CHAPTER XIX. THE LOST IS FOUND
Kathryn crossed to the one window and drew up the shade. It was lateafternoon and almost dusk on that north side of the house. The dim lightrevealed on the pillow a face so still and white that Bobs was sure onlydeath could make it so. For one long moment she gazed before sherecognized the girl lying on the bed, and no wonder, for great was thechange in her.
"Gwen! It's our own Sister Gwen!" she cried as one who can scarcelybelieve the evidence of her senses.
Down by the bedside Roberta knelt and took one of the lifeless whitehands in her own. "Oh, Gwen," she implored, "why did you do it? Youthought we didn't want you. You believed that in all the world there wasno one who loved you, no home in which you were welcome. Oh, how selfishI've been! Gwen, forgive me, Sister. I should have tried to help you. Iwas the one really who was selfish, for I wanted adventure. I didn't tryto think what it would mean to you; but O, I will, I will, Gwen, if onlyyou will live. Why don't you open your eyes, Gwen?"
Then, as there was no response from the apparently lifeless form on thebed, Bobs looked up at her friend as she implored: "Kathryn, why doesn'tGwen open her eyes? Are we too late? O, don't say that we are. It willkill Glow. She thinks that it is her fault that Gwen left. She feels thatshe turned one of Mother's own daughters out of our home."
Kathryn, who had been hunting about the room as though in search ofsomething, as indeed she had been, gave an exclamation of relief and,going to Bobs, she held out a small vial. "Gwen isn't dead," she said."It wasn't poison that she took. Just a heavy dose of sleeping powder.However, she will probably continue in this deathlike sleep for hours,and yet she may soon recover. We have no time to delay. I will remainhere while you go to the corner drug store and telephone to my hospitalfor an ambulance. Just say that it is for Miss De Laney and they willrespond at once. While she is unable to protest, we will take her to yourhome."
Bobs had arisen, but lovingly she stooped and kissed the white face thatwas so unlike the proud, beautiful one she had last seen on thatnever-to-be-forgotten day when they had planned leaving their Long Islandhome.
Tears fell unheeded as Roberta whispered to ears that could not hear:"And when you waken, Sister dear, you will be in a home that wants you,and our Gloria, who has tried to be Mother to us all these years will beat your side smiling down, and a new life will begin for you and for usall."
Then, almost blinded by her tears, Roberta descended the long, darkflight of stairs and telephoned not only to the hospital, but also toGloria, telling her the wonderful news and bidding her prepare Bobs' ownroom for the sister who was coming home.
Two hours later Gwendolyn, who had not awakened, was lying in thecomfortable bed in Bobs' room. Her three sisters and their friend,Kathryn De Laney, stood watching her in the shaded lamp-light. Theexpression on the face of Gloria told more than words could have donewhat it meant to her to have this one of her dear mother's daughters backin the home.
"And a real home it is going to be to her from now on if patient love canmake it so," Gloria said. Then to the nurse she turned, asking, "Will itbe long before she wakens, Kathryn?"
"It ought not to be long," was the reply, which had hardly been givenwhen Roberta whispered eagerly, "Glow, I think Gwen moved."
The eyes that looked so wearily out at them were about to close as thoughnothing mattered, when suddenly they were again opened with a brighteningexpression, and yet they did not look quite natural.
Holding out her arms toward the oldest sister, the girl on the bed criedeagerly: "Mother, I have come to you after all. I took something. Iwanted to come----" Her voice trailed away and again she closed her eyes.
Gloria was the one of the girls who looked most like their mother. "Dear,dear Sister," Glow said, trying not to sob, "you are home again. I amsure that our mother led us to you. Try to get strong. We will help you,Gwendolyn, for truly we love you. No one knows, little Gwen, how your bigsister has wanted you. Can't you try to forgive me for having spokenimpatiently, if not for my sake, at least for the sake of our mother?"
Gwendolyn looked at the face bent close above her as though trying torecall the past. Then, reaching out a frail hand, she said, "I, Glow, amthe one who should be forgiven."
Then she closed her eyes, and a moment later Kathryn said that she wasasleep, but that this time it was a natural sleep from great weariness.
"When she wakens again, give her broth, for I fear she is too nearlystarved to take heavier food just now."