Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-11-02
The
Scarlet Woman
By MYRA c. LANE
ssSSSSsssSSsesss.SSSsSSSSHS Ss

and gone back to her fathers
cottage to keep house for him. What
did he think?. What did Joe Norris
now representing his firm
on business trip West; Joe, who was
engaged to her?
why, it's this here way" explained
old Calender, a mild, lem, elderly
man, who suffered from rheumatism.
THAT amt Mays baby. She adopted
1t from the Home for Fresh Air for
Kids for the summer, SOS to give it a
chance like, because it's kinder
peaked"
"Oh, Mr.. Calender, how can man
Of the world like yourself be taken in
by such nonsense?' demanded Mrs.
RhOmb, the deacon's wife. Cant you
see for yourself? What would girl
like May be wanting with baby, when
she's going to be married to Joe when
he comes back?"
II guess therell be one wedding put
off," sneered Hy Pannlck, the life H.
surance agent.
1t was certainly scandaous. May
should have put the infant in a home
and hidden her shame in the city, all
agreed, instead OF Dolluting Hillside
with her presence. Why, there were
young folks in Hillside who knew May,
and four churches.
And then, what made it 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 sIurred the word Miss" as II it
were a little irregular.
"Oh, Mr.. Hotfoot! Yes, that's the
kid l adopted for the summer. Pretty
boy, isn't he?'
"Oh, Miss Calender, Is 1t wise, is 1t
right to appear in public carrying the
chlld?" Mr.. Hotfoot pleaded. "All
things are lawful, but all things are
not eXpedient-you understand? There
are young people in Hillside"
This is the child adopted, Mr.. Hot
foot" said May Calender, emphasizing
the adopted"
"Oh, yes, to be sure" said Mr.. Hot
foot, Beating retreat. He told his
congregation after that she had flown
at him like a wildcat.
But what would Joe Norris say-Joe,
now on his homeward trip? Joe was
pretty hot.temrered. 1t was the
brazenness Of the hussy, coming back
with it!
And then-there was that hot sum-
mer night when it was taken so i'll,
and May was raging like 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 lie believed what the world
believed, but he didn't dare express
himself, and May certainly was some
housekeeper.
Katie Jackson, whom Joe had once
gone with, was especially vindictive.
She was at the head of the organiza-
tion which ignored May in the street
for the sake Of decCucy, 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 say? Joe was
in Chicago; he was in Detroit; he was
In New York he was expected on Mon
day evening-here he is at the station,
six feet high, nearly as broad, sun
burned, happy, carrying grip with
practiced hand.
"Oh, Mr.. Norris, it is sad news that
! have to tell you" Mr.. 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 it was too hot to leave
Baby, and he needed constant atten-
tiOn. So she just sat beside his cot
and waited for Joe.
Joe strobe along at his fve-mile gait,
perplexed, wondering. OF course he
didn't doubt. But
Say, May" he said as he kissed her,
whats all this Internal trouble about
you In town. That old humbug Hot.
foot was on my trail as soon as made
the depot. That the kid? Mighty
fine kid, only--why, say, May, we can't
afford 10 start our family so darned
quick, can wei"
ITS 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 ideaw