The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-08
ANDREW AND
 IWOGENE
By RoE FULKERsoN

What is the matter with you?s asked Andrew, looking up suddenly
 "oh, Andrew" cri1d Imosene, breaking Into sobs "If I die you will not marry again, will you?"
 What's the matter?" asked An drew anxiously. Are you sick? Are you keeping anything from me? He pulled her down into his lap, for she had risen and stood beside him. No" she sobbed.
 "Then, what Is the matter?" he asked, smoothing her hair.
 'I just got to thinking that if some epidemic should come along and I took 1t and it should be fatal. I know you would give me nice funeral and make all the neighbors stare, and l know how badly you would feel.
 ''Then l got to thinking about how helpless you are and how you would wander around the house here. lone some, touching the things I have touched and how sorry you would be that l was gone, and l could see you sitting there in your same old chair, sobbing yourself to sleep.
 T was thinking that if 1t were possible for people to come back from over there beyond the grave I would come back and stand all misty in front of you and tell you not to grieve for me, that l was better off and all that
 Then I could picture you getting more and more lonely until some cat of a woman came along and pre- tended to feel sorry for you and you would finally marry her, and bring her here to this house. I could see her dressing here in front of my mir TOT. could see her paving over the gowns in my closet and see her sheer Fat them just as if she could plan gowns In any better taste.
 Then on her finger I could see big solitaire and I knew that you had the biggest stone taken ont of my dinner ring and had it made up for her and knew further that every time that hussy had birthday or a wedding anniversary you would make her a ring out of one of mine and made up my mind that I was going to make you promise to put all my rings and jewelry on me when I died so they could be buried on me.
 Andrew, I just know if that woman ever put on one of my rings oA had one of my dresses made over to fit her l would turn over in my grave, and I want you to promise me right now that she shall never have them. l would scratch here eyes out.
 Then l want you to sell all my sil- yer, too. She simply shall not come into this house and find all that sll- yer ready for her. Why, Andrew. when we bought that silver we could only buy three pieces of each kind. and there were mighty few kinds, too. Then have added to it a knife or q fork or a spoon here and there until have enough to serve dozen people with dozen pieces at each plate, and a whole lot of them 1 won at bridge parties and she shall not have them. That is all there is to 1t.
 Going baclcto clothes. Andrew, she would not be a nice woman if she made over my clothes or took my nice toilet set or anything of the kind. You know no nice woman would use the things so near and dear to the heart of a dead woman.
 "Oh, Andrew, don't marry at all, will you? Please promise me"
 Her chin quivered and she began to sob again.
 Af 'ihih SaH lpiOmisSs sAlu Andrew, carefully. You see this is quite shock to me. I thought we had just begun to love each other and that the world was just about right for us two and now 1 find that you are going to die and leave me here in the middle of the road. If you are going to desert me now and die don't see why you are entitled to any consideration"
 Then if I don't die you will not marry?" she asked earnestly.
 Never said Andrew, kising her. She nestled down satisfied.
 Copyright, 1922, by Twenty first
 Century Press, Inc)