The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-01
HAPPILY
FOOLED
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

My dear" said Mr.. Phillips to his
wife, don't you think that Lucy
should be thinking about providing for
herself by marrying?'
Lucy marry! Why, my goodness
gracious. the child isn't four months
past fifteen She won't be thinking
about matrimony for three or four
years yet at least. and If she goes to
college it's more likely to be six or
seven. What put that into your head!
"Why. was thinking-you know how
much money have lost lately--thi
Tommy Harding who came home with
her from school the other day will
come into quite fortune when he is
twenty-one. If the kids could be unit
ed l wouldn't worry about Lucy AS
1t is I'm constantly wondering what
you and she would do in case l should
be cut off"
you're not going to be cut of. At
any rate, nothing can be done abont
marrying Lucy till she has got out of
childhood. Why. she's scarcely left OF
playing with her doll"
"Well, suppose you're right about
it. Lucy is only child. and she's got
her education before her"
Nevertheless the husbands sugges-
| ton effected lodgment in his wife's
mind, and she regretted that the chill
dren were too young to be brought TO-
gether. Tommy was nice boy. and
1t was known that he would come into
a substantial fortune. Mrs. Phillips
would have liked to bridge over three
or four years for her daughter, though.
since Tommy was but year older
than Lucy, he would need even more
time than this to develop into full man
hood
However. the matter Of uniting the
children when they should become old
er had got into Mrs. Phillips head.
and she couldn't let the matter alone.
One day Mr.. Phillips said to her:
"What's become of Tommy? ! have
not seen him around here for long
while"
He's not coming SO much now as he
did"
whats the troublef"
well. it's your fault. You seemed
to be so anxious that Lucy should se-
cure his fortune that In order tO help
the matter out sort OF teased Lucy
about him
"You mean in order to crafty your
curiosity"
Anyway. what I said proved that
my claim that she was too young to
| hsvU i,
childish friendship has been broken by
suggesting love-"
81 see."
"If you hadn't got it into your head
that a marriage could be arranged be
tween two children 1t all might nave
come about in time of itself"
"Rather II you had stuck to your
. own opinion and let the matter alone
!. Lucy might have in the end been pro
vided for"
s A month or two later another dia
I logue took place between Mr.. and Mrs
S Phillips about what the former callet
9 "scaring the children Of"
t pa" said the lady. Il think what
ever damage l did when spoke tt
r Lucy about Tommy may have passed
g met them coming home from schoo
r the other day. and they were walking
n together. Tommy was carrying Lu
q cy's books. She looked put out whel
!. she saw me. And Tommy handed ne
y her books and went OF In another di
T. rectiOn. I'm sorry ! said anything t
is make them feel embarrassment Sucl
n things should never be suggested be
n tween children. 1t takes away tn
Ia freedom, the sweet innocence Of child
hood"
II expressed wish, and you acte
p upon it, which was the worst thin
p you could have done. Don't think an
|. more about 1t. BY the time the kid
n get old enough to marry they'll bot
/ have changed and each will MARI
some one else"
The last conversation between thes
fond parents was In this wise. MI
G Phillips had arisen and was standln
y before the glass shaving. His VIII
had gone forth In wrapper and cul
papers to waken Lucy:
"Oh. my goodness gracious. pa!'
what is ity' turning sharply wit
It razor In his hand ana One-naiI III
Ia face lathered. the other side smoot
:, His wife staggered to chair.
Lucy Is not in her room"
"Where Is she?"
10 "She isn't in the house."
ID mot in the hOuse!'
IN mo" = pathetically ! "she's m
s. away"
re- "How do you know
" The lady extended bit of pape
Or from which she read:
Te Dear Mamma and Papa-Forgive U
We know we're doing very wrong. b
"a. we can't help 1t. We love each other iu
too dearly for anything.
no "What does 1t meaE?"
.s II don't know. II Lucy wasn't
-, very young I would think she hi
.. eloped."