The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-07-17
AN ANSWERED
PR AVER
By Nj. QUAD
By Nj. QUAD
Copyright. 1918, by Associated Lit
erary Press.


Gregg's wife as they sat together one
evening,
Mr.. Gregg nodded and sighed HE
vas a bored husband. His wife had
serious subject to bring up every
week or two.
You know our Polly" queried the
wife in half doubling way.
Mr.. Gregg was the father of Polly
and ought to be fairly we'll acquainted
with her He nodded his head
"Polly has another beau. ard ! want
to know what we are going 10 do
about it,
Il can't do anything" slowly replied
the husband after moments thought,
"but you can"
WHAT"
"You can butt in and crowd Polly
ont and do the counting yourself. as
You have done with every other beau
she has had.'
Henry Gregg. may the Lord for
give you. for | never can. walled the
wife as she covered her face with her
hands.
But I'm right" he defended. Sup
pose that when a young man called
here to see Polly | went to the door to
shake hands with him and tell him I
was glad to see him.
Suppose I sat beside him in the
parlor for fifteen minutes limiting
around how nice it would he when he
op6 palIy warn ma rrip6 "
Suppose | dinged ii at him that
Polly was an angel and that he would
never have a chance to marry an
other
Henry Gregg, you are an unnatural
father, and I'll never speak another
word to you on this matter. If Polly
lives to be ninety years old and never
marries it will be all your fault
1t was common gossip that Mrs.
Gregg was SO crazy to marry Polly off
that she was making fool of herself.
No one had given her tip. and the
girl had heard nothing. No one blam-
ed her She was sweet. sensible girl
and didn't even realize that there was
too much mother and not enough of
herself about the AFFAIRS.
Mrs. Gregg had received bad set
back from her husband. She felt that
he had usurped a privilege as sacred
as the COW of India. A daughters love
affairs and matrimonial prospects
ought TO be left entirely in IA mothers
hands. The wife had said that she
wouldn't discuss the matter further
with her husband and she meant to
keep her word. but she must talk to
somebody She hardly dared trust Il
woman, but who then:
"Why. the minister IF my church, of
course" she replied after casting about
for day or two.
"Are you in trouble, Sister Gregg
asked the good man as she entered his
study with tears in her eyes.
yves; great trouble
Concerning your husband?'
"Partly. He has come between me
and Polly"
Hem. How is that?"
"Why, he says I'm to let her beaus
alone and that she is to manage her
own affairs Did you ever hear the
hke?'
Her parson had heard all the gossip
about Mrs. Gregg butting in. Parsons
know what is going on in their parishes
as well as anybody else, but they don't
repeat the gossip.
"How old is Polly?" was asked.
"Going on twenty"
"Hem, And she has another beauE
"Yes-Will Somers."
"And he calls at the house,
, 1.-TWO or three times week"
81 see. Young Mr.. Somers is highly
spoken Of
Hes just as nice as can be. par
SON"
"But Mr.. Gregg objects to him."
ooh. no, no.
"Then / don't exactly understand.
"Why, want him to know that I'm
clad he's counting Polly, and Mr.. Gregg
says I'll drive him away. He calls it
butting in"
Dyes, believe I've heard the word
before. Sister Gregg. don't you think
Polly is old enough to be courted:"
"Why, yes"
"And to be courted the way other
girls are?'
without me around?" was asked.
The parson nodt'ad his head.
"But-but | wdnt Mr.. SomerS to
know-know"
Hell know
'Then you won't advise me-
'T never mix up with family matters
IL can avoid it
"WelI," said the discouraged woman
as she rose to go. IF you won't advise
me l shall at least hope you will pray
for me-
"Um,'' replied the parson. leaving
the matter very much in doubt,
Three weeks later Mrs. Gregg fell on
an icy sidewalk and broke leg. After
a couple of weeks the pastor made a
call. as it was his duty to do. He
found her mending and cheerful. She
welcomed him with smile and said:
81 have some news for you. Poll!
and Mr.. Somers are engaged
"Ah, indeed
''She told me this morning
Happy to hear it.
"And I want to say how thankful /
am that you prayed for me. Yon did
pray. didn't you:''
"Hem Hem, Well. sister If ! did
not exactly pray thought how nice
It would be for you to be laid up for
several weeks and give Polly a show
to do some counting, and my though,
seems to have been answered..