Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-18
OH, SUGAR.!
BY ELIZABETH M. LEE,

10. 1899 BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
and, David" Nancy called after
him, he sure and try TO get some
sugar in town. | haven't a bit"
David came back TO the gate. "Now.
look here. Mamie" he eypostnlated.
III YOU can't get any with your sweet
smile. how do you suppose I'm going
| Ia work IT,
Scat, silly boy" retorted Mamie,
laughing. I've got too much TO do TO
fool with you. Don't dare come home
tonight without some sugar"
David threw her a kiss, and went of
down the street whistling, and Mamie
looked after him with pride He was
nice boy. In spite OF his nonsense,
aud she did 50 hope he could get some
sugar. His birthday was tomorrow.
and David had always had . birthday
| cake.
She went into the house with a little
sigh, and stopped long enough in the
! parlor TO peek through the window ut
the house next door. II had recently
| been rented and Mamie was curious
about the people In il. First of all
there WAS girl about her own age
| or perhaps - little Older-possibly ,,
then young man who walked with
! a limp. He wore service button In
his coat, and Mamie admired him
very much David had come through
81. Mihie and few other places
without a scratch. hut this chap had
! evidently had a hard time of it. He
was thin and pale. and Nannie's moth
erly heart yearned for him. Last OF
all. there was an elderly lady. aud
| from her devotion 10 the young man
Nannic Judged She was his mother.
But David's search for sugar was
unsucceSSfu He came up the walk
that night. holding out his empty
hands and shrugged his shoulders.
Nothing doing " he called out cheer
fully. "Conldnt get ookin any
where
Two hours later when The dislie>
Mere done, Mamie WAS curled up in a
| corner 81 hammock on The porch.
and David sat OF The top step. smok-
ing his pipe and weaving smoke
dreams. n every man does once in "a
while. even If he i 81 the next day.
Presently David SAT up with a Jerk.
SAY. Mamie" he whispered. eN-
citedly. they're coming over here!"
Sure enough their neighbors were
coming through the gate and mp the
path and the girl spoke. little shyly.
You'll forgive us | know. for COM
NIX in on YOU like this bnt-but |
happened 10 overhcar you say Non
haunt any sugar. and I've got plenty
of il. so thought perhaps YOU
wouldn't mind il | brought you over
some
Mamie jumped out of The hammock.
why. how perfectly dear of You.
She said cordially. That's lovely.
DO come up and sir on the porch it,
such p lovely evening"
You see" went on the girl next
door. III It's your husbands birthday
Tomorrow
Both Nanni- and David burst into
"A pea OF laughter. But he's not my
husband" cried Mamie merrily. He's
my brothcr-David Maynard Were
non married at all--but you are. aren't
you;"
Gracious no." II was the other
Girls turn - laugh now. This j.
Bobby Wayne. and I'm his sdopien
sister Ny name Dora. And that'S
l}uhby's mother i'm the house.
It didn't take very long FOR any of
The four 10 become real neighborS.
Mamie. with her love of nursing. ap
pointed herself caretaker of the ia
valid. and David spent hours reading
poetry ia Dora's attentive eaKS. The
summer sped by almost before Ihcl
,ncw il. and finally one night in Sep
lember. when the evenings were cool.
Bobby took his courage in both hands
and asked the question he had been
longing To ask for weeks. Mamie WAS
not SURPRISE - oh. no - bur eYei.
though her second sense had told her
it was coming She pretended it was
nh q complete surprise TO her.
II don't know what 70 say. Bobby
she said softly. You see. II II were
Just myself 10 he considered. why
then"
Yes. them" said Bobby tend-rly,
capturing her hands.
But YOU see there's David to he
thought about Whatever would he do
without meT
Il know what he'd do. darling" was
he answer. He'd do Just what I'm
doing at this present moment, and Im
not sure but what he's done Il ri.
ready" And 70 her establishment
Bobby. the shy. silent Bobby. put both
arms around her and kissed her.
Now YOU just come with me he
said. before Mamie had time To pro
test.
Together they tiptoed inro the adj
Joining room and paused ut the door.
Dora's voice was heard. softly ex
postule,lng.
"Of course. David, II It were nst
myself 10 he consldered-but what
would Bobby do without me-"
Mamie couldn't help most unro-
mantle laugh Just then, and Bobby
shouted
"Oh. you women What an exalted
opinion YOU have OF yourselves We
poor. helpless men can't get along
without Won. can we? Dora. YOU