The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-04-29
OH, SUGAR!
BY ELIZABETH M. LEE.
ooo ooapoo DC


"And, Davidw Nancy called after
him, ',be sure and try 10 get some
sugar in town. l haven't bit"
Ddvid came back 10 the gate. "Now.
look here, Mamie" he eXpostulated.
IF you can't get any with your sweet
smile, how do you suppose I'm going
to work it?'
Scat. silly boy" retorted Mamie,
laughing. 1--WE got too much to do TO
fool with you. Don't dare come home
tonight without some sugar"
David threw her kiss, and went off
down the street 'whistling, and Mamie
looked after him with pride. He was
Il nice boy. i'm spite of his nonsense,
and she did so hope he could get some
sugar. His birthday was tomorrow,
and David had always had birthday
cake.
She went into the house with little
sigh, and stopped long enough in the
parlor TO peek through the window at
the house next door. 1t had recently
been rented, and Mamie was curious
about the people in ii. First of all
there was a girl about her own age
or perhaps little oider-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
st. Mihiel and few other places
xtsfth frh
evidently had a hard time of ii. He
was thin and pale. and Nannie's moth
erly heart yearned for him. Last OF
all, there was an elderly lady, and
from her devotion to the young man,
Mamie judged she was his mother.
But David's search for sugar was
unsuccessful. He came up the walk
that night, holding out his empty
hands, and shrugged his shoulders.
Nothing doing" he called out cheer
fully. Couldn't get a look-in any
where"
Two hours later, when the dishes
were done Mamie was curled up in
corner of hammock on the porch,
and David sat on the top step, smok-
ing his pipe and weaving smoke
dreams, as every man. does once in a
while, even if he is 81 the next day.
Presently David sat up with jerk.
"Say, Mamie" he whispered, ex-
citedly, they're coming over here!"
Sure enough, their neighbors were
coming through the gate and up the
path. and the girl spoke, little shyly.
you'll forgive us, / know, for COM
ing in on you like this, but-but |
happened to overhear you say YOU
hadn't any sugar, and I've got plenty
of il. so l thought perhaps you
wouldn't mind if l 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 sit on the porch-it's
such a lovely evening"
you see" went on the girl next
door, IF it's your husbands birthday
tomorrOw-"
Both Mamie and David burst into
peal of laughter. But he's not my
husband" cried Mamie merrily. He's
my brother-David Maynard. We're
not married at all-but you are, aren't
you?'
"Gracious, mol" 1t was the other
girls turn TO laugh now. This is
Bobby Wayne, and Pm his adopted
sister. My names Dora. And that's |
Bobby's mother In the house"
1t didn't take very long for any Of
the four to become real neighbors. |
Mamie, with her love of nursing, APP |
pointed herself caretaker of the in |
valid, and David spent hours reading |
poetry to Dora's attentive ears. The |
summer sped by almost before they |
knew Ii, and finally one night, in Sep |
TENDER, 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 surprised on. no but even
though her second sense had told her /
IT was coming she pretended it was
all a complete surprise To her.
IL don't know what TO say Bobby"
she said softly. You see, If It were
just myself to be considered, why
then"
Eyes, them said Bobby tenderly,
her hands
"But you see, there's David to be
thought about. Whatever would he do
without meF
II know what he'd do, darling" was
the answer. He'd do just what I'm
doing at this present moment, and I'm
not sure but what he's done ii al
ready" And TO 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 into the adj
Joining room and paused at the door.
I)ora's voice was heard, softly ex.