The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-23
What Mothers Forget

really glad, that Lon is not home
this evening! He has such decided
views. Besides. he has always said
that when his daughter WAS old
enough to have callers he intended
to take his newspaper and stay in
the room to chaperon her. ] can't
seem to make him see how unnatur.
al and awkward he would make the
poor child by doing SO.
"Of course" she admitted. Elise
is only fourteen and 1t Is absurd TO
say that Roy is real caller. but it's
the first time boy has ever come
formally to see Elise. She asked him
to her class dance and his sister
'phoned today that he was going to
do the proper thing and call tonight.
Why, I'm as nervous as ! can be.
mother! After Roy gets here I'm
going upstairs so that Elise wont
feel embarrassed. II Lon were here
he'd embarrass the children TO
death. That meeting downtown was
providentIal."
When the bell rang Mrs. C!urger
and her mother rose precipitately
and the former welcomed with de-
termined cordially the flushed and
painfully dressed-up boy of sixteen
who was ushered in. At Elise's
naughty entrance. slightly married by
her short skirts and stumble over
the rug. her mother hastily and
mirthfully withdrew.
1T brings back memories Of my
own" said the elder woman with
cheerful malice.
He'll be gone by o'clock" mur-
INJURED Mrs. Clurger, as she proceed
ed to write some letters.
At a quarted past she looked up
with start.
''Mercy!' she said. What can
they find to talk about? Lon'll be
home any time now-and he loves SO
to tease! / wouldn't hurt Roy's feel
ings for the world! think-yes.
ri drop my shoes over their heads. ="
Two heavy thumps resulted in no
cessation of the chatter in the lib
rary below. Mrs. Clurger began
walking up and down.
II never thought to tell Elise that
he mustn't stay late" she murmur-
ed, II thought she'd know that!"
you always said under like cir
cumstances." put in her mother. who
was enjoying herself very much,
that you couldn't very we'll tell the
boys to go home and that you were
helpless in the situation. ! fancy
Elise is helpless also"
III 1t wasn't for Lon!" worried
Mrs. Clurger, discreetly passing by
the "reminiscences of her early life.
II can understand that Elise doesn't
know what to do or how to get rid
of Roy or that Roy doesn't know
how to make his escape--but you
know how man is, Why, Lon
would Just roar with laughter II he
came In. at 10 and found his four
teen-year-old daughter sitting up en-
tertaining caller"
She went out on the stair landing.
Roy" she called sweetly. when
you go home-when you go home.
I say. would you mind telling your
sister that wish she'd call me up on
the phone tomorrow. as l want to
speak to herr"
mo, ma'am, not at ALL" responded
Roy with nervous heartiness.
The conversation IN the library
was resumed.
II had no idea that Elise had
| enough things to talk about to fiji
fifteen minutes" said Mrs. Clurger,
plaintively. II have another idea
Gracious! Was that Lon on the front
porch?"
She flew to her desk telephone and
calling up the telephone exchange.
asked the operator to ring the bell
of the downstairs telephone. 1t was
Elise's task to answer that bell. For
FIVE minutes the downstairs tele-
phone bell sized and rang spasmod-
ically, but to deaf ears. In the II.
brary Elise was playing the perfect
lady. to whom telephones were things
to be attended to by housemaids or
small children.
Mrs. CIurger was nearly in tears.
what shall do mother?" she wall
ed. Il simply can't walk down and
| tell that boy to go home-his moth
er and sister would be furious! Why
| hasn't he some sense?"
Excuse me for laughing" said
her mother. II have done what you
are doing so many times In my life.
never really saw justice overtake
a sinner before. l really can't SYM
pathize with you as I should"
III Lon comes!" breathed Mrs.
Ciurger, nervousiy starting at foot
steps on the sidewalk. "Oh, II I
could get hold Of Elise,"
1t was twenty minutes of eleven
when Elise's caller departed. When
she came upstairs her mother grab
bed her.
II hear your fathers latchkey,"
she almost Kissed. Hurry into your
room and don't dare make a light to
go to bed byt II he knew"
Elise fled from her mothers hands
like the wind. Mrs. Clurger drew
her first long brearh NJ relief as her