The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-03-16
NOW, mama"

ACh, 90 on, Esther, bring 1t up and
write to him a letter on a sheet of
that pretty pink writing-paper that's
in it. See, right up here by the moon
shine you can see to write and l add a
line, eh?"
Mama, please don't nag"
Here, right in my handbag, Esther,
is the little silver key on the little
silver ring to the case it came in. Not
once have you asked for it. So
thoughtful a boy, Esther; he knows
such a careless girl you are and on a
silver ring with your name on, he has
yet the silver key put on"
"The way you keep talking about
that portfolio, mama, like it was made
of gold"
Il only say, Esther, what a grand
thing it would be if Abe would meet
us when we get to Paris. Like he
says, Esther all what he waits for is
the word from you that he should
come. Right to me on the pier, saying
gOOd-by, he said those words"
mo wonder, the way you stuck next
to him, mama"
think, Esther, a smart boy like
Abe what is always so thoughtful Of
everybody to help us around in Paris,
where you got to be so careful, they
say, you don't get cheated, eh! Next
to Niche himself, nothing could give
papa so much pleasure either as Abe
should be there with us. Here, baby,
right here is the silver ring. Run
down once and underneath your berth
out of the case get the portfolio and
write to him on the pink writing paper,
eh?"
"Oh, mama, you-you get me so
mad. Honest, I-oh, I could just cry
the way you keep at me. Please,
mama, let-let my affairs alone"
'All right, Esther, I let them alone.
Your old mother only wishes you the
worst. She wishes you to forget
grand honest boy like Abe for
dressed-up nix what you meet on tie
boat. I'll let you alone. I'll let you
alone, Right back in my bag goes the
silver key-ring. I'll let you alone"
That's what l want you to do"
II tell you, Esther, this pain what
I got over my heart yesterday and to-
day amt for nothing. I tell you the
excitement when you nearly missed
the boat this afternoon, and for
mother to see all of a sudden her baby
begin nonsense with a nix from Chi
cago what nobody don't know nothing
about, except what he brags himself,
Is enough to give heart failure. Bet
ter we had stayed right at home in"
ooh, mama, I just got to bite my
tongue to hold in. That's how mad
you and your old fogy ideas make me.
What do you know about-about
things that go on in the-the real
world; about an up-to-date fellow like
him that's been around the world three
times and knows things? You and
your old fogy ideas don't count,
mama"
"Esther!"
"They don't. They-they just don't.
I'm sick of you always picking on
him when you don't know. I-Oh-
Oh-Oh!"
She was off into the rearward gloom
of the deck, examining her handker-
chief against her lips, inarticulate sobs
escaping from its lacy edge; down two
flights in and out. skirting the edge
Of deckspread groups skirting their
laughter and the frOth of conversation,
and in a deserted corner of the oak
balcony a generous ledge elaborated
to writing-room and overlooking the
luxurious. bright-lighted lounge room,
she found refuge. Dance music floated
up to her light and remotely and the
foam Of lighter laughter.
A galaxy of incandescents burned
through crystal prlsms upon the in
formal leather chairs of the great
room, upon full-length mirrors in gilt
frames; upon limitations of famous
pair of fifty-three-inch Mandarin jars
and half-a-doZen small walnut tables
with carved tassels at their four cor
ners. chessboards here and there
king or pawn left standing. The
paraphernalia of idleness was every
where about: a periodical, face down
ward; woman's work-bag. Finally
and beneath the left balcony a group