Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-12
FLORA.

they found Mrs. Roberts in tears She
hao just received telephone message
saving that Aunt Ida's baby girl had
drunk some fly poison while at a neigh
Dor's, and was very Ill. Mary hastily
snatched a home doctoring book from
the bookcase and started for her aunt,s
Mrs Roberts turned to Sadie and said
There Is no doctor in town today. Our
physician has been called to an irnpor-
tant surgical case of an old patients In
the town where he practiced before COM
ing here But Merle Morrill, has just
graduated from Harvard Medical School
If he is home, Mary will ask him to
go to Aunt Ida's with her.
Why, Aunt Emma, you never mem
toned Merle, Morrills being physi-
mo; he did not wish any one to
know He worked his way through col
lege. not being sure of circumstances
allowing him to finish So he requested
us to let people think he was simply
workas -dtr,ra fGr ying snrt 3, ae
Sadie abruptly left the room and
spent the afternoon In torturlng anger
with herself. simple Simon alias Sadie
Sanderson one and the same. Same ini-
tials. I made a slight mistake-but, 1
Mary found Merle at home Just ar
rived from his unintentional caves
dropping, and in not the best Of humor;
But when her errand was explained, all
personal matters were forgotten in the
activity of tho doctor. Together they
hastened to the suffering child and to-
gether they worked and watched for two
weeks before feeling assured OF the
Every day Sadie Sanderson walked to
Aunt Ida's carrying fruit, flowers and
whatever dainties the little girl could
eat wonderingly she watched DR.. Merle
his farmers role Could this dignifed,
self-assured, efficient man be the Simple
Simon who had timidly asked her to. be
his wife?
the little girls recovery certain. Mary
went home to get some necessary things
for herself, leaving Doctor Morrill, and
herself alone. Sadie was to return TO
the city in a few days without some,
until It was lost and Doctor Morrill, had
It. a heart. But he gave no evidence Of
possessing It. Wistfully, sadie sat and
watched him play with the child. ap-
parently oblivious of her own presence,
until the tears ran down on the little
sweater she was crocheting for the small
invalid. .
Would she have to humiliate herself
by asking his forgiveness, and now beg
him to take her for his wife?
Turning her head, she saw Mary just
about to step on to the Veranda ana
she could hear Doctor Morrill, coming
toward her and the door where Mary
Not now, but soon. she would see
him again. alone with an excuse, she
went by Mary into the garden, brushed
the tears from her averted face. and re,
turned to the window to bid them good
afternoon before going home
Stunned for a moment by what she
saw, she listened Doctor Morrill, had
Mary in his arms, showering her race
with kisses. Then gazing into the wor-
shipful eyes so near his own, he said,
Wasn't 1t fortunate I overheard the
remark that I was Simple Simon
else / never would have discovered you
were really my sweetheart instead OF my
little schoolmate companion. l am sure
ly a Simple Simon of doctor to make
such a diagnosis of myself as / did But
then, doctors always have some one else
examine their own cases. / cannot un-
derstand, though. how you can forgive
me-"
Mary's explanation was a passionate
clinging embrace, with her face pressed
under his chin. -,
And" continued Doctor Morrill,, II
haven't a diamond suspended from every
hair of my head, but ] have a wealthy
relative who has bought a big estate
for me to transform into a hospital for
special surgical operations. l have
worked especially for that the last two
Years SO we shall not live in my prime
val shack except for possible vacation
and to visit old friends"
Tomorrow's complete novelette,, "Shop-
ping for. Aunt olivia"