Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-05-12
BLUE OR YELLOW?
BY AGNES G. BRooAN


"And we will have blue rug in the
guest room," said Janey, because
mother loves blue, and she will be
coming to visit us n lot"
The young man opposite moved un-
comfortably in his chair.
snow, Janey," he remarked, "You
have decided upon everything In our
prospective home, without giving me
look In. kept quiet, while you ar
ranged the living room in fancy, and
fitted out your dining room; nor did
l say word when you left no place
for my hobbies or studies. But my
mother will come to visit us too, and
she happens to have a preference for
yellow.
ITS been almost an obsesslon with
her-a CHEEKY sunshlny room. I've
heard her dream over 1t often, and
coax dad In her dlflident way for a
new rug or a set of curtains, and he,
reading and smoking over his paper,
put all her dreams to flight with a
casual refusal. old rug good enough +
he'd say, or What do we want with
new fixtures when Jim Is leaving for
home Of his own and mother would
smilingly submit.
Poor mother, putting always my
wishes before her own. So 1 made a
little plan, 1t was the very night that
you said yes, Janey, and was swing
ing along under the stars, and glory
ing over our home, and I said to my
self, mother will have her yellow
cheer-rOom there, and she can come
to 1t as often as she wants. So, little
lady" big Jim moved closer and
placed his hand over Janey's, you'll
give In on this, won't you, and come
out to choose yellow rug2" The girl
withdrew her hand
"My mother" she returned evenly,
has always loved blue. And she al
ways had to buy furnishings which
happened to be cheapest at the time,
or more serviceable, so her own
particular room is a conglomeration.
She managed, and scrimped, the way
mothers do, to make my room rose
colored. And I'm bringing my rose
covered mahogany to our own house,
Jimmy. After you left me that night,
did some planning Of my own. II
was blue room that 1 planned, for
mother to revel In, when she could
steal away for n time from father and
ended Janey firmly, ito choose a blu'
rug tomorrow"
Jim turned from his fiancee without
kissing her Goodnight" he said alb
ruptly, and was gone.
Rebelliously, Janey went to hel
| mother.
Sometimes" she said, anger flush
ing her cheeks, ~ feel as If do moi
want to marry Jim. He's so terribly
dominating; If I allow him to rule me
now, mother, shan't have the life Of q
mouse"
The woman bending patiently over
her mendlng smiled. How does Jim
try to rule you, dearT she enqulred.
"About our house." Janey excltedly
replied. 81 want blue guest room
you know you also like blue, mother
and Jim is obstInately determined on
yellow"
Mrs. Wilfred turned seam, yellow
is bright and pleasing" she noncomit-
tingly returned.
Jim found his mother reading.
"HOw Is our little Janey tonightT T.
she asked brightly. "Janey," her
somber faced son replied, "has ex-
hiblted this evening a new phase Of
character. And don't like It, She
has showed me that am to have no
word in the planning Of my own home.
Mrs. Gray looked distressed.
"Girls usually like to plan their
houses" she defended, perhaps there
Is just one certain thing that Janey
has set her heart on"
When Jim, stubborn In his suffering
determination not TO surrender to
what he considered Joney's within,
absented himself from her presence
for weeks, Janey, too, suffered In
silence. The little house In Already was
neither sought out, nor tenanted
while blue room or yellow room, were
not to be thought Of bearably-at all.
Janeys mother and Jlm's mother con-
suited together, dismayed.
my dear" said Janey's mother to
her one day, 81 want you to go down
to Hedstrom's and select a blue rug.
Father sees his way now for us to re-
furnish my upper front ROOM"
And "Jim," begged Mrs. Gray diff
hdently, would you mind stopping ut
Hedstrom's this noon during your
lunch hour7 There Is yellow rug
there that ! have arranged to buy.
The salesman will show II to you. I'd
like your judgment before having the
rug sent to the house"
The salesman at HedstrOm's was
becoming impatient with his apathetic
customer. Janey, llstless, pale, viewed
IndIfferently one blue rug after
another; she was wondering how Jim
could so persistently avoid her--and
II he had known this queer longing
ache, which constantly possessed her.
A gruff voice nearby caused the sales
man to turn with start.
"SOmethlng in yellow" demanded
Jim. His eager eyes met Janey's I'm
in blue / mean," he amended breath
lessly. I'm interested only In blue
rugs, understand; have no wish
to ever sea yellow rug again." The
salesman stared: His llstless GUS
toner was suddenly close at this queer
young mans elbow. "And as for me-"
she laughed back softly, you can roll
up all your blue rugs. Mother may
chose her own. Why, all the filings
rye been making during the paSt
weeks are yellow" she told Jim, hap
plly--"the sunnlest, cheeriest kind Of
VaIloy"