The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-09-15
A Happer's Experiences With Her
Pleasure Craving Mother Who
Thought She Could Stay Young

1V4 know all about it; ] know
everythingl It's worse than all the
other things you've done. They'll
drink and wreck the car. Be-
sides-no. you must listen to me,
Amy! People don't understand
that you're just careless; they'll
say frightful things about you
and Val going up there. And
Bob win think you don't care
can't you see? You shan't, Moth.
er! won't let you" She stopped.
out OF breath.
Amy continued to smile, though
her fingers frightened on the buffer
flashing across her nails. You're
all stirred up about nothing. my
dear"
you mean it's all right. Any?
You mean you won't go?''
Certainly, III go. You've said
enough, Clare. This stern parent
act OF yours Is ridiculous. I've
had all I'll stand. If you're
through now I'll finish dressing"
Clare waited in q sort Of daze
while her mother put on her hat
and carefully tied q ven over
points Of bronze on her cheeks.
Amy's mink coat was beginning
TO show signs OF wear but It was
the color of her eyes and she
wore it regally. She rescued the
bag and started jauntiiy toward
the door. but the girl darted
ahead.
You shan'tP' she cried. ~You
efan,tT And the door slammed
as she stepped into the little room
outside and turned the key.
She sat beside the ringing teIe-
phone while her mother stormed.
The stern parent act and the
wayward child Only IL was up
side down. The whole world was
upside down. People talked Of
the younger generation" What
did they know about It? The
older generation was the violent
one!
They were calling Amy, Sat.
terly, probably, while Val and
Ticky Swan waited irnpatiently.
Let them call This was high
handed but Amy was mad.
Things crashed in the bedroom;
she was running wild in there.
The bell shrilled at 10-minute in
tervals and she could hear her
mothers angry sobbing.
This would finish Clare; Amy'd
resent Il more than when shed
stopped Ted giving up the labora.
tory. But tomorrow she'd go to
Satteriy and say some things.
There must have been silence
Tor a long time without her be-
ing aware OF it. At least an
hour passed before the ringing
Mfnnwnods than -
cold slid under the bedroom door.
With q little cry she sprang up
and turned the key, only to see
q disordered, empty room with
an open window.
Flakes of snow were damp on
her head as she leaned odt over
was caught In the iron aud mar.
row tracks packed the white.
Amy had climbed from a ninth
story window; scrambled down a
fire-escape with French heels
That was why the telephone
had Jstilled. Amy had found her
friends. She said she'd go AMI she
had gone. like the heroine OF q
movie thri1Ieri
Clare s1umped on the bed. The
wind brought flakes through the
window she had forgotten to close
and they melted in dark stains
on Amy's finery.
It was a long time before her
brain began to work; only after
q voice seemed to speak through
her jumbled thoughts could she
think at all. "Save Amy from
herself Promise, Clare
promisew
Nerve Needed
''I needn't give up YETI she
told herself. "At least I know
where they're going. What was
it she said? The stern parent
act That's it! I'll play the
stern parent. If I can think how
to manage"
Stamford was over the Con-
necticut line, and she hadn't
money for a taxi. Besides there
were four Of them and they'd be
drinking, probably. She'd have to
take along someone she could
trust. Ted might borrow a car
but time would be wasted while
he went miles out Of his way to
come around by the bridge at the
end Of Welfare Island. The ferry
would have stopped running at
this hour
"Maggie's the one," she decided.
Il can call for her on the way.