Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-01-02
On Account of the
Children
BY JANE OSBORN
(copyright.)

0IIS really very amusing, SAID
= Aunt George, looking up from the
card table where she was playing sol
itaire. Constance had Just let herself
into the large living room from the
veranda, where she had hidden adieu
to Tom Lester, with whom she had
been driving.
''You don't look very much amused,
Aunt Georgia." Constance dared to
say. "You really look terribly an
n0yed. You don't like 1t because
went out with Tom. Please be hon
est and tell me-"
II didn't say l didn't like it, said
Aunt George. "Please don't mis-
quote me. But 1t is really funny"
you mean because OF the feud be-
tween our famllles2"
"How you follow me up" complained
George. "And how absurd to speak
Of 'feud.' am sure bear the Les
tiers no animosity. We've lived across
the road from them for years"
"But, Aunt Georgia." persisted Con
stance. "you never exchange calls"
Aunt George smiled loftlly. She
went on playing solitaire. But Con
stance was In singularly trying mood.
"And didn't ask Tom Lester to come
In just now because / know you
wouldn't like It."
'Don't say wouldn't like It," said
Aunt George aggrlevedly. Mr.. Les
ter probably wouldn't come in II
you asked him. dare say he's
perfectly proper sort of young man
only you must admit it's amusing"
you mean my going out with
Tom" flared Constance. PERSONALLY
l don't see where the Joke comes In.
know what you mean, Aunt George
You mean that the nelghbors who see
Tom and me together will have some
thing to smile about. It's tradition
In this community that you and Mrs.
Lester only bow to each other. It's
understood at luncheons that you and
she should be seated as far apart as
possible. No one ever asks you to
come for cup of ten together. Some
how think, Aunt George, that you've
rather enjoyed it-not being fond Of
the Testers Most people break their
necks to be friends with the Testers,
and you barely nod to them. That
makes you appear terribly superior"
Constance Manningr' gasped
Georgia. How you talk |"
atom said his mother said that when
we first came here she and mother
used to see lot Of each other. He
said that his mother said that you
and she used to pal around quite
bit"
"Mr. Thomas Lester must have a
great deal to talk about If he finds
time to gossip about his mother and
your aunt"
TITS quite important to u.s." Con
stance explained. "We're good friends
Tom and u. Our families IRE not,
But so far as we can see we ought to
be very nelghborly and congenlal with
lots Of tastes ip common. So Tom
asked his mother why his family and
ours were on the outs and she thought
and thought for long time, aud
finally she said, blessed If | know
George gave a momentary start.
Then she recovered her superior smile
and laid the cards out for solitaire
without seeing them.
eve won't talk any more about It,
Constance" she said.
Constance had no Intention OF letting
the matter drop. Perhaps there was
some deep reason for the feeling be-
tween the families. Perhaps
Constance was muslng thus as she
tried to get to sleep In her little room
that night II Was not her fault That
she heard her aunt creep softly TO her
mothers room Il was not her fault IL
she heard two women as they talked
"Alice, | want to ask you some
thing" George began. "How did II NIL
begin with the Lesters?"
Apparently Alice thought for some
time. Then she recalled "There may
have been other things, but It all be-
gan over Tom and Constance Yes
II was the winter that Tom was two
and Constance year and half--just
beginning TO walk. And we took Con
stance over there and Tom knocked
her down. He just wouldn't let her
stay on her feet. And every time that
Constance saw him after that she used
to scream. And when they'd meet on
the street he'd run for her and pull
her halr-and- nd"
That's So" said George with
smile. "And you probably said some
thing around about wllat naughty
boy Tom was and they said what u
spoiled baby Constance was ana so Il
went"
Constance Jumped out Of her narrow
bed and with few bounds was In he
mothers room. There she faced The
two older women with vide wslfUI
eyes
'I'ye heard everything you have been
saying. I coulda'l help It," she NJ
nounced "Ana la sorry for the aa,
| talked 10 Aunt Gforglc this after
noon"
1--WE will forget that" said Aunt
George with dignity
But what ! came TO say was tina.
since our little II With the Leslert
all begin on ic ~ of Tom and
me thlnk Sc bair Il n III TO patch
things up agnin You see Tom ana
have been sG,.Hg b tier acquainted
And now we're engaged"
"EnsHged!" gaspcd both women
Their they exchanged glances.
"TOm's perfectly proper yOuna
man" remarked George
'And has oxrpcnl family connec
lions" added Constance's mother,
And so II ri ended ns II had be
gun, on account Of Tom and con
stance.