Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1922-06-30
my DARLINGEsT MOTHER
BY GEM

proportion of the divorces among
"us common folk" are among
the street car conductors, police
men, and fremen who work
nights, lie goes on to qualify
this statement by stating. that
this is because the women are
obliged to 90 always alone on the
quest for pleasure, and that this
quest, starting imoccntly enough
often ends in tragedy.
Probably Arthur Cross never
read that and if he had, it would
have meant nothing to him, for
III ever there was a contcntcd
family it was his own. They had
one son, Arthur II, who was just
entering high school.
Ever since Art had worked for
the street ear company he had
worked nights. Often Martha,
his wife, tried to get him to give
it up, and take the money which
they had saved and buy small
place on the edge Of town where
they could raise their own garden,
and chickens, and as she put it,
"be independent" But he al
ways put her off by saying it
would be time enough when he
was too old to work.
Sometimes when there was a
dance or entertainment to which
Martha particularly wanted to
go, she would go with some Of the
neighborS. One evening she was
introduced TO a rather quiet
looking young fellow who seemed
to be having very dull time.
After the usual common~places,
about the condition Of the floor,
and the temperature of the hall
had been exchanged, they both
decided they were tired, and
wanted to sit out a dance.
81 notice you wear a wedding
ring he observed, "where is
your husbandY'
When she told him that Art
worked nights, he laughingly
said, "Well. as we are lonely
pair, you might as well let me
take you home.'
They went home together, and
at the door he asked her, rather
stammeringly, if he might see
her again some time.
She stiffly said that she was
sure she did not know, and hur-
ried into the house.
Martha tiptocd into Arthur's
room and turned off, the light
he always went to sleep and left
it burning-then went to her OWN
room. AS she lay there, she
wondered whether she had not
been a little too curt with Mr..
Brand. He had been such a
gentleman, that she might have
told him she would be at the
dance in two weeks. To be sure
she had not really thot much a
bout going, but it seemed she had
had an usually good time tonight.
When the time of the next
dance arrived. it was with a
little of the "young girl thrill
that she looked about the hall to
see whether che" was there.
He was
They danced together till they
were both tired, and he suggested
that they leave, and 90 for a walk
before going home.
"But, I shouldn't, she insist
ed, 81 am very much married, You
know"
"Oh, forget it." he scofted.
"You are too charming woman
to spend all your time home be-
cause your husband happens to
like to work nights. Why not
have a little fun?'
"But it is not for the sake of
my husband alone that | want to
do the right thing. I have a son
of whom | must think. y
eyes, I suppose that he stays
home all the time aud keeps you
company when you are lonesome.
Tess up now, does he stay home,
or does he skip off every chance
he getsY"
Somehow Martha had never
thought of it that way. Yes, it
was true enough. She had tried
to ret Art to do something else,
but he said he liked his job.
And as for her boy, well he was
gone most of the time, except at
meal time. Maybe that was all
they wanted her for was cook,
and to know where things were.
When she looked at it that way
it seemed as if it We're not only