The Glenwood post., 1923-02-08
The Good Ship
Mabel
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS
%. 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

your supper-breakfast rather" Mabel
said. leaning from her open WINDOW
to throw handful Of flies, freshly
swatted, upon the window ledge lower
down. Tommy Tucker, being mock
er, in full flood of May morning song,
yet needed u fly or so, then filled his
beak and flew away to his mate brood
ing precious eggs. in the honeysuckle
arbor beyond the garden gate.
He knew Mabel for friend. Now
for three years he had had the free
dom of the Weir place, and the pro-
lection of its human occupants. cats
were taboo there-Snip, the alert
black and tan terrier, accounted for
any rat bold enough to intrude. Snip
was as friendly as his owners-even
if nesting fluttered prematurely
from the nest, he merely watched them
gravely, never offering them harm.
Mabel humored the birds shamefully,
not grudging them the first and best
Strawberries, nor forgetting treats of
hard-boiled eggyolk when the babies
were very new. Liberal, too, In the
matter of crumbs and snippets Of fat.
Indeed, it Is rather a wonder that the
| Knockers did not come to depend who'll
ly upon her largesse.
In return for it she had floods OF
/ silver melody throughout the day.
Aunt Persis grumbled sourly-the bird
she was sure gave her bad dreams
she never had them except when he
was so loud. But Mable only laughed
4 at her-as she laughed at everything
now that she was so happy. Joy had
come with spring mornings after a
dreary winter of waiting, of agoniDed
suspense.
Existence had been reasonably sun
shiny-indeed she had called herself
fortunate and happy before she knew.
Now all the years behind seemed but
agreeably drab, beside the glorious
misunderstanding of the new present.
Love had come-and gone, like sun
CLEAN betwixt storm clouds-there
had been no word, no sign, only those
things eyes may speak to eyes, to feed
her hungry heart through the years
of Peyton's absence. Two intermina-
BILE years of unbroken silence-then
lIt leIleT, All lOo lhS,
have slain the lions in my path, and
am coming to claim my own"
Three days more of waiting2 She
was not impatient-they would run
on racing feet. And they would be Sc
full-all the place must be in fes-
tival array. The happiness of making
it so almost frightened her. If any
.l,n hrp yplU Sbn
fused to think anything could. Look
ing after her winged pensioner, she
gave thanks-he had helped her tC
wake through the brief night, filled
every second with thrilling joy. She
had put by all thought of the lions
knowing well they must have beer
savage and fearful to make Peytor
hesitate in claiming her. Enough that
he loved her, was coming to her
whether for an hour or forever die
not greatly matter. He had but tc
say "Folow me-" and she would &C
with him to the worlds end, forsak
ing all things else in cleaving only
TO him.
The wide house stood open to sweet
morning airs as she ran down the
great stairway. Aunt Persis was com
ing up the gray stone steps her flat
basket heaped with royal red roses
gemmed with dew. Her mood was
not however rosy. She dropped hei
. basket saying fretfully: ~ do wish
there were no telephones-then we
needn't know of troubles until they
came"
who's troubling who this heavenly
morning?" Mabel asked gayly. Hel
aunt looked down, answering in hare
voice: Long distance has just TOLD
me John Bassett is coming, the same
day, likely on the same train, as Roya
Peyton."
81 can't be glad to see him." Mabe
shot back truthfully: ANY outsider
must be unwelcome just then. Die
you tell John why he had better stay
away-at least until after"
mo need-when l said Roy was
coming he growled; I know it-thai
is what's bringing me- And rung of
right there-not telling me where
could reach him-you know he is most
always some place he ought not tc
be-" Aunt Persis Interrupted. Mabe
turned away, with faint shudder-
John Bassett was, she knew, another
name for trouble Nephew and heir
to Gardner, who had been Aunt
Persis' husband, that lady's plan and
hope had been to see him Mabels hus
band. He was collegebred, rich, fair
looking and dominant. you are the
only thing l want and have not been
able to get" he had said to Mabel af
ter third refusal. six months back
But don't think I'm giving you up
you'll wake up In your right senses
by and by"
Recalling his set mouth, his burning
eyes, Mabel's heart sank-almOst in
stantly 1t rebounded, singing for Joy
She wns alone. her own mistress, free
Of everything but the love bond, a
chain that not even the hottest fires