The Washington times., 1923-09-08
By Ann Lisle,
Whose Serials Of Married Life
Have Won Big Popular
Success.


~ breakfast tray and sat costly
across from me at the little
wicker table where she'd spread
my feast.
"You look better. dear child"
she said tenderly. "It does our
old hearts good to have you with
us-and as happy to be with us
as we always are to have you.
It was Max's idea that let you
sleep this morning and bring
your breakfast up to you. He
loves to have me baby my girl"
"And he loves to have his Sun
day breakfast alone with-his
girl" I ventured mischievously.
Aunt May blushed and I ran
around the table to kiss her soft
cheek.
Its enough to restore a cynic's
faith In life to see how happy
you two are together, said.
But you're not a cynic, Anne,
dear-And never win be- Aunt
May pleaded rather than assert
ed. "There are so. many who
love you and long to serve you.
You couldn't lose faith in life or
fail to keep faith with your own
gentle belief in. its goodness and
beauty"
"Sometimes-1 waver.".1 con-
fessed.
"But not for long, dear" she
urged. We both know you'll
find Neal. Life Is like that. Think
OF, the miracle that brought me
my happiness-through you. It
makes me pray for you. You're
my daughter, Annette daughter
of my heart-the only one I'll
ever have. And want always
to be proud Of your fine courage"
"It mustn't disappoint you," I
murmured.
Nor Max" said Aunt May
proudly. Then she added briskly:
eve feel so at home with you.
dear, that we didn't change our
plans for today on your account.
You see we had promised Howard
Rockhill that we'd go with him
to his mothers place on the
Island. And as Ralph is coming
to dinner. you won't be alone this
afternoon. You don't mind, do
your"
I laughed at the patent ruse
which would throw me with
Ralph Lacy all the afternoon.
But didn't mind. There were
many things for us to discuss,
as I'd made up my mind to take
even more earnest steps to find
Neal.
"Oh, I'll have a busy day." I
said. without stressing what mad
been so delicately arranged. "I
want to go over to Dreamwold
to see Phoebe's baby. so the
afternoon wop't hang heavily on
my hands,"
''I'n let you dress now" said
Aunt May wistfUlly. Wear some
thing soft and summary. won't
you, dear? Max and love to
see our girl looking younger and
sweet"
''You darling schemer" I
laughed.
Aunt May twinkled and ran
away waiting me a kiss. Obedi-
emily I slipped into a dress of
white crepe de chine with every
appointment in snowy white to
gladden. the eyes of the two. old
dears who feel almost as if
were their daughter.
AS soon as I was dressed
went downstairs and telephoned
brentwood. But Jeanne and Pat
had gone out, taking the baby
with them, and the maid told me
she thought they wouldn't be
back until evening So L left
word that I was at the Hoad-
ley place. Then as 1 turned
from the telephone found Uncle
Max pacing up and down tho
hall with a purposeful air Of
waiting for some one. That
some one turned out to be me.
for, slipping his arm through
mine, my host announced that
he'd like a private conference
with me in his study at once.
And now, young lady. want
to scold you," said Max Hoad-
ley, shutting the door and mo-
tioning me to a seat where the
light fell full on my face. II
want to know just what you
mean by struggling along. deal
ing with all sorts of problems,
and never once calling on my
Susanna May and me for the
help we'd be 50 proud 70
give''--
A FINE OFFER.
But I did send out S o s."
objected. Here am in re-
Spouse to my own urgent invita-
ton"
Thank goodness. young wom-
an. you realize that this home
and all 1t holds are at your serV-
ice," said he In the courtly tone