The Washington herald., 1920-12-06
The Marriage Mill
Bp Mildred X. Barbour
Copyright. 1890, BY The Wheeler
Syndicate. Incl
THE LAST DEsERTIoN.

Mary Burton Edwards" echoed
Alison incredulously in response to
Fannie wardwell's ecstatic an
nouncement You don't really mean
it? Why, l thought thought"
she stammered.
That he was Jane'si" Fannie nm
ished the sentence beamingly. so
did everybody else. 1 thought so
myself until night before last and
and this afternoon, when he asked
me again. Alison" Fannie looked
imploringly at the girl. tell me
have courage! Although 1 love him
have loved him for years-I
made him ask me twice before 1 ac-
cepted him"
There was something so earnest
in Fannie's humorous confession.
that Alison could not laugh. In
stead. she put both arms around
I.arry's aunt and hugged her
warmly.
You dear. I hope you'll be aw-
fully happy. And by the way,
though you people think I'm a lit
tie beast, 1 really do some good
in the world after all. For it was
night before last when Jane was
waiting to tell me what she thought
Of me. that Edwards got a chance
to speak to you, wasn't itT
Fannie's face clouded.
rs II really very dreadful-the
breach between you and Larry, I
mean? I'm not in Alice's confidence,
and Jane delights in keeping things
from me just because she knows
l love you and Larry better than
anyone else in the world"
Better than Mr.. Edwards?'
teased Alison.
Fannie blushed a deep blush that
made her almost pretty.
Am a ridiculous old woman?
Are you laughing at me because I'm
so foolish about a man? l can't
believe in my happiness. You see,
life hasn't been so rich to me that
1 can afford to take things lightly"
She walked away to the window,
and stood looking down into the
garden where the wind mourned
through the leafiess trees.
Il never thought that l should
fnd love-" she went on softly. "All
the years that Mr.. Edwards has
been calling here. / thought it was
Jane that he came to see. Every
one else thought so too. Jane never
suspectec that 1 cared, and she
thought I was a safe person to en-
tertain him until she got ready to
make her appearance. / always ex-
cused myself Immediately she came
in, for ! was mortally afraid that
someone would suspect. 1 feared
that 1 couldn't hide 1t. Once" she
paused, and a little smile touched
her lips, "once j almost believed
he cared. 1t was long ago-you re-
member. Larry was teasing me
about 1t soon after you came here
to live. Jane was very Jealous
the only time anyone has been jeal-
GUS of me all my life"
She turned back from the window
and there was no bitterness in her
smile. only a tender radiance.
Alison went to her again and
slipped her arms around the older
woman's shoulders.
Tell me. when is the wedding?"
Fannie gave her a little squeeze.
soon. Burton Is going to Ber-
muda on a business trip. and we
have decided to make it a wedding
trip as we'll"
Does Jane know
Fannie's eyes clouded.
Not yet But I have to tell her
tonight. for we are going to town
to the theater. Hence the evening
gown" looking down at her becom-
ing frock, do I look all right?"
Alison held her at arms length
and inspected her gravely.
"Splendidr' she declared warmly.
You've even done your hair like
/ showed you last summer. It's
vastly becoming. And your gown
Is lovely. Why have I never seen
IL before?''
Fannie averted her eyes.
IT never dared to wear ii at home.
Alice and Jane would have laughed"
Alison made a grimace.
Well, you're free OF the yoke!
i wish to Heaven I was!'
She looked at Fannie hopefully,
but the older woman had gone to
the mirror and was adding a last
touch to her coiffure.
Alison went out and down the
corridor sadly.
Even Fannie had failed her. There
was no one left.