Phillips County herald., 1923-11-01
In the
Marmalade
BY JOHN PALMER

was timid young man. and had con.
fined their conversation for the most
part to remarks about the weather.
He did not notice her any more than
usual when he bought the jar OF
marmalade.
He took II home He was "bachlng,"
for In his Ave years of clerical life
he had grown to hate the boarding
house only little less than the cheap
apartment he had furnished. and he
was desperately lonely. And she was
a nice girl-the girl In the grocers
shop.
He had often wished he could get
up courage enough to- ask her to come
out some evening.
Romance hid always passed him
by, and he was just the age that
Graves romance. II looked as though
he was never going to get any.
II was Scotch marmalade. When
Ransom took OF the cover, to his sur
prise, he saw written inside the name:
"Bessle McCllntock,
II Gates street.
Aberdeen"
He looked hard at the writing.
What was II for7 Who was Bessie
McClintockf Was she the girl who
had packed TT
II was quite 4 bold thing. almost q
forward thing to have done. Because.
unless Ransom was very much mis-
taken. Bessie McClintock had written
her name and address there with the
deliberate idea Of entering into cor
respondence with the young man who
ate the marmalade.
For several moments Ransom faced
temptation. The temptation was moth
ing less than to write to Bessie Nc
Cllntock In Aberdeen.
Everybody knows what happens
when you are tempted. You yield
Rsnsom made several good resolu-
tloos, and then he took a pen and
paper and wrote to Bessie.
formal. slightly stilted. but quite
friendly letter He told her ne was
lonely. He added that he wished she
were living in Jonesville, m that he
could take her to the moviea
When he had posted II he sat back
In bitter anguish. II was q most dis
creditable thing. and q very braxen
thing foe q shy young man to do.
Besides. he knew very well that II
there was any xiri whom he wanted ID
take TO the movies Il was the pretty
girl In the srocer's shop And his con.
science misgave him. He never dared
make any remark. even about the
weather, TO the girl In the grocer's
shop after that, although once or
twice she seemed inclined TO break
the Ice,
Then happened the mIracIe. Three
weeks to the dot after Ransom had
mailed his letter he got an answer
from Bessie She had emigrated 10
the United States. And she was living
in-Jonesyilie. Al certain address
which she gave him. Cold shlyers ran
up and down his spine.
For she had appointed a certain
date and had suggested that on that
date they should go To the movies %
She would he awfuliy glad to meet
him.
She added that she was lonely.
Ransom went into the grocer's shop
that day-but he dared not raise his
eyes 10 the ziri there. All that dream
wns eoded. that desperate dream Of
some day suddenly saying. "rm lone
ly VIII you come to the movies with
me1-
He went nut of the shop. conscious
that the giri was looking at him
strangely
At the appointed hour he called at
the address given by Bessie McClln.
tock. A girl opened the door II was
quite dark He heard q vote. saying
Il am 10 glad 20 meet you. Mr.
Rsnsom."
Then-then happened the second
miracle. For this grl was-the girl
from the groerr's shop
As In a dream Ransom Was con.
scions of walking with her 20 the
-moyie-" of sitting beside her The
dreadful knowledge seemed 10 para.
iyze both of them.
1T II 40 strange. our meeting this
way" faltered Ransom.
yes lsn't ltf'' said Bessie.
but q month later Ransom was say,
Ing. quite boldly
"Do you really love me darlingr'
Absolutely said Bessie. Only
oh. darling. I must make a confession
IL wrote that address on IN. label
inside Mr.. iohnson'r store snd put