The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1917-04-26
4 GIL q IopAY
Oy SUSAN E. cLAcEu.

creature l have ever known and has
way with her that wins everyone :"
The mOther."
THE mother. She left Jack shortly
after the child was born. Jack had
oeen slowly going to pieces even dur
ng that first year. You remember he
married her within month of their
Introduction; just plain case Of let
ing himself go from the moment he
net her. But for the matter of that
we were all fascinated. Radcliffe was
he only one who had sense enough
lOt to SINCE his wings.
II saw her in Cairo one winter. She
was known there as Howland's wife.
[ received several notes asking me to
,all. but had too recently helped to
oury the boy. Il boy who had every at
tribute that goes toward the making of
man, except the nerve. the courage
10 withstand disgrace. For ten years
MS life was sore trouble to the few
friends he clung to.
"He was devoted to the child and
We hoped through her he would ac-
,omplish his salvation. Perhaps he
would have won out, but his system
was too weakened for him to rally
from the attack of pneumonia. Rad
look the girl home with him und form
ally adopted her. but what passed for
QuixOtism eight years ago is now Civ
lng rise to talk. He Is still too young
4 man to have an eighteen-year-Old
girl in his home with no other woman
han his housekeeper as chaperon. At
east so says gossip. l would like to
strangle the woman who started the
0all rolling" Chandler took his pipe
from his pocket and viciOusly packed
tobacco into the bowl. As he did so
ne caught sight of car moving slowly
DOWN the avenue.
There they go now," he said.
The other man leaned forward in
time to catch n glimpse OF smiling,
upturned face.
"Why don't he marry herr" he asked.
That would solve the difficulty"
Hes 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, us 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 Whit of honey
suckle reached her from the roadside,
There was frown on her face as
she looked at him thoughtfully and
she spoke quickly, interrupted him.
you have heard it, the talk,
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 60 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
uIe OE-you ullSll lluIEy.
"How silly you are, Mr.. Rad. Just
disabuse your mind of that thought. l
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 altar?"
do you need ask? l received a
manly letter from WycOff this morn
ing. He is very much in earnest. Last
week, Harding and Addison called up
on me, both upon the same errand."
"What did you say to them" she
asked curiously.
"Referred them to you. Haven't you
seen them?"
"Yes."
"Well?
81 told them l would be sister to
them,' she replied demurely.
MARY, have you no heart?'
"Oh, yes, my heart is all right, only
it doesn't happen 10 belong TO anyone
Of the three"
The car swerved suddenly, then
came to standstill. Radcliffe War
beside him.
Il thought 1 knew all the men in
terested in you. Evidently l am mis-
taken. Will you tell me something
about him and where you met him?''
Mary Williams paused some minutes
before answering, then she asked ir-
relcvantly:
MIR. Rad. what do you think of girls
and women who do unusual thingS?'
That depends he began lamcly.
"Of course. But to partculariZe.
For woman to ask {; man to marry
her"
THAT is an odd question, Mary"
Il am thinking of doing it,
"Why?"
Because l care for him. l do not
| know that he has ever given me n
| thought in that way. Other men have
| found me attractive, so why shouldn't