The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-07-01
In the Age of
Innocence
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS


fine" Mrs. Glass asked cannily of her
young visitor.
Josey, still in the age of inno-
cenceto wit, "goin' on severn
answered judicially: "She never
said, but 1 reckoned she liked it. She
laughed hard two or three times"
"Did-eh? What did Polly say to
that?' from the inquisitor
Josey frightened visibly, finging
back: Ever so much moren / can
remember. First she cried, then she
stomped-and beat herself, walkin'
from the lookin' glass to the fire.
place maxim out like she'd put the
dress on the fire-if she didn't have
1t on. I'm glad she didn't burn it.
love red-and It's the reddest red
I ever saw
Mrs. Glass had turned several
colors-red, green almost-purple. She
had spent three hard days out of pure
neighborly kindness making the red
silk poplin for the eldest Jackson
girl, whose black eyes and olive skin,
it had, to her mind, greatly set off
Mrs. Glass was truly kind-also as
truly shrewd. With four younger
Jacksons coming on like stairsteps,
she wanted them married off as they
came to eighteen-e especially Polly,
whom the good lady had predestined
for her nephew, Doctor Ware A good
fellow Doc-all he needed was start,
and wife. Major Jackson SAID firm
ly, each. of his girls would have a
home to take her young man to. Their
mother was sickly. She went out not
at all, SO Mrs. Glass had been eyes
and ears for her now this FIVE years,
In all matters of style and color.
Josey's revelation was bomb to
Mrs. Glass. She could hardly credit
it. For she had seen Polly, peacock
ing before the big mirror. at the
last trying-on, smiling at her image
and saying joyously: "Why This
can't be me l never looked so be-
fore" She must look deeper into the
matter-hence she asked careIessly:
Ibid Polly or your mother find any
special fault?"
polly did," said Josey. "Said the
frock hiked up on one side, and
sagged down in front-and the
sleeves were so stiff they tickled
her"
Just to think how l worked on
'em." Mrs. Glass bit her lips. Saint
Polly goin' to wear the frock to the
club dancer"
II reckon not" Josey began.
Hard upon Josey's heels came Mrs.
Glass nephew. Doctor Ware. He
was still in a measure in leading 7
strings to Mrs. Glass-Aunt Almira,
as he knew her. Now owner Of a
car, also a mustache in being, he
required nice handling. But some
thing was the matter. Just now his
hands were hot and tremulous-his
voice, usually big-booming, broke and
quavered unaccountably in greeting !
her-and was almost out of hearing
as he said: s'I'm in a peck o. trou-
BILE, Aunt Al--unless you'll help me
out reckon I'll have to run away"
what for27 she demanded, her
own voice shaking. In a rush came
the tale-love's young dream-and
then some. He had married, secretly,
a girl who hadn't penny-not even
a frock fine enough for the infare
his folks would insist upon giving
the pair, when he brought her home.
She was Parson jerks granddaugh-
ter on months visit to the old peo-
Pile. They would be too opposed to
the marriage to help-even If they
could His mother would never get
over it If Ann Maria came to her not
looking right. Couldn't-wouldn't
Aunt AL, always so good about help
ing around hard corners, do some
thing now.
Mrs. Glass got up, her face work
ing, and took from a bureau drawer
a length of the scarlet poplin. She
had kept 1t to make quilted hood
for the ungrateful Polly. How'd
this do?" she asked grimly, as she
unrolled the remnant before Doc
He seized it and kissed it, crying
rapturously: "Mariall look queen
in that color. It's the prettiest |
ever saw"
1t was wonderful piece of act
higher descent upon the Jackson
household. with a plea to buy the
despised new frock. for some other
body needing it so badly. Polly deep
~ contrite. withal shrewdly suspicious
of Josey's tongue. thrust it upon her,
crying joyously: "Oh, I'm so glad to
give it to you. You're always 50 good
to us"
1--WE are all glad" said Ma Jack
son. suppressing a kindly chuckle. The
major, from the chimney corner, de-
manded, pretending to frown: TELL
the whole tale, Almira, ! know IT'S
worth hearin'. "
She told ito kindly sympa-
thetic audience. After sort. they
knew Ann-MarIa AS a ministerial
grandchild. she was entitled to heaps
of things. With the red dress went
.ls.<. a..