The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-08-24
AS TWIG IS BENT
sy EMMA STRONG.
SgSeSeSeSeSt

PUN eV, tncn YOU VIII nave huNDuhu
latter your own heart. Should The
marriage prove failure, you will
Know you picked the wrong man."
Lila Fox looked up from Madame
Mixit's advice TO the Lovelorn," just
I'M time to see Winnie Weeks, radiant
bride OF week. pass by with her hand
Isome young husband.
Winnie was only eighteen and
beauty, so Lila, twenty-nine and mere
~ gOOdlooking, really seemed old and
fugly to him.
II have a good mind to try IT," she
murmured. and whether she really
meant II or not, fate seemed ready to
help her, for at the dance of the
iNeighborhood club that evening Ian
son Grey persisted In dancing with
der and her only.
Though "A trine dismayed at his
youth, he being only seventeen and
nigh school pupil, the advice to catch
him young" kept recurring, and when
he, with flattering humility, asked II
NE might walk home with her, she just
naturally said ''yes."
II was only .en-mlnute walk, but
Before they had gone half the distance
Ais arm was around her slim waist,
Ais eyes on hers. and he was murmur-
ling, ooh, this Is what I've wanted
since my first dance with you. just
Move you" And though she was scan
daized at the absurdity of this ''kid's"
making love to her, "catch him, young
and train him" once more bobbed up
and she decided to accept him.
Arrived home. she invited him to
''iust for little lunch" but the ice
box yielded only tomato soup and cot
tage cheese.
81 love tomato soup" Lanson en-
claimed in the same ardent tones he
had said he loved her Bring II out
and heat it," So they Toasted on soup.
crackers and cheese.
II was a case OF rushing" after
that. Lila had always had struggling
admirers, who called a few times and
then lost interest. The truth was
that her breezy manner, which fasci-
mated at first and made getting ac-
quaiuted" easy had seemed to be "too
bossy" on more intimate acquaint-
ance.
But Lanson did not lose interest.
He came every evening, proposed
snarriage. And when she iaughingiy
asked. How could you support
wife? You must he fooling," he grew
very indignant, and 'I'll show you"
he declared; 'you don't care for me
or you'd marry me right away"
But married people have to pay
their expenses. and how could we do
that?"
EASILY enough. My uncle. In the
real estate business in ALBANY, has
offered me Job at a thousand n year;
won't that pay our cXpenscS?"
1t did provide for them amply for
two years. when prices and salaries
began 10 soar. Lanson had pleased
his uncle. who now raised his salary
beyond Lilas widest expectations.
She had economical and trained"
Lanson to do so, too. They now felt
that they could afford a bungalow
for home and, calling at the Office
tie purchase Of it. Lila asked the Of
flee hoy 10 send out Mr.. Grey. "Ter
MIN Mrs. Grey is here" she said and |
the boy went into Lansons Office with
"four mother is out there. Mr. Grey,
and she wants to see you"
LanSOn, who supposed his mother
10 be at home, forty miles away on the !
Ia ..1tt 81. a.,
rushed out to greet her. only to find |
Lila there. alone.
why, what a funny mistaken he
laughed. but from that time on he be-
gan TO be late for dinner, slow to |
meet her for the noon lunch. which |
they always had together at Broad
way restaurant; in fact, his hours be-
came 50 Irregular and his excuses for
working overtime" so plausible that |
kla got quite used TO spending the
evenings alone.
But even so, she was totally unpre.
pared for his not coming home at all
one night and for the harsh command,
by telephone, the following morning,
TO "be at the police station at nine
o'clock"
Arrived there, worn with the nights
vigil and fearing Lanson had met with
some horrible accident, she was COM
fOried by the sight OF her husband and
a pretty girl Of sixteen whom she rec
osnized as the sienOgrapher In the Of
nee adjoining Lanson's. But before
Lila could utter word, one Of the po-
hcemen guarding them asked the
frightened girl: snow, young lady, can
you tell me who this woman is?'
ayes" she whispered, "hls mother"
"What is your Manner sharply
asked the officer. turning TO Lila.
ella Grey"
ado you know this man?"
-'Ile Is my husband"
''Ypung man, can you deny that?"
"Nb."
The young girl. with mufiied groan.
eolIansad faintinp I'm her chair