The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-01-20
CHAPTER vI-continued.

DR.. Brownell suggested the winter
trip to. the South. Mr.. Sldney's vital
ity needed careful nursing. II was i'm
Iportant to protect him from winter
rigors, even as they could be modified
in sickroom. The doctor said he
himself felt the need of a 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,
and sense of desolation increased
within me. Romantic folly came to Its
accounting. The fairy story was to be
ended without youths necessary "They
lived happily ever after"
The yacht came up to It's moorlng
and lay by the landing for 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.
Jsobel was eagerly anticipatory. Mrs.
be resigned, with trepidatlon'
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
fered me the real balm.
"John," she said. I'VE shall want
you with us. We shall miss you"
"Don't you think. Mrs. Sidney"
suggested, that now we can consider
this fiction terminared?"
"You mean your engagement to Iso-
bel?"
n Surely"
y "No, please" she said. "On the
a., boat there will be no problems. The
community is too compact and must
be considerate. 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 frs
person / want to see"
ought not TO have been so discon
Violate. These were fair portents, bu
q portent does little to console a loss
stood on the little dock and watched
the yacht go down the river. Ant
when It had disappeared below tn,
point Of land south of the pool, all the
world was sad and lifes had no pros
poets to give It value.
Charles drove me TO the city. wal
a bit of human driftwood for a week
1t did not matter that they were com
ino hack. They were gone; that wal
the disaster. II was In the present
the future is too ambiguous for conso
iation or comfort.
/ went through a winter Of ecstati,
distress, trying to be efficient in m!
discharge of professional duties 70
Doctor Brownell and to be profession
ally composed In aspect and mind.
had an anguished delight In my expert
ences. My loneliness was my mos
acute pain and my most cherished
comfort. did not want to profan'
the emotional solemniry OF so mucl
unhappiness by subjecting II frequent
iy to the banal touch Of soclable llf
in the ordinary. II was Joy to b.
profoundly unhappy.
I had letters from the enchanre'
party In the South. Mrs. Sidney wrot
twice week with great affection. MI
Sidney once a week dictated to Jed
letter, cordial and jocular for me. Oc
casionally Jed added sheet for him
self. kindly or raspIng as The moo
had him at the time.
Isobel also wrote, bur with the grea,
est eccentricity. While they We're a
Palm Beach had letter day fror