The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-06
When A Girl
 M0rries
By ANN LESLIE

The morning after Aunt Mollies flying visit to Dt eanwold Jim and work on the Bankers and Brokers, as the nine-two train is called. suggested motoring them in, but that brought a snarl from Jim such as l hadn't heard in a kindly while.
 Bad enough to miss a decent train like the eight-twenty-seven, but now you want me to come 1adde-dashing Into the office in time for lunch if the car doesn't develop engine trou- ble or bust a tire.S In which case I'd be there for tea. I've a days work to do. Anne, though you don't seem to understand that And the market opens at ten.".
 Quit your grousing." admonished Pat And I'll lay you five to one will drive over to the station with us in her own car and come back with all Virginia's marketing pur- veyed to the front door,"
 'Everybody works but .Jeanie," laughed Jeanie herself. But my Patrick knows that after a weekend the ice chest and the larder are likely to be empty. On Mondays, moreover. the lady of the. house likes ito do the dusting and the flower cutting for Bertha"
 This settled the division of labor and accounted for the fact that Vir- lunch time. l was dreading the hu- initiating moment when I'd have to acknowledge to Jeanie that Val had forbidden me her room. That was postponed a while longer, for after lunch Jeanie asked me to help her cut the flowers. she hadn't been able to get to them in the forenoon.
 It was mfd-afternoon before we finished. Then, after separating a fine basket of asters from her booty. Jeanie suggested I take them to Val.
 Your delicate way of suggesting that maybe I've forgotten our in valid 2'' I challenged her Tt isn't that. She thinks I'm a meddling busybody, and yesterday she asked me to get out-and keep out. I'm forbidden her room.''
 Virginia flung her arms across my shoulder-a rare display of affection for her.
 Some day Val will come to her senses about you.'' she said. without embarrassing discussion. And then she'll appreciate what it is to know girl who actually cares enough get it back from them when they've thrown it away. In the meantime. I'll go mp and sit with our apprecia- tive and charming guest while her nurse has her two hours off in the car you furnish. because you're such sp9il-sport and meddler!" I've ever heard' I laughed
 Then, like the thoroughbred she'd shown herself again. Jeanie said more. and left me to establish myself CoiAiAOi Ihpig Ihe llNAIS TOOfn "ltn pile of new magazines and another pile of new apples.
 So it was I who received Lane and Uncle Ned when Bertha usHered from a neighboring estate instead of across the border from another coun- try
 How is ahe?" bIurted out Lane almost iR the same breath that both of them greeted me. Then he added | in tone entirely free from alarm. Doesn't look much like a hospital annex Guess you think I'm big baby to come tearing back because the kiddie has a spratnetf ankle and a couple of black and blue spots Don't you?''
 '1 think you're a devoted husband" countered. avoiding Uncle Ned's | eyes because I suspected he realized there was more amiss than he'd seen Well, you weren't a devoted friend letting her tumble down the river l bank!' rumbled Lane in his big brown bear fashion; Couldn't you | have stopped her from going on a l cross-country jaunt in those silly hfgh-heeled pumps she will wear? Is that the way you look out for your | guests ?''
 But even as he rumbled out his seedlings he beamed at me unsus- | pectingly and concluded by ord ering me to convey him to his little girl at | once I escorted him to the turn of ! the hall, pointed to Vals door and i then fled back to Uncle Ned was convinced that he and l had a few | things to say to each other
 Where's my bride ?'' he demanded rising with courtly dignity as I came 1 back to the room. Surely Mollic didn't stay up there to chaperone the ! She isn't in vaFs room. She isn't here at all. She was down yesterday. but she felt she had to get back to Lacy Willoughby."
 That isn't like Uncle Ned shaking his head in per pleXlty- I telegraphed her to fling a few odds and ends into a bag and go to our Val at once MolIie never fails me. I don't understand"
 Seeing Val upset her. I replied.
 But Jim said our little girl wasn't badly hurt. Is poor little Lacy in dangerous shape?" demanded Uncle | Ned
 No Aunt Mollie was just upset!' foundered. torn between what I surmised about Aunt Mollie's prob able desire to protect Val even from dear old Uncle. e.Ned And she wasn't eNactly-prepared to stay" I That's funny. I told Mollie to
 bring a bag. Doesn't your sister-in-
 law banker after so much company D.
 Virginia adored Aunt Mollie. She wanted her-she begged her-to
 stay." I replied defensively and then
 backed down. regretting the heat that
 had committed me too far. But ] Aunt MOLLY said she had to carry
 NaFs bag And I suppose, not being
 sure shes got taxis all the time when
 she needed them, she didn't want two
 bags in case she had to carry them ''
 That's. great speech. Ann. And
 | can see you mean to reassure me- ''
 replied Uncle Ned, fixing his shrewd
 eyes on me with a craving for the . truth, which made them shine fierce
 " under his beetling brows But
 what I want to know is why my brid Q didn't stand by the girl We both love
 seeing as how the girl was hurt bad enough. so Jim shouts across a na- ttonal boundary to get us back to her What are you trying to hide?'' I'm not trying to hide anything
 stamn1ered. 'I must go find Jeanie and tell Ter you're here. And order
 some tea"
 Not much little girl You don'r } stir from your old uncle until you've broken your news to him however much it's going to hurt him." Th=n suddenly his insistent vet pleading eyes left my face and fo- cussed on the doorway. I followed their glance. { There on the threshold. stood Lane , (Tn Ro