Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-19
JOINING FORCES

observed his mother, Is he gave heI
the goodbye kiss. What's set thee
to dressing like that, just going into
town."
her as he drove away
Hiram was eagerly at the show
house He took a front seat and
waited impatietnIy for the curtain TO
rise After a time the music began;
loud and harsh it was, but he did not
know the difference His ear had
never been trained to music Soon
But she was not there! Where was
she? Then he learned that she did
not appear till the second scene:
At length the curtain dropped on
the first scene and the people loudly
applauded. There was a pause. then
the music began again and the cur
tain rose. Amid chorus OF applause
the Prima Donna came into view The
stage was full of men, but the man
on the front seat had eyes only for
one being-but-could that be his
Mary Ann!-that woman, large and
coarse looking? How red her cheeks
wereI He could see the daubs of
paint from where he sat He had
heard that women sometimes painted,
but that she should do it! Perhaps
they had to when they sang in pub
lie. Wouldn't she be glad not to have
to do such things, to get away from
must long to leave it ALL
A shrill note sounded She was sing
ing. He watched her but could not
understand word. 1t seemed to
him that she screeched too loudly
This was not the voice he loved Why
didn't she sing the dear old songs in
her own sweet voice? What had
changed her so?
Then the acting began Those men
what had they to do with her? They
rrTnT- foil nd ST no
was gesticulating, too, and seemed to
be in distress, but he could not tell
what it was all about He didn't
know singing in public was like This!
Suddenly he saw her throw herself
into the arms of one @ the men.
man with a bloated face and bold
eye, who loudly planted a kiss on her
red lips. \ loathing of it all seized
him, even of the girl Ge used to love.
And she liked it, he could see thati
Hiram was glad when the curtain
dropped for the last time. Still he sat
in kind of dazed fascination, for
they were calling her hack with loud
cheers And she returned with
smiles to bow her thanks And shs
was glad. How could she enjoy it,
Her face-how coarse it had become!
She looked directly at him with no
sign of recognition-she couldn't have
forgottenI He felt himself recoiling
from her and hoped she didn't know
| him that he should be there.
Hiram rade slowly homeward
After the supper dishes were washed
and Lucille was tenderly laid in bed,
Hiram astonished his mother by say
ing: I'm going out tonight, mother;
| don't stay up for me-
Take good care of myself, son."
was her admonition- ''Thee's getting
a little giddy, fear. otter being in
| town all day to go out again tonight.
do III
It's all right, mother" he assured
| her.
He walked across the field to the
home of Cynthia Forbes There was
a new light in his eye, his back was
erect and his step firm 1t had been
many a year since he had entered
| Cynthia's door, but he had seen her
nearly every day. They had always
lived side by side. They played to-
gethcr in childhood. 1t Used to be said
they would wed. till Mary Ann came;
! "Good-evening, Cynthia accosted
Hiram. feeling boyish and awkward
Then without preamble he blurted.
I've been thinking, Cynthia, you and
| me had better hitch on together"
She started and something like
blush overspread her face. He sat
awkwardly on the edge of his chair.
his feet spread apart, and his hands
twirling, but he had begun and kept
right on in his honest. straightfCr-
ward way.
You're living alone with no one
! to care for You. and no one to do for
YOU. Tain't right Moti4er'H soon be
| gone; she's getting old, L need you
Why not join forces? VIII you marry
me. Cynthia ?''
But" she hesitated, do you
| really-care for me-"
Yes, 1 care for you a whole lot,
| Cynthia" he beamed out of his hon
| est blue eyes, "more'n for anybody
| else in the whole world-'cept mother
an Lucille"
| She held out her hand.
| I've always loved you, Hiram"
| she confessed, ever since 1 was
little girl. I'll do the best I can for
| you."-Boston Record.
| Senators of the Canadian Federal
| Parliament are paid $1,000 per annum,
| with a deduction of SIS for every day