Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-02-08
MARY
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN

A>uloiC iaioSb iNl al ihS oDoNS hSl
head, and the jeweled bracelet that
Kenneth had brought her. flashed in
the sun.
Kenneth had spent the last few
months in Europe. Kenneth was al
ways travelling about, spending money
and her pretty face was drawn into
lines of despair. The rich widow who
had come on to visit Natalie's mother
sighed.
MY dear" she exclaimed, this is
a world of trouble. Sitting here, and
l could almost wish myself in the
place Of the carefree Russian girl, in
your kitchen. Her horizon, no doubt,
is chiefly bordered by the aluminium
coffee pot, her greatest concern keep
ing 1t ashlne. Do listen to her voice,
Natalie really such boisterous singing
shocks my ear drums"
Natalie shrugged.
"And the girl understands so little
English, that 1t would be useless to
tell her to moderate her joyous tone.
She would probably think was COM
plimenting her instead, upon Its
range"
Mary is good and willing, but like
most commendable people, disappoint-
ing.
Natalie jumped up and went over to
the window. Then for an instant her
frown vanished, while a smile OF eager
sweetness curled her lips. A young
man was coming up the walk-a man
Of earnest face and purposeful bear
ing. As his dark eyes met Natalie's,
he bowed grayely without returning
her smile.
While he waited for the maid to re-
spond to his ring, the widow turned
to the girl.
my dear Natalie" said said, show
long do you intend to allow that mas
terful young Stewart to hope on in
his fools paradise?" You know
well-your mother and have dis
cussed the subject-that you could
never be satisfied as poor mans
wife. Don Stewart is Enthusiastically
poor, with no promising future ahead.
With your good-natured father sup
plying your every whim, how could
you later be content without decent
clothes to wear?-with odious house
work to do?"
Natalie suddenly laughed.
Maybe" she retorted, "Td be sing
ing over the washing OF a coffee, pot,
like Mary"
But when Don Stewart came into
her presence she received him coldly.
Love Is all right" she kept telling
herself, but love alone will not carry
one over the rough places Of life. She
must be firm, she told herself reso-
lutely' against the sincerity Of Don
Stewards charm.
When Don Stewart had gone again
down the garden path, his bead bowed
and his eyes Swallowed by sorrow,
Natalie went out to the kitchen to
hush Mary's song Mary greeted her
adored lady with disarming affection,
Fastening to touch her soft lips to
Natalie's palm. "You 1Ike-my song?"
she asked in happy misunderstanding.
My man, he like it, too, cause it's
bout lofe, 1t gives, he say, lofe's In
the giving"
Slowly Natalie repeated the words.
love is in the giving"
$50 you. too, had a lover, Mary.
Tell me about him."
"He come to dis country" Mary
said stolidly. "Then he send back for
me to come marry him. 1 come.
Leave nice home in Russia--beeg
kitchen, clean. No nice here. My
man, he get seek, poor. l no care,
happy. Lofe in the giving Then
my man die quick. Me and the baby
all alone in strange land. Woman
take care of my baby. 1 work. l
earn money. 'Lofe in the giving l
see my baby Thursdays. l wash,
iron his little clothes"
Mary stretched wide her roughened
hands.
Baby so beeg," she said proudly.
Natalie rushed forward, the arm with
the jeweled bracelet caressed the for
eign girls neck
"Oh Mary" she cried, land still
you can sing"
Sure 1 sing" Mary answered. II
make happy for my baby, for him
gone"
Natalie was at the telephone.
Don" she said, TREMENDOUSLY sweet,
II will go with you for that drive to-
day. And Don--I want always to be
with you-anywhere. There's your
answer