The Washburn leader., 1916-11-17
A Way Around a
Difficulty
BY EINOR MARSH

BY ELlNOR MARSH
Mrs. Haskins had but one person in
the world to tie to; that was Alice
Neil. The old lady had the usual self
ishness Of one of her age and condition
and would not on any account consent
that Alice should marry.
"But, grandma" argued the girl,
suppose marry and you continued to
live with me?"
'That wouldn't do at all. No house
is large enough for two families. No,
Alice, you can't marry as long as I
live. took you when you were lit
tie girl, and but for me you would have
had no home. Now that I have no
home but with you, it is your duty to
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
But SO long as she would consent to
nothing but Alice's spinsterhood there
was nothing for it except that Alice
should remain spinster
Fred Martin, Alice's lover, finally
persuaded her to a 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. OF course it would be
hard on Fred and Alice, but after all
wouldn't it be better than for both to
grow old separated or better even than
a case of grandmother-in-law, 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 Z o'clock, it
was not so bad. and it was not obi
gatory on his wife to hurry home. BY
and by Alice told her grandmother,
that she must go to 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
ring at the doorbell, and there on the
step was a three-weeks-oM baby.
Mrs. Haskins took the little thing up
in her arms. and when Alice came
home she found her grandmother
dandling it on her knee in a very
motherly Urt 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 baby's father, saying that he
regretted parting with it and asking
that it be sent to him. This put the
old lady in great distress. Alice wrote
a letter to the father-at her grand
mothers dictation-begging the father
to leave the child where it was, he
being permitted to come and see 1t
whenever he liked.
This brought a man who gave his
name as Frederick Martin, and after
q conference in which he insisted that
unlesg they would take him to board he
would take the child away, Mrs. Has
kins consented. and the family was
increased by one man.
After awhile Fred began to pour
tale Of woe into Mrs. Haskins' ear.
His wife had deserted him and her
child for her grandmother. The old
lady was so indignant at the "old
crone," as she called the grandmother,
that she could scarcely contain her
self. III
Meanwhile the old lady noticed that
Fred and Alice were together good
deal, and she wished Fred's wife
would die so that he could marry Alice
and the baby could have mother d.
well as father. When the pear was
ripe Fred came home one evening and
announced that his wife was mo
more"
He tried hard to appear respectful to
his wife's memory. but found 1t di6a-
cult. This was not remarkable since
the departed had treated both her