Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-11-24
BERNICE
BY JANE JORDAN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Gordon hated the name of Bernice.
He had his reason. Back in the i'm.
questionable days of infancy, Gordon
had known Bernice, mlschievous,
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, "I'll 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 1t 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 NINE" 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 flannels
/ and was crossing the lawn later, when
q second white card attracted his at
tention. He had determined to pass
SO trifing an object by when he.
turned again to pick up the small
! square. "Bernlce," 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-
eide inn.
A very beautiful girl sat watching
the tennis players. She glanced up
absently at Gordon then resumed her
interest in the game. Gordon was en-
tranced. Palmer came uH to him
amusedly.
"Bewitched GordOn?" he asked, and
Dat down. "Bernice is 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"
"Bernicew muttered Gordon, "Oh,
come on away" he added diSgustedly.
But meeting with the beauty VINO
thereafter filled his thoughts was I'M
avOidable.
When he passed the fair Bernice
one day in the road where she stood
nerplexedly beside her sailed motor
car it 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 roundabout way. Gordon ana
his divinity of the despised name
progressed quickly from chance ac-
uuaintance to friendship.
Laughingly, he told her Of the haunt
| tab had confronted nm,
and smilingly she agreed that they had
been her own.
After his third moonlight walk with
the enchanting Bernice, he was So
deeply and hopelessly in love that
even she secretly compassloneu hlm'
She was not quite sure what she was
going to do about it, and she took 10
the high rest in the tree, to thru IL
over This tree had protecting arm
TO lean against and leafy boughs TO
screen one. SO Bernice sat, when She
sow Gordon come, looking for her,
and in n manner of Bernice ~ long
oco tossed a locket out on the lawn.
Gordon stopped to pick the object up
Then, standing beneath the tree' lie
examined it.
The golden letters on the cover read
.Rernice.' and inside, beneath chllu
lovely face was inscribed, 'Bernlce 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 cnllu
romping with Bernice, out where tle
swings we're beneath the trees, OF
dancing at her side down the roau'
He had supposed the child to be a
vounger guest of the inn. she hau
NOT sat at table where the lovely one
usually ate her meals in company
with several other women.
Well. he had been an idiot lie was
most miserable as he strobe Dack DC
neath the tree. He would so away
without delay, back to the WORK 'nat
had not racked or torn him as lllS
summer incident had done. ~
mTake me up" cried childish
voice. a tiny girl danced beneath a
snreading tree. 1t was the little girl
"Take me up, Aunt Bernlce' WANT
to sit beside YOU -.,
"Aupt Bernicew Gordon stoppeu
short. A laughing face looked DOWN
through leafy branches. u am conl-
ing down myself" said the young Wolh'
an of serene blue eyes-and she caihe'
Gordon was incoherent in MS Speech