Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-01-25
TASK MAMMA"
BY c. B. LEWIS.

per SyndicateD
Then he turned from looking at hi
Sadie" in the chorus on the stage
and looked at the girl in the box wit
him.
He was Clarence Devoe, a youul
man with q rich father. He had becl
invited to box party and DOrOth.
Davenport was one Of the party. Clar
ence had cut q dash, as some ricl
mems sons do. He had smashed vi
three or four autos, run in debt wher
ever possible. had been almost expelled
from college and was proud of hi
career.
Clarence had simply known tina
there was Dorothy Davenport, an(
he had scarcely spoken ten words Il
her on the way to the theater. AL
of sudden, as stated at the opening
he turned and looked at her. She wa!
young girl, eighteen years old. Shit
was bashful. She happened to lOOl
at Clarence as he looked at her. Wa.
that a CLEAN Of love that shot forth
from the eyes of each one? 1t NIGH
have been. for that Is one of the ways
Of Cupid.
Clarence unused to himself: "Say
there Is some style there while yor
are talking. There are good looks
there and gObs of money behind her
l don't know her mother. but l guess
she will be willing. Her governor
don't count. Of course. He's too busy
making more money. I'll make myself
a little more agreeable"
That very morning. after paying uI
his debts. among which was $3.50 fol
bouquets for the green room. Clarence
DevOe's father had said to him:
boy, you have got to quit this mad
career! You are now a man in age
and I'll soon repudiate your debts
Why in the Old Harry don't you find q
nice girl and marry and settle down.
There's lots of 'em In this big town
Marry one Of them and I'll take you
into partnership"
The words had made little impress.
sion on Clarence at the time, but now
that he came to cast his looks on Dor.
Othy Davenport, he recalled them
Why not win herr OF course sadie"
would lament and weep and almost
break her little heart, but such things
had to be. Clarence called at the
Davenport mansion. He was received
very gracefully by the girls mother.
He paid little more than formal call
Dorothy was brought into the room,
and he had a few words with her In
the presence of her mother. 1t was
her first cOurtship, and she was a little
abashed. When remark was ad.
dressed to her she turned to her moth
er to secure the privilege Of answer
ing 1t. This was a charming bashful
ness Of hers. She spoke of him as "Mr.
Devoe." Other girls had been in the
habit of calling him "Devoe'' or Bob"
or "Old Man."
Clarence called again and again. II
seemed to please Mrs. Davenport, and
1t seemed to please his father
Whether Miss Dorothy was pleased OF
not. the young man could not be Ger.
tain. He would have given the thing
up but for the novelty of it. He could
boast to her and she never replied with
word of doubt or censure. Other
girls had boldly told him to "cut that
out" but such aggressive expressions
never passed DorOthy's lips. After
several months she got as far as to sag
that 1t must be awfully nice to have
house out in the country in summer
and one in town in the winter, but
she fingered right there for some time
If anybody had asked her If she loved
she would have answered:
II don't know whether l do or not,
but will ask mamma and then tell
you"
Clarence mended his ways some.
what. He smashed just as many
autos, and he spent just as much OF
his fathers money, but he didn't &c
to the theater quite SO much. and,
when he did go, it was to escort Dor.
Othy and her mother, and sometimes
two or three other ladies besides. Yes.
Clarence was becoming quite model
young man. His mother was little
afraid that he was becoming almost
too good, and his father had some faint
hope that he would yet become a Sun.
day school teacher.
1t was one evening when Clarence
and Dorothy were left alone in the
parlur together. There was no clear.
ing of the throat to get his voice In
trim there was no attempt at p3th0s
or tenderness. Just as carclessly az II
he were making a bet that he could
speed his auto at seventy miles per
hour, the young man said:
Dorothy, 1 love YOU"
EYES," she replied, as If she had
been expecting the declaration at any
time for the past year.
Il will love, cherish and protect
YOU" continued Clarence.
land that will be so nice Of yOu!"
Cant you set the day within
couple of months, Dorothy, dear?"
IL think SO. Clarence; but 1 will
ask mamma and tell you the next time
you come"
"You love me. don't you, Dorothy"
appealed the young man.
"Oh, yes" was the calm reply.
Mamma says / am old enough to be
in love"
That was all, except that Clarence
went out and sent four American beau
ty rose bouquets to the theater. They
were meant as fond adieux to four