Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-04-16

would say; while she would nod smil-
ingly, and get out the silk muffier she
was knitting for him. Mary Todd
was very proud of her sons position
IN Millville's only bank. All the men
OF Bob's family had been clerical men.
Mary was proud that her son added
honorably to the line The Todds had
always been looked up to'"-as Abbie
Mead had just repeated. at was
really too bad" she continued that
Bob should go and take up with
queer actin stranger instead of nice
girls he'd been brought up with. Alb
bie's own niece had seen Bob night
after night, sittin' right out with the
girl from the city on the porch Of the
Hall house, which she, herself, had
rented and furnished, when the Halls
went off to stay with their sons folks
for the summer.
My father and 1 will move in at
once" the girl said, and the very next
day she drove up in a car with a big
man, who hurried into the house be-
fore those watching could catch
glimpse of his face, and nobody"-Ab-
hie's voice dropped impressively-
nobody had seen the man since. Not
even Jim Burley, when he left the
groceries, or Ann Cloud, when she
went there to work.
My father Mr.. Forbes, doesn't
wish to be disturbed the girl says
calm as you please, an Ann says that
the girl even carries his meals up to
him in his room; an when one passes
the door all one can hear is a rattle
of papers, or smell cigar smoke be-
meath the door. Jim was telling Ann
yesterday that this mysterious Mr..
Forbes might be a bank robber from
the way he hides his face. No one
here pays any attention to the girl
but-your Bob. A quick choice she
made too. No one else was worth
smilin' up to, ! reckon, in her opinion
cause Bob's good salaried man. Up
an down the street she goes in dresses
like those on a fashion cover, her COM
pleXion too good, says, to be true, an
her hair done up like dancers" Abb
bic Mead coughed II always like to
know what there is to know before
condemn folk" she went on, $50
stopped In myself to call on Mis-
Forbes, an l asked straight out for
her Pa.
He is not seeing anyone while we
are here" Miss Forbes says real
smooth, you must try to let me en-
terrain you"
We'll, didn't let her entertain me
long; but If l was you, Mary, I'd ask
Bob, seeing how things Is going, If he
has seen the father of this new girl
he's so crazy about, an if not, what's
the man hiding for? Ann says the
door of his room was open one day
when she went up the stairs, an the
girl, Fran-outlandish name-just
flew ahead to close it before she got
there. Well, good by Mary, hope you
realize this is told in friendly spirit"
Mary Todd arose as her neighbor
left and wiped the tears from her
glasses. 1t was all nonsense of course,
to be so disturbed over Millville Cos
sip; yet Mary was disturbed Bob's
unusual reticence in this affair grieved
her. When he came in she met him
gravely. Bob dear" she said, "Ab-
bic Mead has been telling me of your
n f,hT1nnf fnr--fhp Giro
in our town. Your mother would be
the first to rejoice with you If it is a
happy attachment, Bob. Or is there
no truth in their suppositions2
want very much to know" Robert
Todd drew his mother back to her
chair, then looking down upon her
slowly replied,
80 much truth, mother, that l have
Just come from asking Frances Ken
nedy to marry me"
A light came to Bobs dark eyes,
his voice rang triumphant.
Fran has accepted met is incOn-
ceivable with her beauty, her knowl-
edge of bigger, better men in a world
outside our little one. But my girl
loves me mother, she really does
women are strange. And I'm bringing
her to meet you tonight. She is SC
anxious to know you, mother-can you
believe it?-to make her home humbly
with us if you are willing. My gold
en- girl with a heart as sweet and
Bob" Mary Todd spoke quietly,
you referred TO this little girl as
Frances Kennedy; here she has given
the name of Miss Forbes
"Oh, thatw her son interrupted,
twas to protect her father.
"Fran's father is in strict seclusion.
Doctors have ordered absolute rest
for period of months. Hiding him.
self In a place like MillvilIe was the
only way he could get it. Even now
they are hunting him out. Fran ex-
planned this only when l asked her to
be nv wife, and she had TO force her
dad down to give his consent. Her
father is Forbes Kennedy, you see mo-
4 ~