Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-09-30
bobby forever, little Isabel Drew

would have preferred TO pay the full!
penalty due such q crime than to have
been the bearer Of this cruel missive.
lie avoided her eyes as he turned
away. but there was tremulous little
catch in the voice which thanked him.
TO his great relief, Isabel no longer
awaited his coming, and when he next
left Il letter for her mother it was
white capped nurse who responded to
his ring.
Young lady sick:" Mike asked in
tone which was supposed to express
only polite interest, and the nurse an
swered gravely:
YES; she is very sick indeed"
He stopped to inquire every day aft.
er that and then pursued his way
gloomily. Mike is getting peevish,"
the clerks ut the office said in surprise.
An air of intense anxiety seemed to
pervade the atmosphere Of the stone
house, and the bell was unified. for
the patient had reached the crisis when
Mike again appeared at the door. He
was awkwar,lly holding a parcel wrap
ped in tissue paper.
"She used 10 like white roses" he
ROOM"
At length news came that Isabel was
really getting better The air of de-
preston vanished. Once more Mikes
whistle sounded cheerly. Then he be.
came puzzled over Il letter which UNI
mistakably bore Rilly's handwriting
and Vet was not directed to the girl he
had treated 50 cruelty. Mike finally
came to the conclusion that the fell
low had written to the nurse desiring
information concerning lsahclS cOnui-
ton, and he ferycn'ly hoped that she
wouldn't make it mp With him"
He fingered the letter "uiltily as he
approached the house and saw Isabel
herself standing upon the vcranda. \
sudden moisture filled the sympathetic
poStman's eye, for she was such Il
small white Isabel. Her dark hair had
been cut and the short cllrls seemed to-
change her back again into the little
girl who had raced TO meet him upon
her way from school.
/ Il am glad YOU are better" he said
! heartily, and she smiled.
THANK you,' she answered softly.
You have been very kind. Any let
ters today
Mike drew Il long breath. There's
one here" he said hesitatingly. II
guess it's for the nursc-addressel to
Mrs. William ID. Rhodes
Isabel extended an eager hand.
"Why, Mike" she said, laughing hap.
PLY, don't You know-tllat l am Mrs.
William Rhodcs:"
lie stared ut her unbelievingly
"You," he repeated dully-"you Mrs
Rhodes. and it wasn't the BILLY fellow
after all"
ooh, but it was" she said rather
confusingly. "for Billy is William
Rhodes"
The old postman still looked Devil!
dercd. You married to him all the
while" he said slowly. land me think
ing when the letters stopped and he
went away bidding you 'go"dby for
ever on a postal card that it was al
over with"
She laughed merrily at his unblllsh
ing confession to reading her mail. 81
understand now" she said. your dis
appointment at having no letters t.
deliver, but you see when we hecan,
engaged Billy managed to be trans
ferrcd to the companys office here. ST
there was no further need Of corre
spondence. We We're married 1uictl.
the very day before | was taken dies
had been threatening me for SO long
Billy has been with me through it all
and now that am strong enough
the girls eyes sfone-"we are goin
upon our long postponed wedding tri
to Europe. The card you spoke Of,
T, she explained kindly. was sent frol
New York. where Billy had gone t
: engage our passage. and knowing tina
was to he married the next day. h
babe goo.l',y forever to Isabel brew
Mike replaced his cap and sorted on
another handful of letters. I'll" infc;
tious smile appeared upon his face
: and the Irish blue eyes twintled. ''Yo
can I HINHNS iiNc ~ Il',ll! wv l''Stdls>'
:, he said.
At the foot of the stair he dotfe
' his cap again. IL wish YOU mnc
happiness. Mrs Rhodes he addc
- tremendously. and the girl watcht
him far down the street.
), Never was wish more sincere 81
-" murnured softly. The days followt
each other unrventfully. No girliS! fa'
bent over the roScb,lShc> or smile
from the window. and then one NOR
: ing Mike discovered among his lette
=. one bearing European l,oStnmrk al
y, addressed in 81 small. neat hand-whit
:" he we'll rememhcrrd-to Mrs Jam
Drew
~ 1t would naturally be supposed til
!" such Il bulky letter could convey :
!" the news necessary. but with it. al
~ directed to Mrs Drew. came Il pictu
!" postal. the same white boat viii
.! had at one time aroused Mikes ang
u" and beneath the boat was penned:
You will he glad to know that Bi
WI 1n1 have arrived safely and are "