Mountain advocate., 1922-12-08
The
Scarlet Woman


did he thlnkf What did Joe Norris
thlnk-Joe, now representing his firm
on business trip West; Joe, who was
engaged to heri
"Why. It's this here way" explained
old Calender, mild. lean, elderly
man. who suffered from rheumatism.
''That amt Mays baby. She adopted
II from the Home for Fresh Air for
Kids for the summer, SOS to give II
chance like. because it's kinder
peaked"
"Oh, Mr.. Calender, how can n man
Of the world like yourself be taken In
by such nonsense1" demanded Mrs.
Rhomb. the deacon's wife. Cant you
see for yourself7 What would a girl
like May be wanting with a baby. when
she's going to be married 10 Joe when
he comes back?"
II guess there1l be one wedding put
off," sneered by Pannick, the life in
surance agent.
II was certainly scandalous. May
should have put the infant In a home
and hidden her shame In the city, all
agreed. instead Of polluting Hillside
with her presence. Why, there we're
young folks In Hillside who knew May,
and four churches.
And then, what made II worse than
anything, May was so brazen. See her
walk into Mr.. Pinnick's shop, as bold
as brass, and ordering-yes, ordering
groceries, instead of creeping In and
paying her money over the counter
humbly. And the child on her arm
That beat creation!
The Reverend Hotfoot stopped her
In the street one day. "Ahem. Miss
Calender"
He slurred the word Miss" as if 1t
were little irregular.
"Oh, Mr.. Hotfootl Yes, that's the
kid 1 adopted for the summer. Pretty
boy, isn't he?"
"Oh, Miss Calender, is 1t wise, is II
right to appear in public carrying the
child?" Mr., Hotfoot rpleaded. "All
things are lawful, but all things, are
not expedient--yQu understand? There
are young people In Hillside"
This Is the child I adopted, Mr.. Hot
foot" said May Calender, emphasizing
the adopted"
"Oh, yes, to be sure" said Mr.. Hot
foot, beating a retreat. He told his
congregation after that she had flown
at him like wildcat.
But what would Joe Norris say-Joe,
now on his homeward trip? Joe was
pretty hot-tempered. 1t was the
brazenness of the hussy, coming back
with 1t!
And then-there was that hot sum-
mer night when II was taken so Ill,
and May was raging like a mad thing,
Doctor Hollis said, for fear one Of
those convulsions would carry 1t Off.
Oh, yes, Hillside wasn't composed of
fools. ,..
Old Mr.. Calender, under Mays
thumb, meekly submitted to her rule.
Privately he believed what the world
believed, but he didn't dare express
himself, and May certainly was some
hOusekeeper. a
Katie Jackson, whom Joe had once
gone with, was especially vindictive.
She was at the head of the organlza-
tion which ignored May in the street
for the sake Of decency, and Mr.. Hot
fOot's sermon that first Sunday after
Mays return was really Katie Jack
sons working. Katie was the Reverend
Hotfoot's niece.
But what would Joe say7 Joe was
in Chicago; he was in Detroit; he was
in New York he was expected on Mon
day evenlng-here he Is at the station,
burned, happy, carrying a grip with a
practlced hand.
"Oh, Mr.. Norris, it is sad news that
have to tell you" sMr. Hotfoot led
Joe aside. you must not take any
impetuous action, my dear Mr.. Norris.
There are loving hearts in Hillside
that will do their best to heal this
wound"
Joe had at first burst out laughing,
then he became bewildered. then an
CRY.
May knew what train he was COM
Ing on, but II was TOO not 10 leave
Baby and he needed constant atten-
ton. SO she just sat beside his cot
and waited for Joe.
Joe strobe along at his five-mile gait,
perpeXed, wondering. OF course he
didn't doubt. But
Say, May" he said as he kissed her,
"what's all this Internal trouble about
you in town? That old humbug Hot
foot was on my trail as soon as made
me depot. That the kid? Mighty
fine kid, Only-why, say, May we can't
afford to start our family so darned
quick, can wet"
'It's only for the summer, joe" an
swered May. "I've got to return him
to the Home for Fresh Air for Kids in
September"
"But what's the idea?"
"Why, Joe, darling, I-you know
wanted to find out whether really