The Bolivar County Democrat., 1922-10-21
MARY'S ENEMY
BY CLARiSSA MACkIE

GO by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Mary Bell leaned back in the old
fiat-bottomed skiff and watched the
white clouds with lazy enjoyment. The
green river flowed sluggishly and the
old boat Idled with the current. Mary
Bell was trailing one oar as a rudder.
needless of the puffs of wind that came
racing up from nowhere and scarcely
noticing when the boat increased Its
speed. The white lids wavered over
her sapphire eyes, closed, and Mary
Bell Branch slept the sleep Of careless
gust.
Suddenly there was violent shock
Of impact as the skiff struck rock on
the shore of Sandy island. Mary Bell
was neatly dumped into the wet sand
and the skitf. righting itself, bounded
away on it's rollicking career down the
now swlft-fowing stream.
Mary Bell stared after the skin as
one who had just discovered that an
ancient and trusted horse had decided
to run away.
"Oh-the dickens!" walled Mary
Bell, staring at the mainland half q
mile away.
whats the racketT' asked cool
voice, and Mary Bell turned lovely,
frightened face to discover that there
was another inhabitant Of Sandy
island-a fine, bronzed youth.
Mary Bell jumped to her feet In
stantly. II ran aground-that Is, my
boat struck a rock and threw me out.
Then it drifted away. must get to
the mainland at once-my people will
be worried If the boat Is found. How
did you get here?"
"Walked," he said simply.
Mary Bell gave him scathing
glance and her voice shook little.
"Of course 1t Is not a Joke to me"
she paled suddenly and swayed. Il be-
lieve my ankle is sprained-" she sank
suddenly down on the sand.
At once his voice became grave, con-
cerned. "Sprained? am sorry. Let
me see it moment-I am aedoctor-
my names Stoddard-"
"No-no-please do not touch it, Mr..
Stoddard'
"Why notT
"Be-because your name is Stoddard."
she said In a low tone, her face hidden
In her hands.
II can't help my name," he said
shortly, "any more than you can help
nplr = to-
Branch"
Goodnight he calculated inele-
gantly. Are you dragging in the old
family feud at this late dayf An old
uncle of mine toh me about 1t last
night when l arrived for visit. My
father had lived North SO long that he
supposed the hatchet was buried, and
In token of 1t he named me after his
grandfather's ancient enemy-Branch
Is my name, too. Branch Stoddard,
M. D., If you pleased"
Mary Bell looked up at him from
wet eyes. Il think could dislike you
very much," she said rudely, and twist
ing away sharply so that she could not
see the black eyes grow softer, she
cried out and tainted away.
A sleeve torn from his shirt made
strong bandage Tor the swollen ankle
First he bathed the poor foot in the
cold river water until it ached, then
the throbbing was relieved when the
skilled fingers fastened the snug ban
dage. A dash Of cold water restored
Mary Bell to consciousness and she
discovered with mingled Indignation
and gratitude that she had been re-
moved from the waters edge to dry
spot under a wild thOrn-apple tree,
and that her ankle had ceased to
throb. 1t felt stiff and useless how
ever.
"What did you do?" she asked
family.
He told her, adding: Il painted 1t
with iodine-always have little vial
Of it when I'm knocking around our Of
DOORS"
"You are very good" she murmured.
and then with flushing cheeks she no.
ticed that he had set her little shoe
with its dainty stocking close beside
her hand.
I'm going to the other side Of the
island a moment" he explained; "Ill
fetch something so that can get you
home"
She heard the bushes "swish-h" as
he passed through, then silence fell or
the sandy island. Mary Bell thought
of the young Doctors pleasant voice,
his kind eyes, the tender touch of his
deft fingers. Truly, he had ministered
to his enemy.
There was pleasant rumbling
sound as If wheels were crossing q
bridge, then the crashing of bushes.
and Doctor Stoddard again with q
wheel chair and steamer rug.
II came across the bridge" he ex'
planned.
"Rridge?" she echoed.
"New one--foot bridge over to our
place-tOld you / walked over here. |
didn't I? Now, Miss Branch-there,
let me lift you; l will be. careful-so!
All comfortable?"
"Yes-thank you so much-and am
sorry that l was rude !"
Forgiven long ago-please don't
worry about that. am taking you up
to my aunt's house-they want you.
You will have tea, and then l am 60
ing up to see your uncle and aunt.
Here are four lonely old people dying
to get acquainted with each other.
Shall we do itf" he asked excitedly.