The Owosso times., 1920-01-30

YOU" He kissed her laughingly,, with.
out 'remorse. "It's funny to have such
a pretty little mother. I'll bet cooky
you're heart smasher yet"
" Mrs. Lathrop WINGED ut the last
word. Yet? Her forty-eight years had
never faced her so uncompromisingly
before. Later on, as they walked along
The board walk to the beach, she felt
her heart beat fast at the thought of
the impending meeting with the major.
Her little boy she had called him, and
he had really seemed that. 1t had
been three. years since she had seen
him and he had been a little, awk.
ward, half-grown cub of boy. and
now he was a man. She wondered If
1t would mean the end of her own mid
summer romance Would the major
stand the shock2 Suddenly Ralph gave
q low whistle and looked ahead Of
them his eyes keen with quick JOY.
Say, mother dear, excuse me just
a minute, won't you? There's a girl
! met out West" -
She sat down to wait for him under
one of the sunshade shelters, and here
the major joined her. He was delight
fully proprietary and tender with her.
and then he sighed and motioned TO
her to look down on the beach.
Two figures showed behind a cherry
red parasol.
81 told Irene this morning, and she
laughed at me and 'fessed up. 1t seems
that she's been engaged for four
months, and didn't dare tell me be-
cause it seemed just boy and girl
affair." Have you any sympathy with
them at all? mean do you think they
know their own minds?"
II sympathlze with romance always,
and it is never so ideally beautiful as
in youth" she answered.
Then the cherry parasol twirled in
their direction, just as she wondered
how she could break the shock of
Ralph, and coming leisurely and hap
PLY toward them were the two-Irene
their attitude toward each other, and
the major smiled proudly.
mice sort of chap, isn't he? | like
that military cut he has. First names
Ralph Didn't catch the last"
Mrs Lathrop leaned forward, her
eyes filed with sudden tears, "Why,
Why. she faltered before she
thought, "it's my little boy"
The majors hand closed over hers,
and they waited. 49,.
II knew all along that you were
Ralph's mother, but / didn't dare say
q word until he came" Irene. said,
blushingly. But l was so glad when
Uncle Everard thought you were so
dear and wonderful, for of course |
suppose we'll be one family now,
won't WEI"
1t was the majors cue and he rose
to it with all the grace and ease he
could have used in making a five-hour
address before the state legislature
down home in Georgia.
II cannot conceive Of anything that
would add more to your mothers hap
piness and mine at this moment than
lndI you SIlOulu Unu lie > HIsWtT III
the love of Irene, my boy, because"
and here the majors eyes cleaned
with touch of mischief, because
this same contagiOn of romance: that
by some grace of God has come to
war weary world kas,lighted the path
ahead for us also. think possibly the
months abroad the past two years
have made us realize the uncertainty
of human lfe and that there are very
few really essential things after all.
Love and faith and comradeship and
honor. What do yor say, Ralph? Your
mother and I will be married before
fall. l trust that you and Irene. will
be with us.
Ralph bent to kiss his mother.
''Did guess it the first time look
ed at you" he said tenderly. II told
her. major, she was heart smasher."