The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-11

Mrs. Bayes was sure she detected a
more than ordinary interest in the girl
for her son, and was delighted at the
discovery. She could not imagine q
more suitable alliance for Hilton. Hell
en- belonged to one of the best families
in point of social position and wealth.
she had always liked her, and the
girls ready sympathy for her in this
matter endeared her more than ever.
She determined if possible to bring
them together. No doubt Helen would
succeed where she had failed, for she
reasoned that a man in love can be
bent like a green sapling. SO she pro-
ceeded to put her plan into execution.
She invited Helen to the house, and
saw to it that her son and the lady
were thrown much together. At first
when she set these times at hours
when he was due at meetings he fatty
refused to remain at home, so she had
to conform to his dates, but when she
thought she saw he was becoming
mort interested In Helen, she began
to be more careless of the time, in the
hope that he would forget his Bowery
engagements. Hilton allowed this in
reference for two or three times, then
he put his foot down firmly. He would
not stand any more upsetting of his
plans. Mrs. Bayes feared Helen was
not succeeding as well as she had
hoped, but she by no means gave up
the battle. Then one day she expe-
rienced a shock. Hilton was leaving
the house in the morning, and he
turned to speak to her.
did you say Helen Berkely was
dining here t~onight?" he asked.
His mother answered that she was.
"Then 1 won't be home. You see"
he hesitated, eff l leave directly after
dinner, she feels that it isn't exactly
courteous to her"
"Well, it isn't" said Mrs. Bayes.
"Tm not going to be done out Of my
meeting. So I'd better not come home.
Besides I'm getting tired of Helen's
attempts to convert me. She doesn't
know any more about the people she
raves against than a sheep does of
geometry. AS to the great human
question, the principle underlying the
vast social structure, she is about as
shallow as it's possible to be. It's out
of the question to argue with her, and
l refuse to be bored any more"
Mrs. Bayes was simply speeches.
with disappointment and rage, and al
lowed her son to depart with a look
mor expressive than words. Helen
that night had also to acknowledge
her defeat.
But the browning shock to the I'M
happy mother came months later when
Hilton announced to his mother he
had become engaged to a girl of the
people" q Miss Bertha Stall, who
worked as q stenographer. and wrote
occasionally for a radical paper. She
had also several times addressed their
meetings. Hilton described her as a
bright, brainy hardworking little girl.
"She's thoroughly in earnest about
llfe," he added. "And she's unselfish
and sensible. She'd make any man a
good wife, and 1 think I'm a pretty
lucky fellow"
"Oh, indeed" responded his moth
er. II should have supposed 1t was
the other one who was lucky"
"Oh, you won't say that when you
see her" vas the enthusiastic reply.
II don't intend to see her"
Hilton stared at the coldly deter
mined face in establishment. But en-
treaties proved of no avail. At the
close of a very stormy scene mother
and son parted. She had told him
he need never try to see her again
till he had changed his views and CIV
en- up the woman he thought of mar
rying.
So Hilton went his way. He mar
rted Bertha Stall, and they went on
happily working together. Young
Bayes had a fortune in his own right,
so they set UP a pleasant country
home, and lived there when they were
not working among the people. Years
went by, and Mrs. Bayes never saw
her son nor daughter-in-law nor spoke
of them. One day at a meeting of sew
eral charitable societies which had
combined to work together for a large
benefit she was introduced to q pretty,
wa NANSoNN JOhhS "OAIoh Z Nl16 OA
one Of the committees, and they fell
into conversation, which became more
and more interesting as they talked.
"Oh!" exclaimed the elder woman,
II must know you betterI Won't you
come and see me? 1 didn't catch your
name"
"Nor 1 yours" laughed the other.
WED better exchange cards.
The women looked at the bits OF
pasteboard in their hands, and expe-
rienced equal shocks. One read: "Mrs.
Flavia Norton Bayes," the other, Mrs.
Hilton Bayes." Both were silent. The
elder woman vas the first to speak.
Wont you conner" she said appeal
ingly. 81 do want to know you bet
ter! -