The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-17
i 5H|EksYELLOW STUB

| Perhaps that's why she hasn't men,
toned his name SINCE"
"Mary hasn't been quite herself
lately" she admitted. II wonder il
shes been thinking about thaA-that
| Rand"
"A little talk with her" he sug-
gested, "might-"
"She shall have it."
without. OF course, bringing me
! into it. Things might be misunder-
stood. you know, and l have Z car-
tain delicacy about suggesting
! II understand perfectly, Mr..
you to let me know"
ut was quite distasteful, assure
you. Mrs. Lowell"
II know, l know. But there's Mary
calling. Some last minute help with
her dress. suppose. Excuse me-"
I Alone, Church smiled . self.satis-
fled smile. With his left hand he
carefully flicked hiscigar ashes into
q nearby receiver. With his right
he smoothed down his flawlessly
combed hair. He walked over to the
wall mirror and adjusted his black
bow tie. Then he sat down and
waited.
Mrs. Lowell, in Mary's room, said
as she helped her daughter into her
coat, "Mr. Church asked my permits
sion tonight to propose to YOU"
"Mothcr!"
Mrs. Lowell went on, unheedine.
THAT'S such "A rare and admirable
trait to find in man today. Not
very many Of them think of US
mothers" s"
! Mother, don't talk like that. Did
"He has wealth." Mrs. Lowell in
terrupted, refinement, position
everything girl could ask. Not
many girls get such chance. If he
says anything to you tonight ! want
you to think Of what it means to me
Ito both Of US. No more Of this
this awful poverty. ! don't think
could stand to 60 on with it."
She dabbed at her eyes with her
handkerchief and left the room, and
Mary, strangely white faced, stood
staring out of the window for some
J time before she followed. -.
1 On the drive downtown and during
the concert Church was effectiveness
itself to Mary. He made no allusion
to his conversation with her mother,
but on the way home he quite casu-
ally brought up the topic.
"That," he said, with graceful
wave of the hand toward the impos-
ing looking home they were passing.
i. "is the kind of house you should be
/ living in. You were born to things
like that. There's no reason why
you shouldn't have them"
- Mary, biting her lips. said. II am
happy where / am. Mr.. Church"
i "You say that because it isn't in
you to be selfish. You think too much
Of others. Mary, and note enough
Of yourself. Think how wonderful it
, would be for YOUR mother and you
q home like that. .
: "Mary," he continued impetuousay.
|, ~ can give you all that and more.
, love you and want you to marry
, me-"
"Dont. Don't she protested, her
face buried in her hands.
II don't want your answer now.
, Mary. want you to think it over.
ayes, + will. Please take me in"
), In her room once more. she flung
herself face down on the bed, still
/ fully dressed. "Sclfish!" she cried
t in a strangled voice. us that what
am--selfish -
Il Through the open window
came the purr OF IN 3uIoWoD!c
/ engine starting. 1t faded away In
). the distance. 'ia
,fiif
I In front of Jimmy Rand was . let
ter, the ink on it hardly dry. 1t be-
: gan, "Dear Mary"
Jimmy slowly read it through
: several pages, that had taken him
. hours to write. He read it. again.
Then he pushed his chair back from
| the table and slowly crumpled the
. letter in his hand.
. Rising, he tore it into tiny frag-
]. ments and threw them in the waste
: ITO Re Continued)