Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-12-30

Very willingly he fell IL With his
mothers plans. TWeuty-eight years
with that woman who prided herself
on calling spade a spade and do
ing everything open and abovebOard"
had rendered him utterly unsuspicious
of any subtleties or cuucealments on
her part
Mrs. Pettlgrew herself had some
anxious m9uents, while John spent
the evening before his departure at
the Scobes'. and The old grandfather's
clock licked away several long hours
She was worried for fear John had
committed himself to an engagement
with this fiyaway girl Then she con
soed herself by the thought that 1t
had taken Johns father four years
to get to the point Of a partial pro-
posal, and John had known this per
son only a month
The time after John left passed
very quietly. The haylnE progressed
( satisfactorily, helped out hy neigh
boris son called in TO assist the hired
man. Martha Jordan dropped In once
or twice and the two women congrat-
ulated themselves on Saving John"
Even when Martha brought the news
that Evelyn had ended her visit unex-
pectedly soon (for John had neglected
to mention the fact that Evelyn was
leaving on Thursday, their compla-
cency was not disturbed. They figured
she had doubtless found Centerville
suddenly dull without John around to
hirt with.
One letter came from that youth
postmarked Taylor City'-then one
stamped Austin Junction"
Probably run up to see his fathers
cousin" remarked his mother. VERY
thoughtful of him"
The next letter did not mention his
fathers cousin, but gave the time of
his return. In preparation his mother
got up" n supper fit for the gods
and even for her son. Waffies with
golden strip, feathery biscuits, iellied
chicken. lemon pie with fiaky, fiuted
crust; crispy fried potatoes--a collec-
ton of all Johns favorite dishes
whether customarily served at the tea
table or not. And because she felt
She owed debt she could never repay
10 Martha Jordan she invited her to
come.
When the whistle of Johns train
blew for the stop at Centerville the
I two ladies were rocking placidly on
the shady porch. Supper only awaited
Johns arrival. They heard the train
slow down, stop, pull out, Up the hill
came a man-then two women-then
boy--and last came John--and-and
For the land sakes, Marthy, who is
! that with him?'
Chattering, laughing, clinging arm
| in arm, two people came through the
gate, up the walk, up the steps.
"Mother-this Is my wife-Evelyn !"
cried happy, rejuyenated John.
And, II hope you'll like me = said
a slim, gayly dressed, sparkling young
girl
Across the red-covered supper table
John explained more fully. Evelyn
lives in Austin Junction, you know.
We were married there yesterday. /
didn't know how much she meant to
me until I went away Then | found
I out and hunted her up. You know
they say Absence makes the heart
grow fonder ="
Later out in the kitchen, Mrs. Jor-
dan and Mrs Petdgrew permitted
| themselves one exchange of glances.
I'VE hit the wrong pruverb," saio
Martha dolefully.
But between that Thatcher girl
| and my sons wife a gulf stretched.
''She seems a very nice girl" said
| Mrs. Pettigrew complacently. And
| you know 'all's well that ends well = T."
| nnMrnnr LIZ All ~ r-iInnnII-r