The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-15

Besought Mary;
 "Grandmother, whenever you felt tempted te do horribly unusual, bizarre lining when you were a girl what did you do?"
 .usunIly dld it. my dear" smiled the wicked imp, this time peeping from the old lsdys left eye, as though he would jump out and em- brace the girl.
 Mary gasped.
 But nothing really wildly impos7 sible, Grandmother" piled the knowl- edge seeker.
 It Depends
 "It all depends upon what you call impossible. my dear. Just what now. would you mean7"
 Well, for instance, Grandmother say there was total strangers man you had never met In your life. And suppose he had fallen in love with you from afar; and had sent you-oh, an extremely valuable pres- ent: and had written you love let ter, and asked you not to marry any body else until you looked him over And suppose you knew--just knew that you ought not to see htm-but just wanted to. anyhow"
 The girl caught her breath.
 "what would you do7''
 Grandmother's eyes developed shouting imp in both pupils.
 "Wen dear, think I'd be perfectly scandalous and send him wire to come at oncelr
 "why, Grandmother, you know you wouldn't do thatr Mary's know" sounded like the capital letters in bill poster.
 Grandmother, thought she sensed a little sunrise of love coming up over bright horizon in a direction, as usual In which no one suspected Cupid was lurking with a gatling gun. Heaven knows. let it never be said of grandmother that she ever had thrown up bulwark to stop his aim if 1t meant Mary's exploitation to the sort of adoration she herself had entertained for Mary's grandsire.
 Marriage-Never
 You'd deliberately tell him to come when you actually. positively know that he's coming only to make love to you2 Wouldn't It look as though I was just encouraging him to press his case
 'why so2" argued Grandmother innocently And why not?"
 Mary's horror stood forth like tall mountains.
 "why, Grandmother. it would be utterly impossible for me to think of marrying such a manr'
 " Such q man'-what do you mean? You haven't seen himl"
 "Why Grandmother. heaven knows what sort of terrible family he comes from. -er-Why-er-he may be as bricklayer-or a waiter in a estauraut-or-or--"
 Mary tried to think up some other jobs that seemed terrible to her ina gination.
 My dear. suppose he were! You see, he could be an educated brick layer or walter. But he might De a good man-and a real man for all that--just the man to make you hap py. You might even learn to love his profession and help him in it2
 ''Grsndmother. now I know you are making fun of mew
 Then Mary grew confidential. "Iisten dsrllng-when he comes, will you promise to bring your enibroid- cry and sit where you can hear avery word he utters2 Oh I would die of
  find this outi''
 Grandmother Trevor smiled.
 Indeed I will, my dear. Be sure you make him wipe his muddy boots at the front door. and we will take him up to the private drawing room where he shall not be disturbed
 Grandmother Epe Help
 q shall tell the family that he is q poor man seeking employment, and needing help. if they should ask me. That is, if he looks like what you seem to expect and fear. For if there is any man more in need of help than a young chap in love and seeking employment as steady husband I do not know who 1t is."
 Then you would sec him?" Mary pressed the question again as if she had not heard her grandmoth CTS first assent.
 'Certainlyi"
 Then read that,r Mary drew from her bosom Bob's letter.
 Oh, grandmother, to think that he did.not even sign his namem
 Grandmother Trevor adjusted her glasses carefully and perused Bob's nete.
 When she had completed it. she looked at Mary az at a strange new being. The girl seemed to have risen in her confidante's estimation Grandmother Trevor had never dreamed that Mary was capable of such absent, metaphysical fnspira- ton to affection,
 Why. I think his letters very nice, my dear. He shows every being of gentleman
 Mary;
 "oh, wish it was over. I shall mail the deed back to his attorneys at once".
 Why be inshltinsly swfft2 Can't you the mare gracefully and cour- teously turn down the mans gift when he comes? or course, he knew 1 you wouldn't accept it."
 Guarantee Against Prejudice
 Grandmother. one last question, | would you tell father?"
 Grandmother Trevor became digni- 1 fled.
 My child. what is the use to trouble your father until you see how the land lays?"
 Land layses
 My dear, yo.r1nay actually wish | an orange blossom wreath at once | after you see him. and what would | be the use to prejudice your father concerning stranger"
 Mary sighed a sign that sounded ike kitten curling up in front of the fire and beginning to purr it's Dit 1 or a hearth song. She was relieved l
 'Grandmother, you've got so much sense, haven't your"
 My child. I wouldn't claim that merely experience. always objected to trying anyone's case before court convened and aI1 the evidence was in,
 Suddenly thrilled with happiness | she could not explain. Mary sprang up, did butterfly toe dance around l GrandS S@other's foot stool. Then she l Grandmother's foot stool Then she lady and squeezed her. im ! planting fervent kiss upon thn one 1