The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1922-08-12
INVITING BOBBY
BY MOLLIE MATHER
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Bliss was tying morning glories on
the porch vine, when the letter came.
Lizzie brought 1t over from the post
office.
Bliss looked like human mor1ing
glory-if such might be-with her
soft pink cheeks and her violet eyes,
and the very dancing lightness Of her.
The letter was from her stepmother,
who spent most of the time abroad
with her husband, whose business af-
fairs called him there. Bliss and the
stepmother were the best of friends,
and 1t was this understanding friend.
ship which left the girl in sole pos
session of her former home.
Lizzie, her own mothers trusted
helper was also left in charge.
The girl had been given her moth
ers family name, and those who loved
her-and there were oh, so many
thought it the most appropriate name,
for surely the bright presence, was
as they said, "blissfully happy one"
Trying, too, to make others as
happy"
Bliss seated herself on a lower step
to read her letter. 1t was written in
behalf of some new-found friend of
her mothers. "a dear woman" the
letter said, from our own home city,
who, widowed. had come over here,
with her young daughter. l have
talked with her about you, Of course,
Bliss darling, and she was moved to
write you-her inclosed letter speaks
for itself"
Bliss unfolded the accompanying let
ter.
"My Dear Miss Carmen: Your
mother has told me about you and
your pretty home in the country vii
lage 1, who am far from home, wish
that its hospitality might be extended,
through your kindness, TO my poor
boy, left alone in the hot, dusty city.
know that Bobby Is lonely without
his mOther-for, you see, he Is my
baby, and I'm afraid my friends are
right when they say 1 have made my
self too necessary to him. But that Is
a way Of mothers. My little girl is
with me here. l wonder If 1t is ask
| ing too much to suggest that you write
him-just a little line, If you are
busily occupied with other matters
and perhaps some time you will let
| him come out to sun himself in your
lovely old-fashioned garden; ! am see
| ing it through your mothers eyes.
know IL would do my poor lonely
Bobby a world of good. and l would
be always, Yours most gratefully,
"ESTHER GALE"
Bliss bounced in to Lizzie. Just
think" she cried, in ever-ready sympa-
| thy, ''of that poor boy left alone In
the city, while his mother and little
sister are away in Europe. l shall
write for him to come, Lizzie, and
you shall make him some of your ia
nous cookies. 1t will really be pleas
ant to mother the motherless child"
So Bliss sat down to her letter.
| One evening at sundown Bliss was
hanging a rope swing for her antici-
pated guest, beneath the apple tree,
when a man approached through the
hedge.
He smiled, as he came near, then
stopped to adjust the swing board,
which lay at the girls feet.
"Will you tell me-" he inquired,
where may find Miss Bliss Carmen
An elderly lady, would fancy her, as
she is a friend OF my mother. A we'll
meaning friend" added the man, and
smiled again.
II am Miss Carmen" she absently
replied.
The man stared - rudely. she
thought. "You!' he exclaimed.
Bliss nodded "You wanted to see
me?"
The man laughed. Then instantly
he excused himself. Il was certain
that a friend of my mothers as you
stated YOU were in Bobbie's letter,
must naturally be near my mothers
age. Indeed--you are just little girl
in swing"
Bliss slipped from the swing t9
stand before MN. w nat uO you
know of Bobby?" she asked.
The man stood up. Il am Bobby"
he announced astonishingly Il sup
pose mother is to blame for your mis-
take" he said. "She always refers
TO nv sister as her little girl, though
Sue has long been married. /, to my
confusion, am her baby because
happen to have been the youngest In
the family Butt did like my In
yltation, its true hospitality, the real
thing all~through."
From the open kitchen doorway
came a spicy Odor; Lizzie stood there
curiously regarding the visitor.
Suddenly laughing, Bliss put out
her hand to him. II must keep my
promise about the cookies she said.
And the hammock afterward!' ne
smiled into the violet eyes.
And the hammock" agreed the
girl.
And as they walked to the house to
yether. he was thinking jubilantly
"rhat matchmaking mother OF mine
Ia on the right track at last