The northwestern bulletin., 1923-11-10
"A Providential
Daughter
By MARTHA WILLIAMS

Sssss.s..sssss
%. Is;S By Mcclure Nswsps0sr syndicais.)
The christening Of Avice was among
chance miracles. Nobody could pos
Ebly have foreseen she would grow
up with a bird In her throat-a true
bird. one that sang for the Joy OF 1t,
untaught save by wind whispers,
friendly differing leaves and those 9TH
er birds up among the leaves that sang
so clearly from the dawn Of spring to
the very edge Of frost
Avice, loving them all, loved the
Knockers best; they had such infinite
variety. Then they sang at night
through May ana June when other
sounds were hushed.
Often when there was q late, low
moon she crept velvet-footed down
through the darkness Of the house, on
into the silver garden, where prone on
q turf bench she drank In the happy
chorus, feeling inarticulately what was
behind 1.-THE melody Of love itself
come to happy fruition-
A lone child, she had grown up to
o restricted maturity, singularly pure
Of heart, thought and impulse. Ken
wood farm had no intimates, though
twice or thrice a year Madame Dane,
the head Of II. gave solemn dinners to
the neighbors she most favored.
In between, she took Avice with her
In the heavy family carriage, to spend
afternoons, and eat lavish suppers by
way Of return. But there was never
any merrymaking over holidays or
birthdays--Avice knew not gifts, other
than warm garments to the servants
and the needier Of the farm laborers.
She was not sent to school--Madame
Dane gave her the smatter Of instruc-
ton she thought necessary. Avice sup
plemented this by wide discursiye
reading-there were books a-plenty II
no set library.
Thus she had come to sweet-and-
twenty, bookwise but woman-untaught.
Madame Dane was her antithesis-
she knew life-phases, bright or dark,
by heart. But she spoke only Of sur
face aspects In talk with Avice-
whose presence puzzled her almost as
much as It did those who gossiped
over It behind the hand
There was no blood te-Madame's
only child, a son. had died tragically
before Avice was born. All the girl
knew Of herself madame had spoken:
"You have had q father and mother,
the same as other children. In good
time you win learn all about them.
Until then. be quiet-hold your tongue,
no matter who asks questions"
Avice obeyed literally. until Ellersly
came. Picked up for dead after a
motor accident In front of Kenwood
gates, he was brought to the house
where a chauffeur battered and bleed
ing spoke names and addresses that
sent pale flicker like sheet light
ming across madame's impassive face.
When the man had gone with Avice
to summon needed help, madame laid
her hand over Ellersly's heart for, half
q minute. then stood up, half whisper
ing:
He Is not dead-Quite, 1 wonder"
breaking of there and turning as
though from the face Of temptation.
Swiftly, deftly II unfriendly she did
what she could for the sufferer-so
well that grizzled Doctor Weyburn. her
nearest approach to a friend. gave a
significant look as he confirmed her
verdict, saying hushedly: "Pm won
dering-is this a judgment or a provi-
denceP'
Other succor came quickly--by air
plane huge and swift. Ellersiy's moth
er, his VI. lie, q famous surgeon, the
family physician, and two nurses.
After a brief survey--a casual ex-
amination-the plane went back to
fetch surgical appliances, and all the
latest, costliest Of sick-room requi-
sites. Besides a gashed forehead, a
broken wrist, Ellersly had suffered 50
near dislocation Of the neck vertebra
even slight jar might be fatal.
Immobile for two months, he had a
chance Of complete recovery. When
the uncle, granite-faced banker, went
to Nine. Dane 1t was to say, after
stating the case: "Of course, we can
not expect you to let rs thus impose
on you, but we are ready to buy or
lease your estate at any price you may
name."
Madame drew q deep breath and
half-smiled. but her tone was courte-
Gus as she answered: "The wing
where your nephew lies Is rather
roomy. There is the long glassed
porch beside the four chambers. !
think 1t should be ample for your
party. As to meals, I win have them
sent in regularly II you accept"
Madame! You overwhelm me r.
Major Constant began bowling: "You
will please set a price commensurate
with your generoaty-"
There madame stopped him with q
delicately lifted hand. Finances can
be arranged-after everything else, .
she said. Meantime. all here is at
your service-except myself and my
ward"
Life settled tensely into a routine
Of waiting. For q fortnight Ellersly
low ofokuaIgtrn h~onxhtu. x~t~tu~ -~...