The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-01-04
ENLIGHTENMENT
BY EDNA SAWYER.

hAat tuHt InGIe was not LnG auShtcSt
excuse for It. The second time she
had met him she had known OF his
marriage, yet to the strangely re-
served cautious little girl there was
something dangerously attractive in
Jerome Towne's keen eyes and grazing
temples. She yielded to his requests
for her time whenever he could make
an opportunity to visit the town, and
treasured the notes, penned in a tiny,
almost feminine hand, that reached
her frequently. carefully guarding this,
her first affair."" from parents and
neighbors.
Time and again she pondered upon
the emotion that would follow discov-
cry Of the intimacy. As one wholly
unconcerned she pictured the resent
full anger of the town. She, the pride
of all the neighhoFhood, had stopped
to silly tlirtation with a man old
enough to be her father--she, whose
family 0ourished upon years Of self
| satisfied esteem,
BECAUSE hssT mother was a mother
there was no need to tell her. She
knew Of several moonlight strolls in
which the city man had joined her
pretty daughter. She recalled the
dancing eyes and rapidly crimsoning
cheeks when, feigning need of informa-
ton as to his rose bushes, Mr.. Towne
had on several occasions sought their
home. Barbara had at first been hearty
in her avowed admiration of the strik-
ing, well-groomed man. With secret
annoyance her mother had noted the
gradual discontinuance of the frank
comments.
A note, written the day before, fall
len from its envelope caught Mrs.
Wharton's eye as she rummaged in
her sewing table, and she picked II up,
disclosing the city mans handwriting.
She read the delicate lines twice
through.
Dearest of Girls-Tm sorry; can't
see you today. But Tony will bring
you this, and tomorrow / shall meet
you at the station and take you up
to the city with me for the day. Well
see a matinee and have dinner at Col
mer's. Can you, will you manage it2
Remember, l shall be waiting. Hope
fully, j. +"
Mrs, Wharton dropped her sewing
crumpled the little note in her fingers
and Started out, down the winding
road. Somehow, Barbara seemed very
old, very capable, all at once-was
there nothing to be done? One couldn't
order d twenty-two-year-old daughter
to stay at home. And then Mr.. Whar-
toms tall, square frame came into view
as he moved about his rose bushes, and
mother caught her breath with a little
gasp. She formed o plan.
"You don't mind if go up to the city
on the noon train, mother?"
Barbara was wlping glasses after
breakfast the next morning and she
didn't look up as she made the query.
"Pd like to match the ribbon for my
dress, and-and--T want to go moth
err
IF you think best, DEAR" Mrs. Whar-
ton tried to catch Barbara's eyes, and
failed. Barbara went through into the
dining room and returned slowly. And
her mother put up a quick hand and
brushed something from her cheek.
Mother! Why, there's something
the matter! You're sick!" Two
strong arms whirled the little gray
haired woman to the light. Mother,
what is it,"
Nothing that / can't tell you some
other time, DEAR" Mother sighed soft
~. There's no need worry-about
me-"
you'll tell me this minute"
"When you come back, dear Her
mother hesitated an instant to gather
courage. I'll can't spoil your trip.
Go and have good time"
"No, sir" Barbara seated herself
on the broad window ledge and braced
her shoes with a determined stamp,
and mother rejoiced inwardly. "Not
one inch do stir unless you tell me-"
Her mother stified a nervous sob
with small success and stammered with
the words: TITS daddy" she whis-
pered finally with backward glance
Of terror lest the walls should hear.
'Daddyw Barbara's bewilderment
TRANSPORTED her face.
"He's-dearie, how can l make you
understand--such little girl. He's
| growing tired Of me, Barbara. He's
T."
''Motherl" The bewilderment had
changed to reproach.
Il think he Is interested in some
body else, dearp' Mrs. Wharton fin
ished bravely, with rush.
ut can't be, mother You're mis-
taken. Why, not our daddy, mother"
"What does it mean, dearl when a
man with a wife seeks the company
of another woman who is younger and
prettier? What can it mean, except
that" the mother sought words to ex-
press her emotion, but her tears were
mysteriously dried, and she spoke with
| telling seriousness. you can't under
stand, except the woman who. sees the
man who's shared her life drifting
from her, drawn by thoughtless girl"