The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-14
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81.
A Ready-Made
Family
BY JOHN PALMER

by JOdN FALMEH
Royston. q man Of forty-five, told
Mrs. Underwood he was q widOwer.
He was very attentive to Mrs. I'm
derwood's daughter, Dolly, when
ever he stayed at her house. He
was a drummer, and passed through
the town every few weeks. gen.
orally spending from Friday to
Monday with the widow.
2 Yes, ROyston was quite attentive
to Dolly. 1t reached the point
where he asked her to marry him.
Dolly wasn't sure. She liked Roy
ston, but he was something Of q
mystery. He had, in fact, limited
to her of mystery in his life.
"You know HIS route, Dolly; why
don't you take holiday and fol-
low him? You know the hotels
he stays at and ALL" urged her
mother.
Dolly was thirty-fve, fond Of
Royston, and saw little prospect
Of any other sutton. She didn't
like deceiving him, but she felt 1t
was her duty to herself not to fall
into a trap. So in the end. heav-
lily yelled, she set out to follow In
Royston's route. on the same
train. ss-~e
At Pycroft, his first main cen.
ter, ROyston got off the train. A
half-grown lad, waiting upon the
station platform. rushed up to him.
"Hello, Dad!" -a'@r>
"Hello, Charley
Dolly nearly tainted. However,
there was no Mrs. Royston In Py-
croft. She discovered that Royston
boarded his son at a quite select
school in the town. and stayed him.
self at hotel.
So Royston had a son. Well, It
wasn't SO bad. This must be
mystery. She almost decided to 60
home and think 1t over.
Instead Of which, knowing Roy
ston's routine pretty accurately,
she went on to Holmsby, his second
main center The next day, when
Royston's train came.in, there was
Royston, and there was another lad
to meet him.
Hello, Dadl"
Hello, Att"
They walked up the street to-
gether In the most affectionate
way. poor Dolly trailing after them
until ALI turned In Mt very Sc
Iect boarding academy for boys. and
ROystOn went on to a hotel.
So Royston had another soni he
must have had two wives, then.
even If they had died-or deserted
him. And he had proposed mar
riage to her. The scoundrell
1t was a very vengeful Dolly that
took the train to Royston's third
center. Mapleton. She waited in
town for three days. On the
fourth she went to meet Royston's
train. On the platform was a
handsome and stylish young wom-
an, who promptly fell into Roy
stons' arms without word.
So this was the wife!
Dolly trailed them, saw that she
did not enter Va boarding school
she was grown-up young woman.
though, Of course, not the mother
of the Boys. They went to a no.
tel, and Dolly followed them in.
But then she had not the heart to
make inquiries. She sat down on
the porch and broke into. bitter
tears. et'@s
And in the midst of it who should
she see standing In front of her
but Royston and the pretty girl.
On Royston's face there was an ex.:
preston Of unutterable astonish..
ment.
"Dollyw /.
"How dare you speak to me. you
you monster!"
"Why, Dolly, what's the matter?
How did you get here?" demanded
Royston in CONSERVATION. "Thls Isl
my daughter, Lottie. I wanted you
to meet her. wanted to tell
you-"
"Your daughter? And what about
your sons-the one at Holmsby and
the one at .Pycroft?" demanded
Dolly furiously.
'Dad, dear, let me talk to her."
suggested Lottie. "You see. Miss
Underwood. Dads told me all about
vou.".
HE never told me anything
about You. and I wouldn't believe
a word about what he said, any
way" returned Dolly acidly.
"Oh. dear, you don't Mnderstand.
Daddy got s0lonesome On the road.
add at last-at last he af0nged to
have me and my two brothers each
live ID different places. 30 that he
could see each OF as IN t6rn TO
cheer him MP. And he was afraid
TO tell you. and he-he loves x0u
ana wants us to be: all together"
.sThat's how Il H." said Roy
stons sheepishlT. ..Don't ron Think
sou. can stand for us all ct us9s
sOh,L euess sas It's Just
the shock Of finding 4 ready.mhde
family" Dolly answered.
! o. M Gastssn Nswspa1 1890
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