Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-21

say nothing to Alick.
Then came shock. On the follow
ing morning she felt unwell. She had
often felt unwell since she came TO
Derby Haven. and the Misses Brown,
simple old maids. seeing no cause except
the change in the girls way of life,
wanted to send for a doctor. But doc
tors were associated in Bessie's mind
with death. If you saw a doctor going
INTO farmhouse one day you saw a
coffin going in the next.
Chemists were not open to the same
objection. Often on market days, after
she had sold out her basket Of butter
and eggs. she had called at the chem.
lists at Ramsey for medicine for her
mother. So, saying nothing TO her
housemates. she slipped round to the
chemists at Castletown and asked for
bottle Of mixture.
The chemist an elderly man. with a
fatherly face. smiled at her and said:
But what is It for. miss?'"
Bessie described her symptoms, and
then: the smiling face was, grave:
/ ma amp, asked the chemist. "'"""'
I Bessie caught her breath. stared at
the man for moment with eyes full
of fear, and then turned and fled out Of
the shop.
All that day she felt dizzy and deaf.
! The earth seemed to be slipping from
under her. Memories of what she had
beard from older women came spMng.
Ing to the surface Of her mind, and she
asked herself why she had not thought
of this before. For q long time she
struggled to persuade herself that the
chemist was wrong. but conviction
forced itself upon her at last.
I hen she asked herself what she was
to do. and remembering what she had
learned as child at home Of her
mothers miserable life before her mar
! question. She must ask Mr.. Stowell to
marry her. The thought of parting
from Alick was heartbreaking. But the
most terrible thing was that she found
herself hoping that Stowcll would re =
fuse to release her.
II had been wretched day. dark and
cheerlcss. with driving mist and driz.
zing rain. Toward nightfnll the old
maids lighted a fire for her in the sit =
ting room. which was full of quaint
knicknacks and old glass and china. The
/ tide. which was at the bottom Of the
ebb. was sobbing against the unseen
breakwater, and the gulls on the cob
bles of the shore were calling continu-
, ally.
: Bessie was crouching over the fire
with her chin in her hand when she
heard the sneck of the garden gate, a
quick step on the gravel. light knock
al the front door. a familiar voice in
the lobby. and then old Miss Ethel cay
ing behind her:
"A gentleman to see you. Bessie
Her heart did not lean up As before
and she did not rise with her former
n'acrity. but .\lick Cell came into the
room like rush of wind.
whats this--unwell?' he cried.
/ Its nothing. | shall be better in
the morning." she said
"Of course you WILL
And then. after a kiss. Cell sat on
Il low stool at Bessie's feet. stretched
his long legs toward the fire, and began
! to pour out his story.
! lie had seen Stowcll and the matter
had turned out just rs she had expected.
Splendid fellow. Best chap in the
world. bar none.
"But what do you think. Bess: The
most extraordinary coincidence. Dear
old Vic. he has been busy falling in
love. too. Fact. Fenclla Stanley.
daughter of the Governor. Magnificent
girl. and Vic is madly in love with her :.
So there's to be no heartbrcaking OH
either side. and that's the best Of it,.
Makes one think there must be some
thing in Providence. doesn't it,