Evening star., 1924-10-26
4 T twenty-five Lynn Dandy an
"a nounced to her mother over q
n hearty breakfast that she had
\ promised to marry Richard


10 marry"
More coffee. dearc" Linnet Danb.
spoke calmly. ITS still hot No
Why, 1 shouldn't think of objecting
Lynn. l hope l know my place toe
we'll"
Now. mother! No sarcasm. Yo'
know where 1t gets you with me-"
No. really: All ask is a chanc,
to say, Bless you. my children" o.
isn't that done any more?''
You eloped. didn't you?" inquired
her offspring with malicious grin
Anybody say 1t to you?"
Not just at the moment" Linne'
admitted with meek sigh. She liftet
a languid glance under fringy lashe.
that forty odd years had neither
withered nor stalled. Richard Welles
friend. poor Hattie Ordway. She
wasn't SO stout then. 1t will seem de
lghtfully quaint to have him en-
gagged to my daughter"
He is rty-eight." said Lynr
grimly, IF that's what you're getting
at. And l am twenty-five. We dis
cussed all that last night. Person
I like a man who's seen something o!
the worldwide knows what he.
about"
Her mother breathed sweetly
"Richard should"
Lynn expounded, unmoved by ma.
ternal f1ippancies: Hes got poist
and charm and-and finesse. He's moi
like these boys I've grown up with
He's a master of men"
He had always rather nice hant
with the women. too" Llnnet sug-
gested amiably.
Lynn replied a trifle coldly, 90
know you don't like him, mother
DO you?" said Linnet, smiling hel
pretty, mischievous smile.
He said you'd probably oppose
him
He did,"
Il told him 1 was sure that wher
you saw how much this meant to me
YOU would do nothing of the sort"
Meaning that 1t would do no goo6
if l did,
'Exactly!' A smile of friendly un.
derstanding passed between mother
and daughter.
Linnet said. almost emotionally
Are you really in love with Richard
Welles, Lyme"
You know I'm not a very mush,
person"
mo. Still-marriage, my child, /.
to a certain extent matter of-ah-
mush. At least. to begin with"
Hes satisfied" said Lynn briefly
She sank herself in the morning pa.
per, adding in businesslike mum
BILE. BE over this afternoon to SCI
you"
Don't let him." cried Linnet sharp.
1y. Il should laugh in his face.
baby like you-and a gray-headet
goose like Richard! He's lost his silly
head over your complexion-which
thanks to me. is extremely good-anG
your youth, which he has no earthly
right to-"
CHE got up. her eyes full Of sudden
- unwilling tears.
''Sit down. mother" said Lynn will
enormous patience. I'll tell you ex
a2t4y how I feel about 1t, and ther
y1u'll be able to sympathize. perhaps
'Lynnie-when did I ever refus,
~ don't know what you call tt
calling the man I intend to marry q
1ray-headed goose"
Gray AIDED gander might be bet
Ger" shifted Linnet with an apriline
chIckle.
Her child disregarded her mag.
ula entity.
This is why I want to marry him
TIE thought it all out, which you will
admit most people don't"
Gin.s."
All right. I admire Richard more
THAI any man have ever known. He's
:, uccess-fnancially, politically, so.
c;a.ly-any way you like. His wife
VIII have a lovely home, everything
in the world she wants. and the devo-
tion of a big man in addition"
"Ah, then Richard is-mushy?"
Lynn's fresh, young face hardened
Suppose we let the subject drop" she
suggested. Il just wanted you to
know about Richard. So you could
be decent to him this afternoon"
II have always been decent tc
Richard"
"Hes coming about 4, remember. u
And Lynn went about her business.
He came-about 4. Linnet await
ed him from a soign Of vantage be.
hiad the tea table.
DO come in, Richard" she greeted
him sweetly. land be congratulated
or welcomed. or whatever it is I'm
supposed to do for YOU"
Richard Welles was tall, gray.
haired man, with a manner uniquely
charming. Linnet had known him
since she was a girl.
Does one run to meet you, crying
My SONNY SOM" She dimpled.
One emphatically does not. Sta,
just where you are!" He came to her
and took her hand and pressed /,
warmly.
1.-The brides mother" said Lin
net, "'wore black bombazine. with
bugles, and carried a cluster of i'm
mortelles.' Tea, Richard?"
Nothing at all, thank you. I'm
not hungry" He seated himself across
the way from her and regarded hel
pleasantly.
In love. Of course. you wouldn'
be-" sighed Linnet. DO you mind il
young" she hestiated the meres
second-"again"
"Yes-es-Quite sol" said Wellei
warily. Has Lynn told you?"
"All!" said Lynn's mother, a trih,
Electrically.
"Hm-m! You approve?"
You knew 1 wouldn't"
But you consent?"
Undoubtedly. My child is quit,
! public, IL 1 didn't. Yes, Richard,
consent. Fully. II not freely. Yo,
shall walk down the aisle in all tn,
glory Of cutaway and lavender trous
ers with Lynn beside you smotheret
in white tulle and orange blossoms
while sit sobbing in a front pew ant
people whisper. He was best man q
her fathers wedding, wasn't he?' No
He should have been. but they eloped.
Thereby dragging all that pathetic
pd scandal into tho light once more
Really. Richard!"
|. Really, Linnet-you are incorrigi
ble!"
That's what Lynn said this morn
ing. You are going to be immensel!
!, congenial, I can see."
'Linnet, she's too wonderful!
can't believe my good fortune. Afte,
all these years. flower Of q cir
like that"
"Mush!" said Linnet. calmly, help