The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-08
Observation-Disclosures
BERNICE
BY JANE JORDAN
G95152S1SaS95151S25951S7S1S751S1St
Ia. 1922. by WAafarn NeMspaper Union.l

He mad his reason. Back In the I'M
questionable days of infancy, Gordon
had known a Bernice, a mischieVous,
spite-enjoying playmate who knew
how to make him vince in painful
embarrassment, in the presence Of
grownups, and, who later, defeated
him shamefully in athletic games.
"When I'm Dead" she told him with
great satisfaction, "In come back and
haunt you"
Her gipsy-black eyes had shone de-
lightedly over his own wide-eyed ter
ror.
Gordon, leaning back in Pullman
chair, fancied that Bernice was not
+ dead. Only the good are said to die
young; he thought it likely that the
persistent and energetic young woman
was now making some submissive hus-
bands life miserable. So, Gordon told
himself, as he stopped to pick up the
card before him, which had recalled
unpleasant memories. "Bernice" was
written on this card in neat script.
The detested name at least was bound
to haunt him. Quizzically he turned
the card over in his hand, then bent
to offer it to young woman in the
chair in front.
mot mine," she answered coldly.
Gordon laid the card on the window
sill.
Back there in the Office his nerves
had been worn to edge; he anticipated
enjoyably the long drive to the Inn,
and gratefully he drew in the frag-
rance of the pines, as they drove
through the Inn gardens.
| He had donned his white fiannels
and was crossing the lawn later, when
a second white card attracted his at
tention. He had determined to pass
so trifling an object by when he
turned again to pick up the small
square. "Bernice," he read, with this
time the added name of Barton. Then
this person was not his despised play
, mate of old. Well, there was relief
in that, he would not be brought up
forcibly to face her in the social sea-
side inn.
A very beautiful gin sat watching
the tennis players. She glanced up
absently at Gordon then resumed her
interest in the game. Gordon was en-
tranced. Palmer came up to him
amusedly.
"Bewitched Gordon?" he asked, and
sat down. "Bernice is a good locker,
I'll admit; but you have been sitting
here without blinking, your gaze fast
ened on her features for the last half
hour. 1t was funny. I've been watch
ing you" .#
"Bernicel muttered Gordon, 'Oh,
come on away" he added disgustedly.
But meeting with the beauty who
thereafter filed his thoughts was I'M
avoidable.
When he passed the fair Bernice
one day in the road where she stood
perplexedly beside her stalled motor
car, 1t was his part to offer assistance
and hers to return the courtesy by
driving him back to the inn. AS the
day was delightful, the drive was TAX
en- In a roundabout way. Gordon and
his divinity of the despised name
progressed quickly from chance &C
quaintance to friendship.
Laughingly, he told her Of the haunt
ing cards which had confronted him,
and smilingly she agreed that they had
been her own.
After his third moonlight walk with
the enchanting Bernice, he was so
in
even she secretly compassioned him.
She was not quite sure what she was
going to do about it, and she took to
the high rest in the Tree, to think it
over. This tree had protecting arm
to lean against and leafy boushs to
saw Gordon come, looking for her,
and in q manner of Bernice of long
ago, tossed a locket out on the lawn.
Gordon stopped to pick the object up.
Then, standing beneath the tree. he
examined it.
The golden letters on the cover read
'Bernice,' and inside, beneath a child's
lovely face was inscribed, 'Bernice the
second. The baby face was a small
replica Of the face of the woman that
Gordon loved. Long, he stood won
dering. He had seen a pretty child
romping with Bernice, out where the
swings were beneath the trees, or
dancing at her side down the road.
He had supposed the child to be
younger guest of the inn. She had
not sat at table where the lovely one
usually ate her meals in company
with several other women.
Well, he had been an idiot. He was
most miserable as he strobe back be-
meath the tree. He. would go away
without delay, back to the work that
had not racked or torn him as this
summer incident had done.
Take me up" cried a childish
voice; a tiny girl danced beneath a
spreading tree. 1t was the little girl
"Take me up, Aunt Bernice, l want
to sit beside YOU"
Aunt Bernice!" Gordon stopped
short A laughing face looked down
through leafy branches. 81 am COM
ing down myself" said the young wom-
an of serene blue eyes-and she came.
Gordon was incoherent in his speech,
but she understood his question.
"There were only two names on the
register-Mr. and Mrs. Barton"
"My brothers and sister-in-aw's;
Bernice, my little niece. is called for
me-"
Gordon drew long breath of relief.
LET me help you down from that tree"
he commanded.
"All right" agreed the lovely oDa,
III. Cd