The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-01-05
A GIRL OF TODAY
By SUSAN e. CLAGE1T.

| understanding. She is the happiest
! creature l have ever known and has
way with her that wins everyone!'
1.-THE MOTHER"
1.-The mother! She left Jack shortly
after the child was born. Jack had
been slowly going to pieces even dur
ing that first year. You remember he
married her within a month of their
Introduction just a plain case of let
ting himself go from the moment he
met her. But for the matter of that
we were all fascinated. Radcliffe was
the only one who had sense enough
not to SINCE his wings.
II saw her in Cairo one winter. She
was known there as Howland's WIFE
l received several notes asking me to
call, but / had too recently helped to
bury the boy boy who had every at
tribute that goes toward the making of
man, except the nerve, the courage
to withstand disgrace. For ten years
his life was a sore trouble to the few
friends he chung to.
HE was devoted to the child and
we hoped through her he would ac7
complish his salvation. Perhaps he
would have won out, but his system
was too weakened for him to rally
from the attack of pneumonia. Rad
took the girl home with him and form
ally adopted her, but what passed for
Quixotism eight years ago is now CIV
ing rise to talk. He is still too young
man to have an eighteen-year-ol
girl in his home with no other woman
than his housekeeper as chaperon. At
least so says gossip. l would like to
strangle the woman who started the
ball rolling" Chandler took his pipe
from his pocket and viciously packed
tobacco into the bowl. AS he did SO
he caught sight of a car moving slowly
down the avenue.
There they go now" ne said.
The other man leaned forward in
time to catch a glimpse of smiling,
! upturned face.
"Why don't he marry herr" he asked.
''That would solve the difficulty"
He's forty, she eighteen. May and
December don't you think?"
According to old-fashioned ideas,
yes; but the girl of today is much
older than the same girl of thirty
years ago"
II doubt If he would ask her.
Chandler answered. as he moved away.
The car that had attracted the two
friends moved slowly until it reached
the open country. When it turned into
the state road the girl gave u little
laugh of delight as Il Whit of honey
suckle reached her from the roadside.
| but the face of the man was troubled.
There was frown on her face as
she looked at him thoughtfully and
she spoke quickly, interrupted him.
you have heard it, the talk, T
mean? Why do you mind? l don't"
"You are too young to understand
all that it means, Mary. / hoped the
gossip would miss you. l have been
wondering what it is best to do. You
might go to Europe with Mrs Mer-
rick, or to Canada for the summer.
BY the winter some plan can be
evolved for your comfort and pleas
ure or-you might marry"
11oW silly you are MI h.tu. just
diabuse your mind of that thought. +
will go to neither place without you.
AS for the other plan, it sounds allur-
ing Whom am | to lead like Il lamb
to the altar2"
'Do you need ask? l received a
manly letter from Wycoff this morn
ing He is very much in earnest. Last
|
on me, both upon the same Grand"
What did you sey to them" she
asked curiously
Referred them to you. Haven't you
seen them?"
"Yes."
"Wel?"
Il told them I would be sister to
tlem," she replied demurely.
"Mary, have you no hearth
"Oh, yes, my heart is all right, only
it roesn't happen to belong to anyone
of the three"
The car swerved suddenly, then
came to a standstill. Radcliffe War
rs'u turned grave face to the girl
beside him.
~ thought I knew all the men in
terested in you. Evidently l am mis-
taken. win you tell me something
about him and where you met him?"
Mary Williams paused some minutes
before answering, then she asked IT.
relevantly:
"Mr. Rad, what do you think of girls
and women who do unusual things?"
THAT depends" he began lamely.
"Of course. But to particularize.
For woman to ask man to marry
her"
THAT is an odd question, Mary"
Il am thinking of doing it"
"Why?"
Because I care for him, l do not
know that he has ever given me
thought in that way. Other men have
found me attractive, so why shouldn't
he If he won't discover it for himself
is it wrong for me to suggest that
can make him happy?" and she turned
her flushing face toward the man be-