Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-05-25
ENLIGHTENMENT
BY EDNA SAWYER

hnd mel him she had knnwn of MS
narriuge. vel to the strangely re-
Serveri cautious little girl there was
something dangerously attractive Ia
jefOnlr Towne's keen eyes and CRAVING
temples. She yielded 10 his requests
Tor her time whenever he could innk.
M opportunity To visit the town. and
treasured he notes. penned IN u tinN
Utmost feminine hand that reached
her frequently carefully guarding ihls
her first affair" from parents ana
neighbors.
Time aud again she pnidered up''n
the emoIion thai would follow 'li>'o'-
cry III the intimacy. As IN. wholly
uhconcerued she pictured the r->"iil'
tul anger al the tuNn She. the prid"
Of all the npighl"r h"nd. had stamped
10 silly nirIntiun with niuh old
enough 10 hr her tather--she, whose
family llourished upon years of SELF
satlsied esteem.
Because her mother was mother
there was no need Ia tell her She
knew OF several moonlight stroils ~
which IN. city man had joined her
pretty daughter She recalled III"
dancing eyes ana rupidly cr.mS"ilius
cheeks when. tcigniug need III lhI"iini.
tinn Ms tn his rose hu,li 70. Mr. l""he
had On several occasions sought Ih"r
home. Barbara had al nrst been hearty
IN her avowed admiration Of the str'k-
Ing. well-groolned lnun with secret
annoyance her mnlher had noted ne
gradual dlscontiudunce Of the trnhS
comments.
A note. written the day before t''
leu from It's envelope, caught MIS-
Whartons eye ~ she ruInInag"d IN
her sewing tuble, aud she picked II ~.
disclosing the city mans handwrllhS
She read the delicate lines l"'''
through
Dearest of Girls--l'm sorry; ! cnu
see sou today But Tony Viii 'rh-
YOU this, and tuinurrow shall meet
luu AT the station and take you al
to the city with me for the day. WEI
see matinee and have dinner al Goa
mers. Can you viii you manage VI
Remember, | shall be waiting Hope
fully, D. l.
Mrs. Wharton dropped her SEWN.
crumpLed the little note In her hn@tr
and started out. down the windhI
ruud. Somehow. Barbara seemed Ner!
old, very capable, all NJ once-"o
!, there nothing 10 be donet one couldh
. order twenty-two-ycur-old daugh'"
10 stay at home. And then MIR. Nhar
toms tall. square frame came into vlev
as he moved about his rose bushes m
T. mother caught her breath with lilu
u yusp. She formed II plan.
You don't mind II gu up TO the cit
on the noon train. mother
] Barbara was wlping glasses nfte
70 breakfast the next morning ana >h
/. dldn'tAOok up as she made the quer!
4 I'D like To match the ribbon for ~
= dress, and--and-I want to 20 wo''
4 err
III you think best. dear" Mrs. VIVA
ton tried TO catch Bnrbaras eyes, IN
failed. Barbara went through into III
T. dining room and returned, slowly. An
J. her mother put up a quick hand IN
brushed something from her cheek
Mother! Why, there's somethiI
5 the matter You're sick " TM
7. strong arms whlrled the little grn
: haIred woman to the light "M"thr
what Is H."
Nothing that | can't tell you sou
other time. dear" Mother sighed so'
ly. There's no need worry--abo
= me-"
You'll tell me this minute"
when you come back, dear IL
mother hesitated IN instant To gam
courage. I'll can't spoil sour lrl
Go and have II good time
mo. sir" Barbara seated her>'
ON the broad window ledge anu hrh'
her shoes with II determined stnnl
and mother rejoiced lnwardly. ~
one inch do | stir unless you tell ne
Her mother stitied nervous :
Q with small success and stammered vi
the words: It's daddy she WI
pered finally with backward gan
Of terror lest the walls should henr'
Daddy! Barbara's hewilder'h'
transfigured her face.
rk. "Hes-dearie, how can ! make
l. understnnd-such little girl u
growing tired OF me. Barbara. tie
l."
"Nother!" The hewilderinent "
changed to reproach.
IN 81 think he Is Interested Ia sou
- body else. dear!" Mrs. Wharton
Ished brnvely. with rush,
~ ~ 1T can't be, mother! You're I"
q" raken. Why, not our daddy molh'
'ok what does II mean, dear "h'n
mnn with a wife seeks the comp"
, OF another woman who Is younger
rk. nrettIerY What can It mean. excep
that" the mother sought words to
nress her emotion. but her tears w
mvs,erIously dried. and she spoke "
uc telling seriousness. you cant una
NJ s,and except the woman who sees
IN. al