The Glenwood post., 1924-02-21
In the
Marmalade
20. 1888. western Newspaper Union,
BY JOHN PALMER

~ ANSOM mad certainly noticed the
~ girl in the grocer's shop and
thought she was nice girl, but he
was timid young man, and had con-
fined their conversation for the most
part to remarks about the weather.
BE did not notice her any more than
usual when he bought the jar of
marmalade.
he took 1t home. He was "baching,"
for In his f1ve years of clerical life
he had grown to hate the boarding
house only little less than the cheap
restaurant. He cooked in the little
apartment he had furnished, and he
was desperately lonely. And she was
nice g1rl-the girl In the grocer's
shop.
He had often wished he could get
up courage enough to ask her to come
out some evening.
Romance had always passed him
by, and he was just the age that
Graves romance. 1t looked as though
he was never going to get any.
1t was Scotch marmalade. When
Ransom took of the cover, to his sur
prise, he saw written inside the name
"Bessie McClintock,
IL Gates street,
Aberdeen"
He looked hard at the writing.
What was 1t fort Who was Bessie
McClintock? Was she the girl who
had packed it7
It was quite bold thing, almost a
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
Clintock in Aberdeen.
Everybody knows what happens
when you are tempted. You yield.
Ransom made several good resolu-
tions, and then he took a pen and
paper and wrote to Bessie
A lovers letter? No. indeed. A very
formal, slightly stilted. but quite
friendly letter. He told her he was
lonely. He added that he wished she
were living in Jonesville so that ha
could take her to the movies.
When he had posted 1t he sat back
In bitter anguish. 1t was a most dis
creditable thing and very brazen
thing for shy young man to do.
Besides. he knew very well that If
there was any girl whom he wanted to
take to the "movies" It was the pretty
girl in the grocer's shop. And his con-
science misgave him. He never dared
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 miracle. Three
weeks to the dot after Ransom had
mailed his letter he got nm answer
from Bessie. She had emigrated to
the United States. And she was living
in-Jonesville. At certain address
which she gave him. Cold shivers ran
up and down his spine.
For she had appointed certain
date and had suggested that on that
date they should go to the movies"
She would be awfully glad to meet
him.
She added that she was lonely.
Ransom went Into the grocers shop
that day-but he dared not raise his
eyes to the girl there All that dream
was ended, that desperate dream of
some day suddenly saying. I'm lone
ly VIII you come to the movies with
me?"
He went out of the shop, conscious
that the girl was looking at him
strangely.
At the appointed hour he called at
the address given by Bessie McClin-
took. A girl opened the door. 1t was
quite dark. He heard voice saying
II am so glad to meet you. Mr..
RANSOM"
Then-then happened the second
miracle. For this girl was-the girl
from the grocer's shop!
AS in dream Ransom was con-
scious of walking with her to the
movies" of sitting beside her. The
dreadful knowledge seemed to para
lyze both of them.
"It is so strange. our meeting this
way" faltered Ransom.
'Yes. isn't II" said Bessie.
But month later Ransom was say
ing, quite boldly:
"DO you really love me- darling?"
Absolutely" said Bessie. "Only-
oh. darling, must make confession.
IL wrote that address on the label
inside Mr.. Johnson's store and put
the jar aside for you. You see IL
felt so lonely"
A POST WANTAD WILL GET 1T.