Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-09-06
The Double
Wish
By ELIZABETH scHoEN COBB

upon Dale Armstrong and the lovely
fairy by his side who was his appor1
toned companion for the evening, Doc
tor Wilton's daughter, Italia.
Dale recognized intuitively that
something was expected of him, but he
knew not what. Idalia, with a smile
and questioning eyes, manifestly pro-
pounded an unspoken inquiry. He had
never heard the word before and he
looked puzzled.
"Have you forgotten" half whispered
a young fellow at his side, cor aren't
you clty-bred people familiar with our
old-fashioned games2" Il
I'm all at sea-" confessed Dale.
well, you've just cracked an almond
and found two meats In it, haven't
you?"
why, yes. I notice 1t now"
"Then you offer n to your lady, and
take the other, and while the two Of
you are eating, both Of you wish your
dearest wish !"
"Oh, l see" nodded Dale, and quite
agreeably, and he was glad of the cir
cumstance that afforded him an oppor-
tunity of a closer acquaintance with
the young lady whose pretty ways had
attracted him.
"And she must give you her hand
and you must look straight into each
others eyes while you WISH" Joined in
pert, but popular Meta Rainey.
Idalia chose to be sedate and Dale
looked solemn as they went through the
ordeal prescribed, but he could note
the flutter in her delicate throat and
she felt his hand tremble. Then, his
glance falling upon a dark. scowling
face opposite, the momentary exulta.
ton was lessened as be knew that he
had a rival. He saw that Idalia
shrank, too.
Page Driscoll, the owner of the sui.
len face, staggered up to Idalia and
her escort half a dozen times during
the evening. Dale detected the faint
Of liquor on his breath and was toler.
antly polite. Idalia was disturbed,
Finally Driscoll almost forced his at,
tentions upon her and gained permits.
sion to have a waltz with her further
on, if she was not too tired out.
Italia was not a particle tired out,
Dale noticed. until it neared the time
for fulfllment of her promise to Dris.
coll. Then she told Dale that she was
going home, and very deity arranged
it so that they made their adieus to
the hostess and out of the house with
out attracting general attention.
81 have kept the shell of that almond
which held such precious contents"
he told Idalia laughingly.
"Precious?" she repeated.
"Don't you hold it sop he rallied.
"Here we are, two mutually interested
in wishes beyond compare. OF course
1 am judging from the basis of my
own"
"And we must never divulge our
great secret" reminded Idalia play
fully.
Until the wishes eliminate" added
of the dainty hand on his arm, and
Dale thrilled and wondered if after all
the years he was destined to fall in
love with this sweet wayside flower Of
innocence and beauty.
Twice during the week Dale called
upon Idalia and felt the magic influx
ence of her witcheries strengthen. He
came in contact with Driscoll, who
passed him with a scowl. Dale dis
cerned the lurking hatred and jealousy
of a disappointed and reckless
Dale had driven Idalia over to a
neighboring town and they were re-
turning along the w~ell-graded curving
river road when shouts and singing
echoed from ahead. Before Dale could
shut off the power a machine contain
ing half a dozen riotous fellows dashed
into view
D~riscoll, red-faced, reckless-eyed, was
at the wheel. At the sight of Dale he
deliberately took the middle of the road
and began footing the horn Of the ma
chine.
"Oh, Mr.. Armstrong, it is that man,
and he is intoxicated" gasped Idalia.
The road was narrow and a collision
was certain unless Dale turned aside.
On one edge was q slight grade. but
studded with heavy brush and trees.
Quick as a flash Dale directed the auto
mobile in that direction.
A hideous series of yells rang out as
the Driscoll machine shot past the 9TH
er automobile, tearing off a res fender.
Dale's machine took the grade, partly
slowed, struck a tree with a crash, re-
coiled, came to a stop and sent Dale
headlong through the air.
He lay PROSTATE on the grass as Ida
liza gained his side. frightened and cry
ing. She dropped beside him and, dip
ping her handkerchief in a spring near
by, bathed his brow, sobbing incoher-
emily.
Dear Italia !" fell a wandering MUIR
mur from his lips and he smiled, and
Idalia, despite his closed eyes, felt a
sudden JOY at this evidence that he was
oo4 sorIorSIv hurf She cou1d NOT holm