The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-06-21
Their
Elders
BY EDWARD MOBERLY

us OuNOC'
"Lady to see you, sir" announced
the youngster, laying a card upon
the blue print which his employer
was s%crutinizing.
In a moment the owner Of the
card appeared. She was a comedy
young person, CARRIED in a tailored
suit and possessed of the attractive
combination Of golden hair and
brown eyes.
"Good morning, Miss MasonF"
exclaimed MacWilliams, as he
placed a chair for her. 'What
brings you into a region where pro-
sale industry holds sway?"
"a rather difficult errand, Mr..
MacWilliams," she replied nervous
ly. "To come to the point, father
told me last night that he has be-
come engaged to your mother"
'Whewl Nothing slow about
your father, is there? But then they
both had the advantage Of previous
experience. Mother hasn't seen fit
to break the news to me yet"
'Well, they've done it, and I've
come to see what you think we
ought to do about it."
81 don't see that we can do any
thing" said MacWilliams dubious
ly. "In fact, Pm rather inclined to
cay that your father has displayed
excellent taste. l must admit, how
ever, that / am not enamored of
the idea of mothers marrying
again"
"That's just the way I feel about
it." agreed the girl eagerly. "Your
mothers a lovely woman. No one
can deny that and if this thing
must be done, I am glad it is TO
be she-but, somehow, when Think
Of another taking mothers place, l
just cant reconcile myself to it."
81 understand" he said gently.
81 feel the same way about my
father"
'Do you think, then, that We
might take some action with a view
to breaking off the-er-affair?'
was her hopeful question.
"Ye-es, we might attempt some
thing" was his deliberate answer
'but I've always understood, Mis-!
Mason, that messing in the low
affairs of others is likely to bring
more discomfort to the messers thar
it does to the messees. However
since our wishes in this matter ru1
parallel, l will see if l can do any
thing with mother"
After a week had elapsed Mac
Williams ventured to call on her.
"Well," she asked.
"WellP" he also asked.
Odd you-?" both began, an,
then their laughter overcame them
"To be frank, / didn't" he con
fessed. 81 had an excellent oppo1
tunity, too. Mother told me abou
it. the night after you anne t
the Office. Instead of trying t
throw cold water on her plans, T.
be blessed if l didn't find mysel
murmuring congratulations.
"Miss Mason, / very much feo
that I shall be able to do but littl
in this case. My mother is a yer
capable woman, who knows jul
what she is about. When my fathe
died she took hold of his great bus
nGss and not only held it intact, br
extended it until / had been brougf
up and trained to fill his place.
"She never sets out to do a thin
until she has bestowed due consider
alton upon it, but when she does 81
out she is a splendid example j
singleness of purpose. She is 81
upon this marriage, and I confess
haven't the nerve to turn her aside.
"My report is much the same,
admitted the girl. q simply do ne
know how to go about dissuadin
father. He is like your mother. &
never does a thing without thinl
ing carefully upon it."
MacWilliams made other cal
upon Miss Mason to report progre
and to receive reports of progress,
he said, but their report bore main.
upon the progress made by the old
folks in their preparations for the
marriage.
ut begins to look as if we sha
simply stand aside without a pr
test and let them marry each other
said Miss Mason dolefully one ev
ming when the wedding was not 4
~ Hsnd ali hacauee neither Of I