The Washington herald., 1920-09-27
The Marriage Mill E ='.s ,:;:. < 's;''@ %

in, otherwise we'd likely be smoked
out in short order"
At his mention of fire" Alison
made a little grimace.
Don't talk about fires to me ever
again." she said dramatically, I've
had enough to last lifetime"
He laughed cheerfully and kept to
his task.
Just wait until we get good
blaze here and you'll change your
mind. Now, I'm going to get you
some coffee. Don't stir until l get
back, and if this fire doesn't act
right, sing out and I'll come on a
run. But under no circumstances
try to do anything with it yourself"
NO danger" Alison assured him,
I'm on with fires, even in gas ov-
ems, for life! A burnt child, you
know"
Larry vanished in the direction Of
the kitchen, and soon the pleasing
aroma of coffee began to filter into
the attractive little room. The rain
still fell steadily outside, but the
leaping flames in the fireplace dis
PEELED the gloom, and the grateful
warmth crept out like soothing FIN
gers to touch Alison as she lay on
the Chaise Tongue, one tear-stained
cheek pressed against a rose silk
cushion.
VAS a result of her sense of physi-
cal well-beinG, she began to feel
very penitent. She pushed back the
bandage from her arm, and found
that most of the redness had left
the burn already. She felt that she
had been dreadful baby about a
really little thing. Only the mem
ory of her ruined gown kept her
from summoning Larry and offer
ing an apology.
She recalled an old admonition of
her mothers:
Tears will do wonders with a
man when a woman is young and
pretty and he happens to be in love
with her. Never waste them, though,
If you're going to spoil your eyes
and complexion temporarily, make
the tears do duty in winning several
points
1t might be well, thought Alison,
to carry home the lesson to Larry
to such an .extent that he would
never ask her to do a bit of house
work. The alacrity with which his
mother had accepted the suggestion
that she, Alison, care for her own
house, had made her suspicious. 1t
was not beyond belief that Mrs. Os-
borne had even made such sugges-
tions to Larry. The idea must be
destroyed once and for all, Alison
decided.
She raised her head and listened,
but Larry was whistling over his
task in the kitchen.
She slipped off the chaise Tongue
and crept noiselessly into, the bed
room, where she paused a moment
before her dressing g-table, her hands
busy with her cosmetics.
When her young husband re-
turned. tray poised waiter fash
ion' on his outspread palm, she was
lying in the identical position in
which he had left her
Feeling better? Ready for
chow"' he inquired cheerfulIy.
She opened her eyes languidly.
"All but my arm. 1t hurts"
Lets have look"
Larry set down the tray on the
edge of the table. and reached for
the bandaged arm, but she fore
stalled him.
Let me-you're too rough. Ouch!"
With a grimace of pain, she drew
back the bandage, gingerly, expos
ing an area of brilliant scarlet
Larry muttered a little exclama-
tion of pity. -.
You poor kiddie! That's damn
bad burn. Wait till 1 get the witch
hazel and we'll fix it, up" ..-
I'll do 1t! You mustn't touch it,
Ii couldn't stand it." murmured
Alison family. w..
Well, that settles you" he called
oack from the bath. don't you ever
dare go near the kitchen again"
Alison smiled, her white lids
dropping demurely over her piquant
eyes.
Il hope 1t won't cause scar" she
murmured-Snd wiped heavy coat
ing of rouge from her white arm.