The Washington herald., 1920-10-14
TheMarriage Mill
MATERNAL ADVICE.
BIZ Mildred X. Barbour
tCopyrisht. 1920, by The Wheeler
Syndicate. Inc.)

Mrs. Atherton was placidly break
fasting in her sunny breakfast
room when Alison descended upon
her.
She looked up with surprise at
her daughters entrance. but the
latter showed no trace of her sleep
less night nor of the fact that she
had ridden for several hours in a
taxi before Drawing the curious
eyes of Maplewood avenue by a
too early visit home.
What an energetic young per-
son you're getting to be. Alison. I
can remember when a tray in bed
was regular morning custom.
Have you been to msrket?"
Her daughter shook her head, as
she seated herself in the chair OPP
posite her mother and drew of her
gloves.
Cereal. Blanche, please" she
said to the maid. "and no eggs
Just rolls and coffee Why, no." in
| answer to her mothers question,
I'm not marketing today-or any
+ day hereafter"
Dear me. didn't your maid come
back after all?" murmured Mrs.
Atherton. We'll. I'm glad to have
you here. Mealtime is very
lonely time for me these days"
Alison sprang up and came
around the table. dropping on her
knees at her mothers side.
ut will never be lonely again.
mother dear" she said, laying her
head against the maternal arm.
I've come home to stay"
Mrs. Atherton pushed her away
and looked down into her face.
| Allison! What do you mean"
Alison rose to her feet, shrug-
ging her young shoulders.
"Oh, Larry and l had a final
break last night"
Tell me about it," commanded
her mother.
Alison did so eagerly. What
bride does not find piquant pleasure
in revealing her husbands short
comings to the sympathetic mater
nal ear?
When she had finished. Mrs. Ath-
erton buttered a piece of toast COM
placently.
You did quite right to come
home. I want you and need you.
I never approved of Larry anyway
and as for that family Of his"
| She finished her sentence with
eloquently raised brows.
| What do you suppose his family
will say?" asked Alison, pouring
! her coffee. I'VE will never dare
tell them the truth about Larry's
/ being-er-drunk because of his
mothers belief in him"
( Barbara always said Alice Os-
borne was a fool. l think she was
right. By the way. Barbara is due
any day now. How glad she'll be
to see you back with me. She'll
undoubtedly pay the expenses Of
! the divorce"
"Divorce:" echoed Alison in dis
! may.
! Her mother glanced at her sharp
/ ly.
We'll. you certainly don't mean
merely to leave Larry and not re-
gain your freedom?"
! "Oh. no. No. OF course not" muir
INJURED Alison, stirring her coffee
/ resOlutely.
Life was moving much more rap
! idly than she liked. It was one
! thing to leave Larry in a dramatic
moment with the memory Of his
stricken young face before her, and
quite another thing to contemplate
never occupying the little apart
mCnt with him again, never feeling
the strength of his arms, or the
warmth OF his kiss
Then the best thing to do" said
Mrs. Atherton in businesslike
I manner, "is to put the wheels in
motion at once"
But mother" protested Alison.
how can you have such n different
viewpoint all Of sudden? You
have always dreaded divorce: you
came here because you wished to
get away from everyone who knew
about your trouble; you have al
ways considered divorce disgrace
full"
That was because OF you. my
dear. and your future. ! wanted
you free from all stigma. A moth
er will go through purgatory for
her daughters future"