she
shook away a tear.

"Please!" he pleaded and his face was