Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-04-12

onu cSuuIu6 III SUInt UuiHSb W 6dJ-
| shouldn't wonder if you know ex-
actly what Mary Ellen likes best to
eat"
Kelly departed bithely in search Of
the cab, but not before he had sol
EMMY shaken hands with the little
widow.
The cab came quickly, the old gen.
tleman put the widow and her toma-
to can into it and installed himself
beside her and they talked-of, how
these two congenial people talked en-
route for Mary BlNen's! At the end
of the ride, the old gentleman knew
all about Susan's family, including
Cbowny, the cat, and Jack, the fur
mace mans fox terrier-and all about
Mary EHen's charms and projections
and all about Susan Is own secretest
longings and beliefs. He was the
kind of an old gentleman a blind wi
dow Of six can confide in.
It didn't really seem a minute from
the time when they got into the cab
until they were sitting on the one
chair that Mrs. Rafferty's bedroom
offened-SuSan ON the old gentle
mans knee-and we've explaining to
Mrs. Rafferty,, sick in bed, and to
Mary Ellen, speechlesS ith amaze
ment, beside the bed, that the rent
was going to be paid; and that the
grocer and baker and butcher and
mikman would soon be leaving heaps
of things at the door; and that Mary
Ellen was going to stay with some
nice Irish people the old gentleman
knew while her mother was in the
hospital getting well. ...
They had a beautiful time-all Of
them. Mrs. Rafferty, cried and scat
tered fervent blessings, and the old
gentleman sympathized and advised
and encouraged, and Susan told
Mary Ellen about being blind widow
with six children, and Mary Ellen lis
tened, half to the old gentleman and
half to Susan, with open mouth and
Dulging eyes.
Only when the two visitors were
departing did the gift of speech re-
urn to Susan's erstwhile garrulous
guide, philosopher and friend.
Good by, Mary Elem" Susan said
happily.
Going home WASH t as much fun as
going to Mary Ellens. Susan had a
amounting to conviction,
hat she was late for luncheon and
hat Jane would already have search
ed the Circle for her in vain. Pun
Shment doomed large before her, and
though she was still willing to take
/, if need be, she wished most fer
,ently that she could dodge it.
Watching through the upper baluS-
.ers a half hour later, Susan saw her
mother and the old gentleman come
out from the drawing room and walk
Down the hall in friendly fashion.
And as she looked, suddenly the front
loOr burst open and Jane erupted
rom out of doors, red faced, excited,
short of breath, trimming over with
lire tidings.
"Oh, if you please, M-Miss Susan
amt anywheres at all. and I've
been"
Thank you, Jane. That will do"
Mrs. Carriers smooth
tones. Miss Susan is upstairs. You
may serve luncheon
moment later she called Susan
and the culprit went draggingE down
the stairs, bracing herself for woe to
come by remembrance of Mrs. Raffer-
tvs blessings and Mary Ellen's prais
but in the dining room she found
mother with a very loving face, who
gathered the small sinner tenderly
into her arms and kissed her.
Tell mother about your plans next
time, dearie," she urged-but that
was all.
Not even a word of reproof, and,
remembering lesser offences and
their dire consequences, Susan mar
vehed. She did not know that JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States had pleaded her cause
with all the eloQuence he could mus
ter and had won his case.