Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-12-26


That's the car" he said, indicating
one that had been left, empty before
the post office door. ''If you get in
there and wait for Mrs. Josselyn she'll
be right out of somewhere"
Joe Latimer went across the street
again, and took the baby from Its
mothers arms.
THAT'S Ellen's car, there" he said,
smiling nervously. Lizzie did not
speak. Her cheeks were burning with
excitement. Il can't believe we're
here" Joe echoed her thought. I'm
few minutes Wen see her"
ooh, don't 7" Lizzie said, family.
With the baby on one arm, and the big
suitcase in his free hand, Joe went to
the waiting motor, and Lizzie, carrying
the little suitcase, followed He put
his wife and baby in the tonneau, but
was too nervous himself to join them
there, and walked up and down the
whenever a screen-door banged, to look
for Ellen.
Suddenly they saw her, In doorway
hundred feet away, talking to some
other marketing woman. The same
Ellen, with her blue honest eyes and
her sensitive, sweet mouth There
was some new quality in her face and
manner: what was it?-responsibility,
gravity, tenderness, Joe could not tell.
He walked up to her. and she raised
surprised eyes.
'Mornin', Mis- Josselynl"
The puzzled look in her eyes changed
swiftly, and she put her hands out and
caught at him vaguely, as If to hold
dream.
"Joe Latimerl Joel'' She CROPPED
for her handkerchief, laughing as she
wiped her eyes; tears of Joy stood in
his own. "But Joe dear, what brings
you herel simply can't believe It'll
I can't believe my eyes p she said.
Lizzie brought mer' Joe grinned.
Ellen dropped his hand to go swiftly to
the motorcar
Lizzie !" she echoed radiantly. Her
eyes fell upon the bundle in Lizzie's
arms, across which Lizzie must lean to
return her kiss "But-but-whati !"
Ellen stammered. "You-you two
haven't got baby?"
Joe thought that one moment was
worth all the fatigue of the long trip.
Haven't weT he said, as Ellen,
standing on the curb with the precious
bundle In her arms, opened the tissues
that screened the tiny face, and bent
her own cheek against the warm, unre-
sponsive little cheek.
well, / have never had such a de-
licious surprise in my lifel" Ellen ex-
claimed. you darling!" she crooned
to the baby. What did you name him,
Joe?"
1--WE thought good name for him
would be Ellen" grinned joe 1t was
good to hear her old laugh again, and
see the pleasure in her eyes as she
glanced from face to face.
Named for me? My own tiny niecel
All, Joe, you make me proud |" She
gave the baby back to Lizzie. and
stood for. moment, resting her hands
on the car door, and still trying to re-
gain her breath after the surprise.
"Well, now, I'll take you homel may
have something else to do while I'm
in town, but 1t has gone completely out
of my head, If hayel 1 can't wait to
get home, to show Gibbs what I've
brought with me-"
Talking of little, inconseQuent
things, as those who love each other,
and who meet after years, always must
do at first they drove through the
dusty street, and past fiat fields where
great oaks threw blots Of shade on the
shining brown grass, and so climbed a
curving road into the hills.
Here and there on the slopes brown
bungalow chung, half-hidden in trees.
Ellen pointed at a sloping roof, half
way between the ridge and the shore.
That's the house." she told them.
1T belonged to Mr.. Perry, who knew
Gibbs, you know, and he loaned 1t to
us at first. But we loved 1t so we
couldn't think of moving away. and a
year ago Gibbs bought It,"
IT'S wonderful life to me-" Ellen
admitted thoughtfully. And as she
made no motion to start the car. but
sat twisted about in her seat, looking
down vaguely at the sea. Joe wondered
again what that new look in her eyes
meant. 1--WE can't get enough of It,"
she added. TITS all so deliciously sim
pie, and so free: like being children
again. It's taken us back to our sum-
merS in BRITTANY George and Harriet
were here in--in July, / think it was.
Gibbs friends are always going and
coming through San Francisco. and
they come down."
Lord, what air r. Joe said, with
deep breath. The sweet odor of the
pines was drifting through the still
warmth.
"Oh, it's marvellous Joe. December
is apt to have days like this, and Feb
ruary Is great month for picnlcsl /"
Ellen said. eagerly. "What wanted