Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-11
the benefit of the village Improvement

9Z-2
to sing that night-sing a song Of his
own choosing. He would select one of
the old songs that he used to sing to
Nellie Nixon in the old, old days.
1t was a busy week for Benjamin.
He went to the city and bought a new
suit of black clothes. No one save
Benjamin and the cashier of the Rose
bud bank ever knew what that haber-
dasher's bill amounted to, and of
course the cashier couldn't tell even If
he wanted to, and as he was a real
cashier of n bank and occupied the po-
sition of receiving teller, paying teller,
bookkeeper and discount clerk, all I'M
der one salary. he was more interested
In fulfilling his multitudinous duties
and upholding the dignites Of his va
rious positions than In the cost of Ben
jamin Flyers clothing.
The express company delivered nu
merous brown paper boxes Mt the drug
store, and while the innocent villagers
believed the boxes to contain pills and
potions, t~oothbrushes and toilet arti-
cles, they really held Benjamin's new
black suit, a brand new overcoat with
a fur lined collar, shirts and collars
and gorgeous neckwear, to say moth
ing of patent leather pumps and sew
eral pairs of silk socks.
If Benjamin massaged his face I'M
til 1t was fresh and rosy, II he put
tonic on his luxuriant brown hair, If
he made a raid on the manicure nipple
ments In the toilet case and fused
over his hands, who can blame him?
He had not seen Nellie Nixon for
two years now. She had spent much
time in the city with a married sister,
and he felt a vague pride in the fact
that she would find him as youthful
and untouched by time as she was her
self or as he saw her-with the eyes
of Love, who. as every n knows, is
blind.
Sally Lane. futtering into the drug
store for a package of boneset for her
grandmother, paused for a little chat
with Benjamin.
Sally was as small as Benjamin and,
with her fiery red hair, melting blue
eyes and marvellous complexion that
accompanied her particular tint of hair
was good to look upon. But Benjamin
never seemed to notice Sally Lane.
He had known her all his life. They
had gone to school together, met in
Sunday school, sang in the choir and
passed over the vague dividing line be.
tween youth and middle age just mere
friends-I almost said ac~quaintances.
Benjamin was selling tickets for the
concert.
.'Tickets selling well?' asked Sally
in her brisk way.
BENJAMIN nodded. 1--WE only hall
a dozen left. suppose such an attrac.
tive program is-er-that is-every one
seems to think this is going to be a
pretty good entertainment"
It's about the same as usual-ex.
cept for the elocutionist from Cedar
Brook" remarked Sally, ~marveling at
his enthusiasm. Ibid you ever hear
her speak?"
"Yes-that is, not to ~reclte," blushed
Benjamin, rafting the glass shoppers
in the perfume bottles on the counter.
ST used to know her years ago."
'They say she's a lovely speaker,
anu SO InI1lllnBs 0ulO 0dAJt 6iONAh6
unconsciously wistful as she went
away. "He admires her." thought
Sally.
The night of the concert came-a
crisp October evening, with a golden
full moon and the vague smell OF
smoke from distant forest fires.
Arena hall was crowded to the
doors. Every one in Rosebud was
there, and many came from Cedar
Brook. Those who were to contribute
to the entertainment occupied the Ell.
tire front row of seats.
Fate willed that Benjamin and Sally
Lane should sit side by side-Benja-
min, looking like a rosy ~schoolboy in
his new clothes; Sally, gowned In
white. with her red hair dressed in a
new and youthful way on her shapely
head.
People whispered to one another and
said that Benjamin and Sally were
Just of a size and would make a good
match.
No one saw Helen Nixon come in.
She did not appear until she suddenly
emerged from the wings and stood on
the stage before them.
Benjamin gasped family. Was this
magnificent creature his Nellie OF old
sweetheart days?
Miss Nixon wore black-a lacy gown
with a great red rose pinned on her
left shoulder. She was tall, very tall
and broad shouldered, and Benjamin
found himself wishing that Nellie had
not cut her gown quite sc low. But
her eyes flashed rs of yore, her jetty
hair was piled high with many spark
ling combs and pins and n long black
curl escaping to lie on her shoulder.
A patter of applause greeted her APP
pearance.
Benjamin removed his gloves so that
he could make more noise.
Nellie's black eyes swept the audi
ence and came to rest on Benjamin
Flyers face. Surprise and interest