Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-07-03
- ANN, ~
Father 'sRelper
By JANE OSBORNE

When George Walton's friend Jack
Gray said he had been transferred
from New York to San Francisco
and that be was worrying about what
to do with the little home he had
bought at Bredon, nearby town that
boasted smaR college, George had
an inspiration.
''I1l rent the house myself" said
he. "It's just che sort of quiet place
I'm looking for where can finish
this story I'm writing"
One September day George estab.
hshed himself in the Gray bunga'
low on the outskirts. Of Bredon. He
considered himself lucky. The house
was charming He didn't know a
soul, 80 he need fear no interruption.
And he had a thoroughly reliable
housekeeper IN the person Of middle
aged Mrs. Bridget Magoon. who bad
kept his bachelor apartments In town
and whose only drawback was her
motherless grandson, Patsy LearE
aged two and half years.
On the morning after hts arrival
George was dwelling on his many
blessings when his reveries were In
terrupted by q quick rap on the
screen door. He looked up to see a
young gtrl-perhaps Just past twenty
"a comfortable. substantial looking
sort OF girl, with fresh color, warm
brown eyes ard a definite way OF
doing things, George could tell that
by tho way she put one firm brown
hand on the knob of Che door.
MAY I come tn?" she asked. isn't
this the Gray bungalow"
Assuring her that 1t was, George
stumbled over a chair in his hurry to
open the door. He begged her to be
seated and after she had composed
herself comfortably in one of the
wide wicker chairs, he sat down op-
posite her.
You're Just the person want to
see." she said. and George felt nat
tered you see, I'm Miss STAGE. Ann
STAGE. And Im visiting my brother,
Walter STAGE. came for only a few
weeks, but he wants me 20 stay the
winter. You know, brothers an in
structor at the college, and like all
the rest of them he's as poor aa a
church mouse. So told him I
wouldn't stay unless I could earn
enough money b take care OF my
self. I'm not bit clever, and don't
know how TO teach or do anything.
Bat the other day had an idea.
81 hate to play cards and l lore 20
take care of chndren-that's Just the
opposite OF most Of the women about
here. There's a card club at least
once a week-and cord parties IN be-
tween and trips 10 town for shop
ping and the matinee And ell tfe
| girls who are married to faculty peo-
PIKE get their husbands to take care
of their children afternoons when
they want to have good time. 80 J
thought I'd be not mothers helper.
exactly but-a fathers helper.
Ann ended her recital GREATNESS
and laughing.
isn't it Jolly idea?" she went on.
"And it isn't a bit expensive for you
fathers. Club afternoons ! entertain
the children for fifteen cents apiece
and call for and deliver them. too.
For o quarter apiece take them on
other days-private treatment, you
know, and / have to charge more. TO-
there ain't so many children those
days.
Walters wife knows Mrs. Gray
not very web, but they belong 10 che
same club So she sent me over to
see you. I thought maybe you'd be
one of my customers"
For the first time Ann stopped
long enough, to let George explain.
She looked at him appea.ingly from
her soft brown eyes.
"But I'm not Mr.. Gray" said
George, with real regret. I'm just
MIR. Walton. The Grays have gone
Unexpectedly to California, and rye
taken their bungalow. You see. /
write stories"
"Oh, I'm SO sorry," apologized
Ann Il must have seemed so
stupid. / really beg your pardon"
George was casting about for an
excuse to detain the charming Ann,
when Patsy ran in*o the room. He
had bright blue eyes and bright vel
low hair. His face was pink end
frecNed and his baby lips smiled
bewiteaingIy Or be Fan confidently
up to George
"Oh, but after ALL" said Ann, when
she saw the boy, maybe you do want
me. Isn't he a dear"
isn't he, now?" said George with
t.-vor, as an idea for seeing more
Of Ann came into his head
"And Mrs. Walton does play cards.
[ suppose?. questioned Ann.
"Why-you see blunoeTed
George, "Mrs. Walton's not here"
"Oh!" AIMS monosyllable was
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