Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-16
WHITE GOODS
By FANNIE HURST

"N-no."
THE old hag amt been making it
hot for you, has she?'
"Sh She-----'
Cad That old hag gets my fur
up. | had mother in law once tried
| them tricks on me till I learned her
they wouldn't work. But the old hag
of yourn--'
"It's her eyes the doctor must have
scared her up again today. When she
| gets scared like that about 'em she acts
up so. honest, sometimes IL just wish
| was dead She don't think girl
oughtta have no life"
Forget it. Just you wait. She s
going to wake up some morning soon
and find a little surprise party for her
self. | know just how to handle an
old bird like her."
Sometimes she's just so good to me.
and then again. when she gets sore like
tonight, and with her nagging and fuss
ing at me, l don't care if she is my
aunt. just hate her"
"Wc're going to give her little sur
prise party" Beneath the lap robe his
hand slid toward hers. She could feel
the movement of the arm that directed
it and her own shrank away.
But amt the limit, Jerry, airing
my lIpuultS W Npu' llhS 9ou N"S -
policeman.
Quit! Lego my hand.
They were spinning noiseeSsly along
n road that curved for the moment
away from the river into the velvet
shadows of trees. He leaned forward
suddenly. cnvcloping her.
~ got it. Why don't you lcmm"
kidnap you, kiddo?'
'Lcmmc kidnap you tonight and give
the old hag the surprise Of her life when
she wakes mp and finds you stolen. I'm
some little kidnapcr when it comes to
kidnapping. | am, kiddo. Say. .wouldn, I
| like to take you riding all
wrapped up in a fur coat with moth
ing but your cute little face sticking
out"
"Aw, you're just fooling me-"
'Fooling Lemme prove it tonight.
Lemme kidnap you this very night.
l.
Isis that what you mean by-by
kidnapping mc?'
"Sure. There amt nothing I'd rather
do. Are rou on, Peaches? A sensible
little queen like you knows which side
her bread is buttered on. There amt
nothing | want more than to sec you
all bundled up in fur coat with
headlights in your little bittsie pink
ears.
"You-- What kind of girl do
you think | am? Take me home-take
mo What kind of a girl do you
think ! am:'
He leaned toward her with quick
rcadiustment of tone.
"Just what ! said, PcacEy. What !
meant was I'd marry you tonight If we
could get n license. I'd just kidnap
YOU tonight if-if we could get one
"You-you don't mean that
"Sure | did. Pcachy. Say, with Il
little girl of my own. I ain I one OF them
guys that you think I an. Amt yon
ashamed of yourself, Pcachy-now aim
you?"
The color flowed back into her face
and her lips parted.
"Jerry-- Only girl like me $ got
TO be carcful-that was all | meant,
Jerry. Jerry ~
lie scooped her in his short arms
aud kissed her lips. with her small face
crumplrd up against his shoulder, and
she lay quiescpnt enough in his cm-
brace. Wind sang in her ears as they
rushed swiftly and surely along the
oiled road. but the two small fists she
pressed against his coat lapelS did not
relax.
"Aw, now. Pcachy. you mustn t treat
Il fellow cold no more. Amt | going
to marry YOU? Aain't | going to set
you up right in my house out in New
ton Heights? Amt | going to give
You swell tcn'room house: Ain t
YOU going to live right III tho house
with my girl, and mint she going TO