The Tomahawk., 1919-12-25

She was hoping that Bob would not
question her to the point where She
| would have to tell him Of her plans to
| immune herself in the old ladies'
home.
| NO" said Bob deliberately, Il have
| no friends there. He paused, look
| ing backward as if Interested in some
| one occupying seat behind them
! across the aisle. Then it was that it
| seemed to Madge as If there was
something very cruel in the fate that
had made it necessary for her to solve
7 her problem of existence in the way
she had planned.
It would seem like such a confession
of her own utter inability to cope with
things. Madge felt rs if she were
| showing her embarrassment, and sud-
denly she realized that Bob was as
| embarrassed as she.
Presently he excused himself. "My
| aunt-that little old lady in black is
with me-" he said. Il will just tel
her that 7 have met you, and then
may ! come and sit here beside you
| for at least part of the trip?"
Until he came Madge's heart bear
| so fast and her poor little tired brailr
was in such whirl that she could
| not explain just what she would say
| in the event that he asked her point
blank where she was going; if, for in
| stance, he suggested that he accom-
pany her to her destination in Nal
vern.
He came back and they talked about
the dreary weather, then OF Thanks
giving. II suppose" ventured Madge.
| for her curiosity was aroused, that
you aresgoing to Malvern for the holi-
days?' She was sure now that Bob
was going to see 4 possible fiancee.
She couldn't help being jealous.
Il may stay over Thanksgiving" he
said drearily. If they let me-"
There was rather sorry attempt
to talk about things in general and
then the conversation got back to the
subject Of Malvern. 1t was only fif
teen minutes away and each was
eager to find why the other was bound
there, though euch was rs eager not t.
tell
1t was Bob who began. II am really
sorry for what I am dOing-ashamed
1 would be If there were any way ont
of 1t. Dear old Aunt Sally brought me
up. A mother could not have been
kinder to me. I have wanted to make
| Il home for her-I hope to some day.
But she is old and she cannot be
| left alone. Now I have n chance to
do really big things in the West-thar
| is, big for me. After year I've been
promised ten thousand Il year. But
can't take Aunt Sally with me. She
would be without friends. want to
make good first. Eve tried to repay
| her Just Il little for all she did for me
that is the reason why never asked
asked the one woman in the world
| to be my wife. Because felt that so
lo2g as Aunt Sally lived I wanted to
live with her and did not feel free Co
ask her" BOb's eyes gaZed past
| Mndge rs If lny were really afraid TO
rest on her, and ne looked out ON the
| gray landscape without actually sec
| ing it.
"But, Bob" cried Madge as she
realized what he had been saying
and then their eyes met. "Why are
you taking her to Malvern? Are you
| taking her to st. Anne's?"
"Yes, to st. Annes, and it does
| sound pretty shabby to let her go to
an old ladies' hOme-but it Is just for
| the year. I know she will be treated
| well there and she would not consent
to my giving up this chance in the
| West just to stay East with her. Then
III get II little home and I can affOr'L
| Il companion for her. But until then"
They were very near TO Malvern.
| Suddenly it seemed to Mndge as If the
| whole world Of'lnve and life were slip
ping through her fingers. She felt IL
bo!dncss Of speech that was not at all
usual with Madge; besides, hadn't he
limited that she was the only woman?
"EoI,, If you had married and if
your--y6ur wife happened to be very
fond Of old. ladies--very tactful and
perfectly willing to be cOnsiderate--
| mightn't you have been willing to take
the wife and Aunt Sally out West
with you right away? The wife would
| be willing to take care Of the dear old
aunt, and having them both with yotr
might help you TO win out That is.
providing the one woman in the world
were still willing TO marry you, even
though you nearly broke her heart be-
cause you didn't tell hcr,that you loved
her before"
"YOu didn't--you wouldn't realfyF
stamnlered Bob.
"Yes. did, Bob" announced
M?fgo.
"But could you share yOur home
with Aunt Sally
"rvc a reputation for being very.
very fond Of old ladies-I know fd
love Aunt Sally. I could manage
| beautifully with one old lady" and
| there was an emphasis on the one, the
reason for which Bob did not Under