The Washington times., 1921-05-05
When a Girl Marries
A Story of
EARLY Welded LIFE
BY ANN Isle.

<xD ABBsIE's farnerw Neal
u cried. How could you
have brought him back
from the Northwest with your
Babbsie's father was killed In .
railroad wreck years ago-years
before you married my mother
years before / was born"
80 we thought" corrected
Father Andrew
80 you thought?r pleaded Neal.
$50 you thought? Didn't you
know? Did you take a chance? Did
you let me come along to be saddlsd
with this"
He broke OF abruptly and stared
at US with bright. shamed eyes.
Forgive me. father" he stared
at US with bright, shamed eyes.
Forgive me. father" he cried.
I'm talking like a rabbit Guess
the suddenness of this got down
through me to the yellow streak.
I'm counting on you both to for
get"
Then Neal caught Father An
drew's hands in both of his and
smiled at me bravely as he went
on:
isn't there some mistaken Are
you dead sure? You see you were
dead sure once that he'd passed
out or you never would have mar
ried our little mother, Dad"
The man is Lucius, known as
Lucky Lee, son. There's no pos
sible doubt. He has the papers
and the facts to prove it." replied
Father Andrew, firmly.
Neal swallowed hard once or
twice. After q moment or two he
perked out:
Poor old Yabbs-no fun having
= new father foisted on you over
night when you've always given a
daughters love to the best dad on
earth. This hits you pretty hard,
Sis. Is he-the sort to make you
ashamed?"
Father Andrews eyes pleaded
with me. SO 1 gave Neal smile for
smile as 1 said:
ut isn't much fun-but Dad
Lees all right. Never mind. It's
OF you were both thinking, Neal
darling"
THINKING OF NEAL.
"Oh, men' retorted Neal. "You
two always are thinking of me.
But my end of it's all right. I'm
not as yellow and whimpering as ]
Indicated a minute ago. What gets
me is poor Babbs. Don't try any
kind OF fibs on me, Sis. What sort
OF man Is this father OF yours!
Watt see. He ran away and
deserted your mother. That tells
the story. 1 can figure out the kind
OF citizen who'd play dead all these
years. Now, why does he come back
TO upset you? What's the graft?
That's what / can't figure"
fou've got 1t wrong, lad" pro-
tested Father Andrew. "Our Babb-
sizes poor old father did a real I'M
selfish thing when he disappeared
In that railroad wreck. He wanted
his wife and child to have his in
surance money. seeing that would
take care of them and he
couldn't
Couldn't" shifted Neal. HAS
he come back to make up for 1t
by taking care of Babbsle now?"
Father Andrew hurried or Sc
verely:
He knew OF my Martha's mar
rage and he kept still. You can
figure for yourself the poor fellow
didn't get a mite Of enjoyment out
OF skulking around in the dark.
But he did it and never peeped he
cause he saw j was making out to
give Martha love and comfort.
Strikes me that was kinda heroic"
All right. Granted" conceded
Neal! And now what? Why's he
ii back to take up the
'atherhood he once found too much
Of job? Has he struck IL rich?
Is he bringing Babbs a fortune just
when she can use it? Doesn't
look puch that way to me-or this
apartment wouldn't be getting cut
II the family. This brings me back
10 my offer. Why can't you call oft
his deal and let the place to Phoebe
md me?"
But even as he said this Neal
1auled himself up short and stared
II us with frightened eyes which
from incredullty to hope
essness.
'Phoeber' he implored. This
changes things-doesn't 1t? Iris
s what you meant, Babbs. when