The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-09-16
CHAPTER vI-continued.

DR.. Brownell suggested the winter
trip to the South. Mr.. Sidney's vital
ity needed careful nursing. 1t was i'm
portant to protect him from winter
rigorS. even as they could be modified
in a sickroom. The doctor said he
himself felt the need of change. He
prescribed one for both his patient
and himself. He and Mr.. Sidney made
the arrangements. Mrs. Sidney and
IsObel were to go.
Arrangements went ahead rapidly,
within me. Romantic folly came to it's
accounting. The fairy story was to be
ended without youths necessary ''They
lived happily ever after"
The yacht came up to it's mooring
and lay by the landing for a week
while the provisioning was being cared
for Hundreds of bottles of Mr.. Sid
ney's fine wines were put on board
for the unspeakable Jed.
Isobel was eagerly anticipatory. Mrs.
Sidney. I thought, seemed merely to
be resigned, with trepidation.
Doctor BrOwnell said he was depriv-
ing me of an interesting voyage. If he
did not go. should have been needed,
but he thought 1t important for his
efficiency that he conserve his strength
over the winter, and he asked me to
act as one of his assistants.
That was flattery. 1t was intended
to be So
Mrs. Sidney was the one who of.
fpro0 mo ho rooI no
john" she said, 1--WE shall want
you with us. We shall miss you"
o Don't you think. Mrs. Sidney" !
suggested, that now we can consider
this fiction terminated?'
You mean your engagement to Iso-
bel?"
Surely"
mo, please" she said. "On the
BOAT there will be no problems The
community is too compact and must
be considerable But when we come
back, I'll need you just as before"
IsObel said:
"GOod-by, John. Be at the landing
when we return. You'll be the first
person [ want to see."
ought not no have been SO discon-
solate. These were fair portepts. but
portent does little to console loss.
stood on. the little dock and watched
the yacht go down the river. And
When it had disappeared below the
point of land south of the pool, all the
world was sad and life had no pros
poets to give it value.
Charles drove me to the city. was
hit of human driftwood for a week.
II did not matter that they were CON-
ing back They were gone; that was
the disaster. It was in the present;
tne future is too ambiguous for cOnso-
latlon or comfort ~
went through a winter of ecstatic
distress, trying to be efficient in my
discharge Of professional duties for
Doctor BrOwnell and to be profession
ally composed in aspect and mind.
mad an anguished delight in my expert
ehces. My loneliness was my most
acute pain and my most cherished
comfort. did not want to profane
ue emotional sOlemnity Of so much
uNhappiness by subjecting it frequent
~ TO the banal touch of sociable life
IN the ordinary. 1t was joy to be
profoundly unhappy.
mad letters from the enchanted
party in the South. Mrs. Sidney wrote
eWlce week with great affection. Mr..
Hl"hey once a week dictated to Jed a
ietter, cordial and jOcular, for me. DC
'asionally Jed added sheet for him.
oel1' kindly or rasping as the mood
"ad MIN at the time.
lSoDel also wrote, but with the great
St eccentricity. While they were at
aim Beach l had a letter day. from