through the wrong end of a telescope. Oh, Kirk!'
'Yes, honey?'
'It came again, that awful feeling as if something dreadful was going
to happen. And then I felt myself going.' She paused. 'Kirk, I think I
know now. I understand; and oh, I'm so happy!'
She buried her face on his shoulder, and they stayed there silent, till
there came a ring at the bell. Kirk got up. George Pennicut ushered in
the doctor. It was the same little old doctor who had ministered to
George in his hour of need.
'Feeling better, Mrs. Winfield?' he said, as he caught sight of Ruth.
'Your husband told me over the 'phone that you were unconscious.'
'She fainted,' cried Kirk. 'It was all through me. I......-'
The doctor took him by the shoulders. He had to stretch to do it.
'You go away, young man,' he said. 'Take a walk round the block. You
aren't on in this scene.'
* * * * *
Kirk was waiting in the hall when he left a few minutes later.
'Well?' he said anxiously.
'Well?' said the little doctor.
'Is she all right? There's nothing wrong, is there?'
The doctor grinned a friendly grin.
'On the contrary,' he said. 'You ought to be very pleased.'
'What do you mean?'
'It's quite a commonplace occurrence, though I suppose it will seem
like a miracle to you. But, believe me, it has happened before. If it
hadn't, you and I wouldn't be here now.'
Kirk looked at him in utter astonishment. His words seemed meaningless.
And then, suddenly, he understood, and his heart seemed to stand still.
'You don't mean......-' he said huskily.
'Yes, I do,' said the doctor. 'Good-bye, my boy. I've got to hurry off.
You caught me just as I was starting for the hospital.'
* * * * *
Kirk went back to the studio, his mind in a whirl. Ruth was lying on
the couch. She looked up as the door opened. He came quickly to her
side.
'Ruth!' he muttered.
Her eyes were shining with a wonderful light of joy. She drew his head
down and kissed him.
'Oh, Kirk,' she whispered. 'I'm happy. I'm happy. I've wanted this so.'
He could not speak. He sat on the edge of the couch and looked at her.
She had been wonderful to him before. She was a thousand times more
wonderful now.
It seemed to Kirk, as the days went by, that a mist of unreality fell
like a curtain between him and the things of this world. Commonplace
objects lost their character and became things to marvel at. There was
a new bond of sympathy between the world and himself.
A citizen walking in the park with his children became a kind of
miracle. Here was a man who had travelled the road which he was
