Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-01-20
RECONC|LED
BY ACCIDENT,
The Girl That Helped Johns
Mother In an Emergency.
BY CLARA LOUISE OTIS.

tdfDltN ~ tEtNCNilue NDItF-
The woman IN the kitchen smiled in
spite Of hersrlf The dear child" she
murmured happily. so much like his
father then to the child. tall
,nuug man Of twenty four just enter
ing the kl>hen; You're early tonight
dear supper won't be ready for ten
minutes
ooh that's all right" John Nil
iiamS gave his mother vigorous hug
How is nloIherT
We'll And john
Pine. Say, morherr
"NpS. dear:"
How would you like a daughteriu
law"
Mary Wilkins set down the frying
pan and faced her son with - duzed
expression "A daughter-in-lnw:" She
repeated ounkly \ binding rush OF
tears can,e tu her eyes. and the little
room seemed Go be whirins around.
"Oh. Jnhu" was -! she said. bur the
bitter disappointment Of those twoI
words wns not lost on the young man.
I'm sorry he said briefly aud left
the room
Memories one after the other crowd
ed fast before her Her husband had
died wheu Juhu was three. and they
had been 81 happy. And since john
had grown Ia manhood how happy
he had made her Yet-yet he was
going 10 bring another woman there
another wnnnu, The odor of scorrh-
ing meat mld,. her start
Come suppcr'S ready she called
in what was intended to be- her natural
voice.
Tell me about it," faltered Mary
after they had SAT- IN silence for some
minutes
Not If you don't want to hear moth.
err
The hurt proud tones brought con
triton TO her heart
Il do want to hear The words
were true in more ways than one
"Her name is Kitty Kitty Marvin"
"And"-
"Oh. mother. mother! I've wanted
TO tell you So Are you sure you
want TO hear?'
Yes. yes" She flashed out the
words lest John should divine her sink
ing heart She smiled too
Seeing only his mothers smile. John
launched into the dear topic "She
hasn't lived here long. only since May
| didn't tell you because-well TO tell
the truth was afraid you'd be all
cut up about IT, Besides. it wasn't
settled until last night Why. mother.
you're crying! Are you sorry?'
no. no. Tm-glad. Go on
Il met her last year out at the lake
Do you remember my speaking Of
those girls out there? / knew then
she was the only one in the world for
me- John spoke very softly
SO he had cherished this girl in his
heart a whole year, and she had
thought herself to be his all in all.
Wasn't 1t strange. mother" went
on the young man in a sifbdued voice.
as if his happiness was still a won
derful thing to be reverenced and held
in swe-"wasn't It strange that she
should move here. not knowing it was
my homer
Yes. Tell me everything, dear"
IAN right She is little and slim and
has gray eyes" Mary Williams WAS
built on generous, capable lines. and
her eyes were brown Her hair is
like yours-brown and heavy. She
gives music lessons. Mary had no
accomplishments except housekeeping.
"She sings, too-oh, mother, you ought
to hear her sing! And she is as quick
as bird and the prettiest dancer"
Can she cook?"
Well, | don't know but she can do
everything else You see. there are so
many in her family that it's hard to
tell just who does do the work. / know
she can sew, for she showed me n
dress last night that she made"
Aftel the supper work was done and
John had gone Off whistling Mary sat |
down by the FIRE 20 God. give me |
strength to bear itr she prayed fierce
iy, holding tight 70 the arms ur the |
chair. then relaxing in sudden burst
of resentful tears. How can he |
how can he bring that girl here that |
Kitty ran her rebcllious thoughts. |
and she forgot about her PRAYER |
why. her very name sounds good for |
nothing. II | was an old woman it |
would be different but I'm only forty |
seven and MS strong as ever This Is |
my house, my own house. aud | keep
il my own way Yet a girl is going TO |
come IN and shove me back-me. who /
owes John more than she ever could, |
Don't | always come home early from |
sewing society SO as 20 have Johns /
supper on time? Don't make his
shirts. when almost every man buys
them ready made? Wouldnt / do his
washing If be would let me? Oh. She
can't love him as | doG Probably she
won't even let him smoke in peace
Oh, she can't come-she just cau'tr'
For an hour she poured out the re
bellion in her soul to the leaplng. SYM
pathetic FIRE. then sank back exhaust
ed How selfish | amw she cried
aloud I'm have to bear it. Johns
q man now" AS she grew more calm
she looked with disgust at her out.
hurst II act like babvf rrnnes r., |