The Washington times., 1924-01-17

What about It now-did you
honestly never kiss a man in
your life except your husband?"
Martha had never built UP
about herself the mother legend"
She had never required that her
children think her perfect, so
there was not this unnatural
chasm between her omnipotence
and their humanity. She cheer
fully admitted herself in the
wrong, begged their pardon, &C
cepted their censure. In return
they loved her without bounds.
sought her opinions, quoted her
as O prophet.
She was In the kitchen making
huge platterg Of sandwiches.
These would be set on the dining
room table for the Sunday In
flux of family and friends.
Mary was sitting on a low
: stool, somewhat ungracefully
sprawled. Young Edward, whom
she had just nursed, lay on her
knees, bringing shy, gentle sounds
from his throat. Hearing. the
Ialnt COOlnB anu CNAuSAJ
prised to find himself a maker
Of noise, his eyes and his lips be.
came fairly rapturous with smiles.
a Mary listened as though some
beatific sympathy opened to her
ears. do you think he's getting
pretty, Chickie? Listen-that's "a
Chickie knelt on the linoleum,
the little satinv fingers twined on
her thumb. When the baby, after
a prolonged gurgle, gave her a
startled, inquiring look, as though
It said, "FIa, ha! Did you get
that? I did it,! she burst out
laughing.
lies going to look like Jimmy.
Mary"
"Do you think so? I think he's
like Edward. 1 want him to be
like Edward"
'Why?"
'It's nice for a son to follow In
his fathers steps"
Chickie seized this eagerly. She
asked her first question. DO you
think that, Mrs. Blake? Do You
believe a father and mother should
decide a chiid's whole life? Just
because they happen to bring US
here have they the right to tell
US how we should think and feel
and act?"
IF I'm any example. Chiclde,
it's the children that tell the pa
rent where to head in"
Eyes! Maybe! But you take
Jonathan-he thinks ought to
be the very same kind of girl
mother was. Stay at home night
after night-be perfectly content
to work and eat and sleep and
never see any Of the exciting
times at all. He wouldn't ask
me to wear a hoop-shrt or a
hustle, but he expects me to take
all those old ideas and just trans
port myself to the last century.
Is that falr7"
poor Jonathan! Don't you see,
Chlckie, that it's only because he
knows the old road was safe and
led to a sure goal. How can the
poor man know where the paths
q girl takes today are going to
twist? They run blind through a
wilderness. Whether there's land
Of milk and honey beyond no one
yet may say"
"Oh-you think we're as bad as
all that?"
mot bad-but terribly uncertain
Don't be too hard on Jonathan"
But just the same I think he
ought to be satisfied with one life.
Why should he expect to live two
his own and mine? And, any
way, 1 don't think so much OF
those old days"
mo? Why?"
'Well-well, do you know that
Jennie never kissed a man but
Jonathan and not till she was
engaged and then only once in a
while? Do you think there's any
harm in a kiss?"
Martha laughed. THAT depends
so much on who gives 1t and who
takes 1t, and whether it's returned
and taken again. You see. kiss
has such q way Of weaving itself
into an endless chain"
Il don't mean that kind. / mean
just one single kiss"
That's an extinct variety,
Chickie. 1t went out Of existence
with the lavender and old lace Of
your mothers day. The trouble
with a kiss Is this: It isn't a
finality. but a prelude. A faint,
sweet note that may at any mo-
ment and unawares melt into the
oroob oP forviPio ord ~, o,