Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-04

the mantelpiece--a copy OF the same
that she had sent to Stowell.. He
snatchcd it up and kissed it. Never
had Bessie been 80 dear to him as now
false accusation. And the best Of 1t
was that he was to get her off. He
must see her at once, though.
My poor girl! In Castle Rushen!"
The first thing to do was to wash and
change Che cut himself badly in shaw.
ins), but in less than half an hour
he was at the postoface telesraphins
to .!GlsdlS:, FSGsIIS.
Brief as the message was. the clerk
at the counter could hardly decipher
the agitated handwriting.
A few minutes later he was at the
police Office, asking the Chief Consta.
BILE. for an order to allow him. as Bes-
cell.
At 2 o'clock he was back at the rail.
way station, taking the train for Cas-.
tletown. As he stepped into his car
riage the newsboys were calling the
contents of the evening paper:
Victor Stowell appointed Deemster.
Glorious! Bessie would have a hu-
man being on the bench. Thank God
for that anyway.
II don't know what you are talk
ing about really don't You make
me laugh. Whatever will you say next !!
l was Ill and I came home to have
my mother nurse me. and that was all
! knew until Cain. the constable. came
to bring me here"
It was Bessie before the High
Bailiff. Her face was thin and pale,
and she was clutching the rail Of the
dock in an effort to keep herself erect,
while her shrill voice echoed to the
roof.
The magistrate was about to commit
her to prison when DR.. Clucas rose in
the body OF the courthouse.
Your worship he said (his voice
was husky and his eyes had a look Of
tears). "the defendant is suffering from
the temporary mania which Is not un'
should be sent to the hospital"
Bessie tainted. The next thing she
knew was that she was in bed In
hospital ward, and that another doctor
"a younger man with thin hair and
q large pugnacious mouth) was leaning
over her, and laying his hand on her
breast. She pushed 1t of. and then
he said. In an authoritative tone:
my good woman. If you are limo.
cent, as YOU say. the best proof you
can give is that of medical e1ami.
nation
At this Bessie broke into fierce
wrath.
"If you touch me again. she cried.
'I'll tear your eyes out!'
Then snc tainted once more. and
for two days lay in a strong delirium.
When she came to herself a nurse
with n kind face was by her side. say
ing "Hush!" and doing something at
her breast with glass instrument.
She knew she had been delirious
(having vague memory OF crying
''Alick! Alick!" as she returned to
consciousness) and was in fear Of what
she might have said.
"Is It morning!' she asked.
eyes, dear"
'"Then it's the next day!'
"The next but one.'
Have I been wanderins?'
"A little"
Did | call for anybody?'
Eyes"
She dare not ask whom, but lay
wondering if Alick knew where she was
and what had happened to her. After
a while she said,
"Is it in the papers?'
The nurse nodded, and after a mo.
ment. with her eyes down. Bessie said,
me-" .,- .,. . ,,.,.
and morning
Nobody else?'
Nobody
Bessie broke into sObs and turned
her face to the wall. Alick knew He
had given her up! She had lost him
When she recovered from an agony
Of tears her eyes ss..H, We're Ihte differing and
care what became of her now? They
might do what they liked with her.
Deny? What was the good? She
would deny no longer. She would tell
the truth about everything.
Then Fcnella Stanley came. Bessie
thought she liked Miss Stanley better
than any woman, except her mother,
she had ever known. But that only
made ii the harder to hold to her reso-
luton, for if she told the truth she
would surely hurt Fenella. "Oh, why
do you come to torture me?" she cried,
when Frnella asked who was her
"friend.' And not another word
would she say.
Two days later. before breakfast,
Cain. the constable, came with SER
geant of police to take her to Castle
RuShPn. she dlu not care. why
should she? But as she was leaving
the hospital the nurse with the kind
face whispered,
Good by. dear. you're all right now.
I'm going away and will say nothing"
1t was n cruelty beautiful morning,
with gold simmer from the rising
sun upon Il tranquil sea. The railway
station was full of townspeople going
up to Douglas lit was market day
thcre,, so Bessie was hurried into the
last compartment.
When the train ran into the country
food of memories swept over her and
she found it hard to keep back her
tears. The young lambs were skipping
on the hillsides; the sheep were bleat-
ing; girls in sunbonnets were coming
from the whitewashed outhouses to |
drive the cattle into the fields.
When they drew up at the station |
for the glen the shingly platform was
crowded with passengers waiting for
the train--rosy- fnced women with |
broad open baskets OF butter and eggs. |
and elderly farmers smoking their
strong thick twist and surrounded by |
their painting dogs. Bessie knew them
all At the last moment young |
woman in a low .cut blouse ran up-it |
WAS Susie Stephen. ge