Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-11-14

Lizzie Sdlu presently. Dut lHdl van
stop me loving him, and remembering
how he'd laugh when he was building
the breakfast fire-and how l felt
about him / thought then we might
get married, although / always knew
it wouldn't be right for Joe-and she's
rich, and all that, and-and of course
he loves her"
She stopped speaking, staring drear-
lily ahead of her. Ellen was silent, too.
But she kept one warm friendly little
hand tight over Lizzies hand, and in
her troubled face there was no hint of
reproach.
You say he loves her." she said,
thoughtfully, after awhile. Il think he
does, too, in a way But he has been
most unhappy about this Lizzie; I've
seen it, only I didn't understand. He
has been worried and uncertain-we've
all been wondering what was on his
mind And l didn't understand, l
thought it was some reckless girl
suppose it's always this way Only
never thought of you, Lizzie, so quiet
and good and unselfsh-no, don't be-
gin to cry again. / didn't mean that
unkindly. / blame myself blame
myself"
Thus Ellen, reaching for some guild
ing principle through all these mazes.
"Well Some one will come in and
find us here" she said, with sudden
decision. Go upstairs and battle your
eyes, Lizzie, and get Tommy ready for
lunch. And don't worry, I'm going to
think it all QUIT"
Comforted, the girl escaped, and
Ellen ate her lunch in thoughtful
mood, and afterward walked with
Tommy to the station mile away.
She said nothing to any one at the
house, but when they were on the
road she told Tommy that they were
going to meet Uncle Joe.
How j. know he was comin'?" Tom
my demanded.
81 telephoned him, dear" Ellen was
excited; she trotted Toms small legs
along in spirited fashion. Joe, de-
scending from the train, ,compllmented
them upon their cheeks.
"Of course you don't understand"
Ellen echoed his greeting as she kissed
him. But I'll explain, Joe. l didn't
bring the car because l want to talk
to you, by myself. -Trot ahead there,
Tom. It's about Lizzie, joe
His honest. kind eyes flew to hers
consciously.
'She told you"
"She was going to kill herself joe"
He walked along at her side for ten
PAGES without speaking
my G-d-my Cdr he said then,
under his breath. And, after another
silence, he said, suddenly and firmly:
I'm sorry, Ellen. / know how you
and Gibbs will feel. But can't stand
it any longer. Perhaps other men can
do it: can't Tn going away get
job somewhere--and she's going with
me. It's the only way, for me. She's
a better woman than l am man, be-
cause she gave herself where she
loved I thought I'd cut everything,
that this Is the way out. I'll go
and I'll take Lizzie. Wen go now.
I'll make it up to Lizzie, somehow"
"oh, Joe, love you'll" Ellen said,
tears and laughter in her voice Il
think that's the only way out know
that you'll be glad some day"
Half an hour later she sent Lizzie
out to the gate on some pretext. and
Lizzie did not come back for almost
two hours. When she did come, Ellen
was playing with Tommy, and Tom
iiy's stone blocks, ON the nursery
table.
Mrs. Josselyn," Lizzie said, COM
ing close to her, and laying one hand
ON Ellen's arm, Il hope God will make
| up to you what you done for me. /
don't deserve you should treat me like
this-but I'll never forget It'll Mrs.
Josselyn, we've been talking and he's
just gone down to get the four o'clock
train-and he says we are to be mar
ried. And If God helps me--if God
helps NELL make him the best
wife-r
And Lizzie, turning her back sud
| denly, DeSdH 10 cry again. Dut Ellen
knew that these were tears of joy.
Her own mood was the more sober of
the two as she went slowly TO her own
room "The right thing is not always
the easy thing" she unused apprehen-
sively.
Now she must face Gibbs with this
extraordinary news. And Gibbs. in
tolerant of Joe always. would find in
| this a complete confirmation of his
poor opinion of the younger man.
! George Lathrop's dearest dream shat
tered. Harriet and fortune flung
aside. and Joe and village girl, un-
grammatical and unlettered, off to be
married; the summary was dishearten-
ing indeed. And yet under all her I'M
easiness Ellen's heart was singing
with the JOY Of decision wisely
made. and hard step bravely taken.
She left Lizzie TREMENDOUSLY smiling.