The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-09-28


sion. awoke suddenly to the fact
of the existence OF Father and Mother.
and that their permission must be
gained. And | had m: doubts-I had
very grave doubts. Yet 1t seemed to
me at that moment that ! Just had to
g. on that slelgh-ride. That II was
the only thing In the whole wide world
worth while.
can remember now, as II II we're
yesterday. the way I debated In my
mind as to whether ! should nsk
Father, Mother, or both together; and
II | should let II be seen how greatly
desired to go. and how much It meant
to me; or If ! should just mention 1t
as in passing, and take their permits
sion practically for granted.
chose the hitter course, and | took
a time when they were both together.
At the breakfast table | mentioned
casually that the school was to have
a sleigh.ride and supper the next Fri
day afternoon and evening, and that
Paul Mayhem had asked me to go with
him.
"A slelgh-ride, supper. and not
come home until EVENING"" cried
Mother "And with whom, did YOU
sayT
Paul Mayhem" answered. still
tried to speak casually; at the same
time tried to indicate by voice and
manner something of the &. eat honor
that had been bestowed upon their
daughter.
Father was mpressed-plalnly i'm
pressed; but not |. in the way
had hoped he would be. He gave me
swift. sharp glance; then looked
straight at Mother.
"Ilumph Paul mayhewi Yes.
know him." he said Giimly. "And I'm
dreadlDg the time when he comes into
college next year."
you mean" Mother hesltated and
stopped.
II mean l don't like the company
he keeps-already." nodded Father.
Then you don't think that Mary
Marie" Mother hesitated again. and
glanced at me.
Certainly not" said Father de-
cidedly.
knew thenP of course, that he
meant l couldn't go on the sleigh ride,
even though he hadn't said the words
right out. forgot all about being
casual and Indifferent and matter-of-
course then. l thought only of show
Ing them how absolutely necessary It
was for them to let me go on that
sleigh ride, unless they wanted my
life forevermore hopeessly bllghted.
explained carefully how he was
the Eandsomest, most popular boy In
school, and how all the girls were just
crazy to be asked to go anywhere
with him; and l argued what II Faith
er had seen him with boys he did NOT
like-then that was all the more rea-
son why nice girls like me. when he
asked them, should go with him, so as
to keep him away from bad boys. And
reminded them again that he was
the very handsomest, most popular
boy in school; and that there wasn't
girl / knew who wouldn't be crazy
10 be In my shoes.
Then l stopped, all out Of breath,
and can imagine just how pleading
and FACILITATING l looked.
! thought Father was going to re-
fuse right away, but l saw the glance
that Mother threw hlm-the glance
that said. "Let me attend to this,
dear" I'd seen that glance before.
several times, and | knew just what
1t meant; so WASH. surprised to see
Father shrug his shoulders and turn
away as Mother said to me:
Every well, dear. I'll think 1t over
and let you know tonight"
But 1 was surprised that night to
have Mother say | could so, for I'd
about given up hope, after all that
talk at the breakfast table. And she
said something else that surprised me.
too. She said she'd like TO know Paul
Mayhem herself; that she always
wanted to know the friends of her
little girl. And she told me to ask
him to call the next evening and play
checkers or chess with me.
Happy7 I could scarcely contain
myself for Joy. Ard when the next
evening came. bringing Paul, and
1.other, all prettlIy dressed as II he
we're really. truly company, came into
the room and talked so beautifully to
him. was even more entrahced. To
be sure, II did bother me little that
Paul laughed so much. and so loudly,
and that he couldn't seem to find any
thing to talk about only himself. and
what he was doing, and what he was
going to do. Some way, he had never
seemed like that at school. And !
was afraid Mother wouldn't like that.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)
"charge Of the Light Brigade"
The charge of the light cavalry al