Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-01-17

folks are saying. Because Clara is a
little beauty, and I'm not a physical
wreck, people take it for granted we're
suited"
Mrs. Potter famed herself vigorously
as the familiar words smOte her ear.
She felt the same answer would suf'
fee.
Tut tut, Hal, don't talk like that.
Clara's a mighty fine girl, even If |
say so who should not. And you'll get
along well enough. Find her and take
a walk"
And, indeed, it would be a most crit
ical judge who could not but praise
Mrs. Potter's ingenuity in bringing this
man and maid together. Perhaps it
was because they were both conscious
of the many glances directed at them
that they could never afterwards tell
just how and when the automobile
knocked them down, and before either
regained consciousness they were
whisked into an ambulance, driven to
the nearest hospital, and awoke to
find themselves nightgowned and pa
.jamaed respectively. Halls broken
arms put HIM to bed with irksome
splints, while Clara lay white and
weak with a displaced rib.
1t was well along the tenth day be-
fore either became sufficiently con
.seious that something else than pain
existed in their spotless rooms. For
Halls attention was diverted from IN
effort to stretch his legs beyond the
confines of the bed to Nurse Stewart,
just entering the o He made a
lightning quick inventory.
pug nose, freckled, blue-green eyes,
short lashes, brick-red hair, no figure.
iEnsemble-not much"
Better, l see," said this white
gowned creature.
Hal Topped his head over. So won.
derful a voice did not belong to such
features. And he had not dreamed
hands could be so gentle as his splints
were adjusted without pain and the
food placed within his mouth with
out accident. And how she could
smilel
Nor was Clara less puzzled over the
law of consistency as her eyes wan.
dered from the concave joining of cell.
ing and wall to the equally bland ap-
p%earance of Doctor Blount, so profess
sionally attentive, with his kindly en-
couraging ways oddly at variance with
hfc hold hood onH 1or0a oars
Some two months later, Mrs. Potter
squatting in her rocker, greeted her
niece and Hal Doran effusively as she
noted their arms linked together.
at was a terrible accident" she re.
affirmed, land we've a great deal to be
thankful for" and as she paused to
pour herself another glass of lemon
ade, she commented on the side. 'This
July weather is just awful"
In a moment she went on. II had SC
hoped to see you a June bride, but
We'll arrange for an August wedding
make that plural, auntie," laughed
the girl.
Mrs. Potter looked up puzzled
what do you mean plural Clara?'
Clara poked her elbow into Hal, who
stood digging the toe of his shoe into
the rug like a bad boy up for punish.
ment. you tell her." she urged.
Hal hemmed and hawed. "Clara n
1 are going to get married." he an
swered at length.
"Why, of course" interrupted the
now thoroughly exasperated Mrs. Pot
ter, 'but what's funny about that?"
Nothing" Hal smiled, as Clara fell
into a paroxysm of uncomfortable gig
giles, 'but we're not going to marry
each other"
Mrs. Potter did make a valiant eff.
fort to reach her lemonade, but dismal
ly failed as her arm sank Imply to
her side. The weight of her chin seem
ed too great to sustain the shock and
her lower jaw dropped far enough to
permit her tongue to emerge with ease,
Valiant illustrations revived her.
Then who is it?" she gasped.
81 shall marry Doctor Blount," chirp-
ed Clara.
And I shall marry Nurse Stewart
echoed Hal.
Mrs. Potter blinked and swallowed
hard. "Bless you, my children" she
said, and sank exhausted in her chair