Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-02-04
SIMPLE SIMON
BY AODiE GRAVES.

rold--and OH the end was suspended |
y
So said Sadie Sanderson, tossing her
bobbed head in dainty disdain. Sadie
and her friend Mary Roberts, were
busily engaged Smelling peas for can
ming in rose-arbOred summer house.
Mary looked at her companion resent
fully, and, to close observer, pity
ingly.
Sadie continued: Il don't know what
The Simple Simon is thinking of. he
certainly had the nerve to think col
lege. girl, living in the city. would
dream If coming out here to live IN
that shack of house he has on that
little farm"
Mary WAS about to reply to the
scornful words. but bit her lip and re-
manned silent. Sadie, noticing her reti-
eence, went on: Its all right for you
to live IN the cOuntry-you have
nice big house with modern con-
yenienccs, a car, and income enough
to enjoy yourselves. But no love in
cottage for me with primeval methods.
And Merle Morrill, is one O. those Sim
pie Simons who would live that way"
Neither of the girls noticed rather
more than ordinarily life-sized mascu-
line figure carefully efface himself
from the landscape back of the arbor.
When the girls entered the kitchen
they found Mrs. Roberts in tears She
had just received telephone message
saying that Aunt Ida's baby girl had
neighbor's, and was very i'll. Mary
hastily snStched 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 important surgical case of an
old patients in the town where he
practiced before coming here. But
Merle Morrill, has just graduated from
Harvard Medical school-if he is home,
Mary will ask him to go to Aunt lda's
with her"
why, Aunt Emma, you never men,
toned Merle Morrill's being physi-
cian."
No; he did not wish anyone to
know. He worked his way through
college, not being sure of circum-
| stances allowing him to finish. So he
requested us to let people think he was
simply working for i living. He is a
quiet modest, retiring sort of fellow"
Sadie abruptly left the room and
spent the afternoon in torturing anger
with herself. simple Simon alias
Sadie Sanderson, one aud the same.
Same initials. | made a slight mistake
but | get it now"
Mary found Merle at home just ar
rived from his unntentional caves
dropping, and in not the best of hui
NOR. But when her errand was ex-
planned all personal matters were for
gotten in the activity of the doctor. To
gether they FASTENED to the suffering
child, and together they worked and
watched for two weeks before feeling
assured of the baby girls recovery.
Every day Sadie SSnderson walked
to Aunt Ida's carrying fruit, flowers
and whatever dainties the little girl
could eat. Wonderingly she watched
DIR. Merle Morrill,, emerged from the
chrysalis of his farmers role. Gould
this dignified. self-assured. efficient
man be the Simple Simon who had
timidly asked her to be his wife?
Toward the last, when they had felt
the little girls recovery certain, Mary
went home to get some necessary
things for herself. leaving Doctor Nor
rill and herself alone. Sadie was tC
return to the city in a few days with
out something she had never discov'
cred she had until 1t was lost, and
Doctor Morrill, had it--a heart. But
he gave no evidence of possessing it
Wistfully, Sadie sat and watched him
Turning her head, she saw Mary JUS
about to step on to the veranda !; ant
she could hear DIR. Morrill, coming to
ward her and the door where Mary
was to enter.
Would she have to humiliate herself
by asking his forgiveness, and now
beg him to take her for his wife?
Not now, but soen. she would see
him again, alone. With an excuse, sh,
went ny Mary into the garden
brushed the tears from her averted
face. and returned to the window Il
bid them good afternoon before goins
home.
Stunned for a moment by what sht
saw, she listened. Doctor Morrill, ha(
Mary in his arms, showefing her face
with kisses Then gazing into the
worshipful eyes so near his own. ht
said: Wasn't il fortunate | overheard
the remark that | was Simple 81
mon-else | never would have discov
cred you were really my sweetheart
instead of my little schoolmate com
panion. | am surely Simple Simor
of doctor to make such diagnosi.
of myself as | did But. then. doc
tors always have someone else exam
inc their own cases. l cannot under
stand, though. how You can forgive
me-"
Mary's explanation was a passionat,
cllnging embrace, with her fact
pressed under his chin.
And !" confirmed Doctor Merrill