Saint Mary's beacon., 1916-07-20
A MISTAKEN GOAL
BY mELLA m,cALLuM.

letter, the one hope Of her life seemed
frustrated. Aud all because pretty Con-
stance Moon had written home from
college, that she was engaged to q
certain young rhetoric instructor. It
sounded harmless enough, surely, but
to Mary II spelled tragedy.
For Mary herself had married young
and rashly. Five years she had lived
with John Moon. Then, after mark
ediy protracted spree, he had merci-
fully died. Then and there, she had
vowed manless existence thenceforth.
She had three dollars In money and a
two-year-old baby girl, but she had
something else as well-a fierce de-
termination.
At first she worked at anything she
could get to keep them alive. But she
had a fair education, and. after a
while, she managed to secure dis
trict school. She made an excellent
teacher. She saved money fiercely.
For by that time she had made up
her mind to climb high In the teach
ers' profession.
After three years Mary had saved
enough to pay for one year at nor
mai school and thither they went. At
the end OF the year. although her
money was nearly gone. Mary had
made up her mind to stay.
Three years more. and Mary had fln-
Ished her course. She got her life
certificate and a good position.
Years passed happy ones. Mary's
corners were all sm0othed down now.
She had Independence. social position.
and beautiful. sunny-natured. qui9k-
minded daughter. Constance finished
high school easily, and was at last sent
to college.
Mary answered the girls glowing let
ters, telling Of her engagement, In
hummer which she fancied thoroughly
diplomatic. But when Constance
finally came home. even Mary gasped
at the vision. Always lovely, the girl
was now glorified with a mist OF
dreams. But that did not deter Mary.
She made up her mind TO break on
the match, and save Constance from
what she firmly believed would prove
Disaster.
But for the first time in her life
Mnry ran against an Impassable
snag Constance was welI-nlgh Inn
pregnable, enveioped in the armor OF
dreams.
| At last Mary's cautious campaign
collapsed, and she lost control OF her
self.
s'For twenty years have fought 10
put yot1 where you are. You have edu-
cation. culture. and good looks. You
are better equipped TO earn money than
most men. Your future Is insured And
this Is the thanks getl''
Il want more than money. mother.
! want home OF my own. and hap
piness. The cares that come with It
I'm willing to accept"
And that was all. Mary pleaded In
vain against the wall Of reserve the
glrl built around herself. Vacation
passed distressfulIy. Constance went
back 70 college for her final year. The
year dragged through wearily toward
June and the hateful wedding.
Constance was to graduate on the
fifteenth and be married on the twenty
tifth. Mary made up her mind TO go
IN for the events II Il killed her.s>
But Mary Moon was game. She had
some unusually pretty dresses made
md paid an extravagant price for a
suit and hat. For she had been i'm
yited 20 stay at the home OF the groom.
and she resolved TO make a creditabie
showing In spite Of the grief IN her
heart She knew that Leonard Ames'
father was old Doctor Ames OF Latin
Textbook fame. and that Mrs. Ames
was prominent socially In the college
town. They should not be ashamed OF
constance's mother.
They were not ashamed. Mary made
an excellent impression, with her at
tractive toilets and her yiyacious intel
ligence.
Then the wedding guests began to
arrive New people to meetto play
I up to
The night before the wedding, Con-
stance inquired guardedly How do
sou like Leonard, mother?'
''Yery much, replied Mary sincerely,
I AtOaN w AAufG 1B0 hnQW uA14
be known by such people, dear
(which do you like best Of the wom-
en-, mothcr--the married ones or the
old maidsfp Constance inquired mis-
/ chievousiy.
"Why, I think the-the married
ones" said Mary. uncomfortably
aware that Constance was taking adj
vantage Of her inability to bubble.
"You don't dislike Leonard, do you,
nother?''
e.N--no.'' II was more choke than
| spoken word
Constance saw Mary's agonized face
In the glass. She whIrled around with
| little triumphant laugh. Better own
up you're beaten, mother. darling.v she
said.
Mary began to cry, although. she was
not d crying woman. C0nstances arms
went about her softly. Mother. pre-
clous.s she whispered, don't you see
that without your training ! never
coaId have won Leonard and his nice
| familgY The training was all right.
mother, only you mistook the goal,
think
II takes more bravery to accept and
70 adjust oneself to defeat, than II
does to fight 1t In the first place. Mary
Moon was nothing II not brave. how
ever. 4 was mistaken, dear" she said
simply. "I--I think It's Just lovely
she whispered with tremulous smile
Copyright, 1915. By the Mcclure Newspa.
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