Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-04-18
Called Her
Mother"
By MARTHA WILLIAMS

20. 1924. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicateJ
"Brooding summer stiffness wraps
this village" Arden said with an ex-
panslve gesture.
Nora-Kate half chuckled. Must be
taking mighty big Sheet" she
Knocked. Strung, as 1t is, all along
the pike, 1t must make bundle rather
like walking stick"
Arden flushed deeply. He held him
self a poet and tried hard to live up
to the self-bestowed distinction. For
an instant he hated Nora-Kate with
deadly hatred-but a sudden sweet
gravity of cOuntenance melted his
wrath as sunlight melts spring snow
Following her glance he saw a pair of
tiny toddlers, ragged but clean, play
ing house at the roadside, with sticks
and stones, plus imagination.
"Stopl" the girl half whispered I'm
peratively. Next minute she was
bending above the children, hands out
held to them, the most coaxing of all
her smiles shining down upon them
as she said; II need some little peo-
pie. Won't you come and ride with
meT"
They rushed to clutch her hands,
smiling all over their faces, AS Arden
stared she waved him to her, saying
You mustn't mind-this Is a heaven
sent chance" Then az the new pas
sengers were bundled within, she
added: "T'll tell you about It later.
Now there isn't time"
Thus 1t came to pass that a we'll
dressed young couple, with money APP
parently in both pockets, appeared half
an hour later at the county town,
chaperoned by smaller pair, as club
by as they were ragged.
The car passed disdainfully by the
department store and skittered along
side street to a place small, exclu-
sive and famed for high prices. OF
course the keepers of It stared, but the
stares turned to smiles as the head of
1t recognized Nora-Khte otherwise
Miss Katherine Maxwell Of Fern Crag)
who did whatever she had mind to,
without regard to Mrs. Grundy. Calm
ly. as though 1t were an everyday oc-
currence, she looked, measured, tried
color effects and finally chose with
lavishness all but paralyzing. Then.
flushing family for the very first time,
she asked for private space. She
wanted to clothe her proteges before
taking them away; also to make GER
tain that extra garments were not over
looked. They must have complete out
fits for both day and night.
Don't buy too many" the smiling
shop head cautioned. Little folks
grow up so quickly"
Nora-Kate smiled back at her and
nodded, saying under breath:
But there's smaller one already
and another-coming You see, l
may not be here to do more than order
a layette for 1t. And the mother will,
] hope, be glad. II wouldn't hurt
her, not for the world"
She took all her purchases with her
thus there would be no tracing
through addresses But when the
obedient Arden had set down his pas
sengers in front Of a weatherbeaten
cottage with sagging yard gate, and
untidy grass within, then driven or
in high, Nora-Kate drew a long, happy
breath, smiled at him adorably, and
said: You've been better than gold
asking nothing-therefore you shall
knOw-everything. Those ought to be
my children-once loved their father
as think | shall never love anybody
else We quarreled-over nothing
except the fact that / had money, he,
his head, and his hands. A better
woman-yes, say so-caught him In
the rebound-married him-and
hope. makes him happy, In spite Of
poverty. She must be wonderful
you saw how clean they were-and all
the nice patches on their poor little
clothes. It half broke my heart, see
ing Joe's children that way. I've
thought and thought Of ways to help
them-but both are so proud, this was
my first chance. shall send the other
things tonight-at black dark-by
somebody who will leave them-and
run away. Was II wicked Of me, you
think, to ask them to call me motber2
Just at the last-when they kissed me
good-byT
For minute Arden could not speak
1t was paralyzlng, this glimpse into
the depths Of the gayest, most mock
ing soul he knew. Impulsively he laid
his free hand on hers, saying huskily:
Not was q sacrament"
She turned away her face-neither
spoke again until they were back at
Fern Crag. On the shaded piazza he
took both her hands In his, asking
very low: May help Joe--if can
find way2"
IF only you can" Nora-Kate
breathed rather than said-then in q
clearer voice: "But--but you mustn't
70 away, thinking me broken-hearted |
Tn no such thlng-instead, life Is Joy
Gus for me. But-but somehow |
don't relish lOve-except playing at |
it-like any other game. Yours is
too fine, and true for that. Please,
please give It to-some girl who de- |
serves It better"
I'D promise only she doesn't OK
ist." Arden interrupted smiling. But
you promise me this: II ever there |
comes time when you incline 10 |
Thoughts Of love-" with a faint |
smile, twill you hold yourself honor
bound TO notify me1 All ask ls--a
chance"
"You shall have it--maybe to your
sorrow," Nora-Kate cried saucily.
"A seal is needed to validate impor
tant bargains" he said--nnd kissed
her handsomely; then ran away