The Washington herald., 1920-11-15
WOMAN'S AFFAIRS: WASH INGG..''
The Marriaee Mill
THE LETTER.
BY Mildred X. Barbour
tCopyright, 1920, BY The Wheeler
Syndicate. Inc.)

Ah1 AE<I-IEn. -
MY dear little girls" Alison read
her mother-in-law's letter aloud.
while her own mother sat onsthe
foot of the bed.
She made mocking grimace as
she repeated:
My dear little girl" .'Aypo-
critw she added.
81 was shocked and grieyed to
discover this morning that some
thing had occurred to mar the per-
feet happiness which we all be-
lieved was yours and Larry's. 1t
was only by a species of cross-ex-
animation that j wrested from him
the news that you had left your
happy little apartment and had re-.
turned to your mother.
Allison dear. what is it,? What
has happened to change You and
Larry? ! am distraught with anx-
iety, not only for my son, but for
you. whom 1 love as my daughter.
Jane and l are confident that
this rash act of yours Is only the
result of a Misunderstanding; that
you need our assistance in estab-
fishing peace. 1t Is unnecessary for
me to tell you that Larry is my
whole world; 1 would give my life
for him. and anything which con-
Germs his happiness is my first and
highest consideration.
81 must talk to you, must see you
and make you realize what a reck-
less thing you are doing in thus
trifling with your and Larrys hap
piness. Will you come TO tea today
at 4? Jane will be with us, but
neither Myra nor Fanny are aware
OF In ho n a -
you two children.
"CntU 4, then
ALICE OSBORNE"
Alison flung the letter from her
with a little moue. =
Always Larry! She hasn't an
other thought! All the sweet stuff
about loving mo as her own daugh-
ter is rather amusing. isn't it?
And the idea OF her daring to order
me to come to tea like that
She stretched her arms above her
head and yawned daintily.
I'll have Blanche phone her that
1 have a previous engagement. That
will make Jane rage"
Mrs. Anterior had picked UP the
discarded sheet, and was reading 1t
critically.
IT'S a very nice letter"
But hypocritical.' insisted Ali
son.
Yes. and yet one can't blame
her. She loves Larry almost as
much as / love you"
Alison sat up and slipped her arms
around her mother.
You old darling, Larry and
don't deserve such wonderful aftec-
ton. do we? We're a couple of sell
fish prigs. By the way. where do
you suppose that husband of mine
is? He might have had the de-
cency to explain about last night"
From what you say, you tried
his temper rather sorely last even
ing" her mother reminded her.
But that Evans cat with her
purring and cuddly way must have
smoothed his ruffled fur. She re-
minds me for all the world of n
sleek pretty puss when it arches
it's back and rubs against your
ankles
Blanche tapped at the door.
"A call for you. Miss Alison"
MY mothet-in-Iaw" cried Alison
iinvoluntarily.
II think it's Miss Parker
Blanche corrected, and she seems
awful excited"
| Alison sprung out of bed and
flung on a warm dressing gown.
Put her through on the extern
sion in mothers room, Blanche
she ordered.
| Gwen Parker's voice, tense and
strained, came over the wire in an
swer to her "Hellor"
allison, this is Gwen. Come over
as quickly as you can-the most
awful thing has happened"
ITO be continued tomorrow.)