The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-08-29
A Way Around a
Difficulty
BY ELINOR MARSH

Nell. The old lady had the usual sell
ishness OF one Of her age and condition
and would not on any account consen
that Alice should marry.
But, grandma" argued the girl
Suppose. marry and you continued 4
live with me?'
THAT wouldn't do at all. No hous,
is large enough for two families. No
Alice, you can't marry as long as
live. took you when you were lit
tie girl, and but for me you would hav,
had no home. Now that | have NJ
home but with you, II is your duty t
remain single and take care Of me-"
That ended the dialogue Alice sigh
ed, for she had lover who was argu
ing on the other side of the question
He admitted that Alice should con
tinue to make home for her grand
mother, but he offered TO take upon
himself case of mother-in-law or
rather, of grandmother-in-law, which
was worse, and argued that the old
woman should be satisfied with this
nothing but Alice's spinsterhood there
was nothing for 1t except that Alice
should remain a spinster.
Fred Martin, Alice's lover. finally
persuaded her to marriage which
should be concealed from her grand
mother. The old lady was so feeble
that the couple did not expect her to
live very long, and while she did live
this plan would enable Alice TO take
care of her on her grandmother's own
conditions or course it would be
hard on Fred and Alice, but after all
grow old separated or better even than
case of misunderstanding, for, SO
far as the old woman was concerned
Fred would be nonexistent.
So the couple were married and
Fred fitted up house near where his
wife lived, he taking up his abode IN
single blessedness, except when Alice
could visit him. The old lady went to
bed at 8 o'clock, and when she was
asleep Alice would slip out and go to
the home where she really belonged
They kept maid, so that If Mrs
Haskins woke up and Alice wasn't on
hand the maid could say she had step.
ped around the corner to buy some.
thing
This was not exactly home life but
as Fred was at work all day, not re.
turning usually till after O'clock, II
n co hod xvaG oh
gatory on his wife to hurry home. BY
and by Alice told her grandmother
that she must go to a hospital for
few weeks, and the old lady was
obliged to remain In care of the maid
After Alice was discharged from the
hospital there was period when she
was continually running out for some
thing But she could not go often |
enough for her purpose, so one morn |
ing when she was away and the maid |
was engaged the old lady answered a |
ring at the doorbell, and there on the |
step was a three-weeks- old baby.
Mrs. Haskins took the little thing up |
in her arms. and when Alice came
home she found her grandmother
dandling 1t on her knee in q very
sort of way The old lady
wouldn't consent that the child should
be sent away, so Alice was obliged to
divide its motherhood with her. 1t
wasn't long before the one woman
was as fond of the child as the other
Then one day the postman brought
a note signed by a man who claimed
to be the babys father, saying that he
regretted parting with it and asking
that 1t be sent to him. This put the
old lady in great distress. Alice wrote
a letter to the father-at her grand
dictation-begging the father
to leave the child where It was, he {
being permitted TO come and see it
whenever he liked
This brought man who gave his
name as Frederick Martin, and after
, conference in which he insisted that
lnless they would take him TO board he
would take the child away. Mrs. Has ,
iins consented. and the family was ,
increased by one man. I
After awhile Fred began TO pour a G
ale of woe into Mrs. Haskins' ear. 7
lis wife had deserted him and her r
hid for her grandmother. The old e
ady was so indignant at the "old l
rome" as she called the grandmother, e
hat she could scarcely contain her a
elf.
Meanwhile the old lady noticed that ;.
red and Alice were together good !.
cal. and she wished Fred's wife :.
would die so that he could marry Alice
nd the baby could have mother as
veil as a father. When the pear was
ipe Fred came home one evening and q,
nnounced that his wife was mo y
lore."
He tried hard to appear respectful to II
is wife'S memory. but found it diff
ult. This was not remarkable since pi
he departed had treated both her
usband and her child SO badly Mrs.
taskins averred that no respect what in
yer was due her: that she had been n y
lulless, shameless creature. and the al
ooner Martin forgot her the better S
s for Alice. she maintained a discreet
lence. which her grandmother attrib-
ted 70 an expectation that she would
Ike the lost wife's place
The old lady after this was very i'm oi
itient 10 learn that the widower had
'oposed to Alice She was not long !,
-Haa- ]