Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-07-01
AS TWIG is BENT
BY EMMA STRONG.
20 BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. }
90 % 0oo~ p0oo %

Tram him in the way YOU would have
MN 90; then YOU will have Il husband
after your own heart. Should the
marriage prove II failure. YOU will
Know you pickrd the wrong man
Lila Fox looked up from Madame
MIMI 5 advice To the Luvrlorn." just
IN tiIne to see Winnie Weeks. radiant
bride OF Il week. pass by with her hand
some young husband
Winnie was only eighteen aud
beauty. So Lila, twenty-niuc and mere
ly g"od-l"oking, really seemed old and
ugly to him.
1 have 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
NeighbOrhood club that evening Ian
son Grey persisted in dancing with
her and her only
Though trihe dlsmayed at his
youth. he being only seventeen and n
nigh school pupil. the advice to "catch
him young" kept recurring. and when
he, with tlattering humility. asked if
he might walk home with her she just
naturally said yes"
1t was only ten-minute walk, but
hefor" they had gone half the distance
his arm WAS around her slim waist,
his eyes an hers. and he was murnur-
ing. "th, this is what I've wanted
SINCE my first dance with you. just
love YOU. And though she WAS scan
dh'iZ"d at the ahsurdity Of this kids"
making love Ia her. "catch him young
and train him. once more buhbcd up.
and she decided to accept him.
Arrived home, she invited him to
Just for little mnch," hut the ice
boN yielded only tomato soup and cot
tage cheese.
y love tomato soup" Lanson ex-
claimed in the Same ardent tones he
had said he loved her. Bring it out
and heat it, S" they Toasted on soup.
crackers and cheese.
1t was Il case Of crushing" after
that. Lila had always had struggling
admirers. who called few times and
then lost interest. The truth was
that her breezy manner, which fasci-
mated at first and made "getting ac-
quainted" easy. had seemed to be "too
boSSy' on more Intimate acquaint-
ance.
But Lanson did not lose interest.
lie came every evening. proposed
marriage. And when she laughingly
asked, How could YOU support a
wife? You must be 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 Mt Il thousand a year;
won't that pay our expenses"
Ii did provide for them amply for
two years, when prices and salaries
began To soar. Lanson had pleased
his uncle. who now raised his salary
beyond Lila'S widest expectations.
She had economical and strained"
Larson 10 do so, too. They now felt
That they could afford bungalow
for home and. calling at the office
one day to see him, In connection with
tie purchase Of 1t. Lila asked the Of
fice boy to send out Mr.. Grey. 'Ten
him Mrs. Grey is here" she said: and
me boy went into LanSOn's office with
your mother is out there. Mr.. Grey.
and she wants to see YOU"
Lanson. who supposed his mother
10 he at home, forty miles away on the
Massachusetts side Of the state line.
rushed out to greet her, only to find
Lila there. alone.
why, what funny mistake" he
laughed. but from that time on he be-
gan TO he 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 so irregular and his excuses for
working overtime" so plausible that
Lila 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,
10 "br ut the police station Mt nine
O'clock"
Arrived there. worn with the nights
vigil and fearing Lanson had met with
some horrible accident. she was com
forted by the sight of her husband and
a pretty girl of sixteen whom she rec
ognized rs the stenOgrapher in the of
flee adjoining Lanson's. But before
Lila could utter Il word one OF tho mo-
hcemcn guarding them asked the
frightened girl: "Now. young lady. can
you tel me who this woman is?'
'N".." she whispered. "hs mother"
What Is your name" sharply
asked the officer. turning to Lila.