The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-09-30
In His Hour
of Need
By MARTHA NJ. WILLIAMS

MY people HI get IlaQ Win me-
For keeping my love company,
They may get mad, say what they WILL
Upon my honor, ! love him still.
"Hunph You make me sick Rise,
for PHYS sake, show a little sense"
Sister Ellen flung back snlff1ly, her
jaws set at their grimmest. I'D hate
to see you make such a fool of your
self even over a real man." she went
on, "but this two-for-a-n squinch
owl-whyl it's worse'n a crime"
"Unh- hunh And maybe so !" Marise
retorted. You talk that way because
he turned you down-cold. don't
blame him-nobody could that saw
you, lookin' like you do right now. AS
If you'd bit crabapple or chewed on
a rusty nail. / know it's hard to be
left dancin' In the pig trough, just be-
cause Baby Sister ISIS so much easier
to look at A peach-that's what Alb
ner calls her. Say-why'n you set
your cap at Uncle Abner?"
Reckon 1t must be because never
thought of it." Sister Ellen cried shak-
enly-she was In white rage.
Marise liked to tantalize Ellen, who
was ten years older. who had pam
pered her from the day she was born
until the advent of Abner Gaines, Jr.,
had set things crosswise between
them. A pretty fellow, even worse
spoiled than Marise, he had somehow,
when he came home from college,
reused to fiame-heat in Ellen all the
repressed passion of her loveless
youth. He was lightweight, perhaps,
yet mighty decent, what there was of
him. Ellen had all the money-it had
come from her mother, the first Mrs.
Gray-but that had made no differ
ence in the spendings of the family. It
was tacitly understood it must have
whatever it wanted. Alb had asked
her leave to court her little sister
since which time his name In her
mouth had been anathema.
Godfather Abner's reaction to that
had been a thunderous pronouncement
that no nephew of his was ever going
to marry into any stuck-up family
that thought itself above him.
Matters stood thus at the approach
of Governors day. A hurried-up APP
proach-ten days before anybody was
ready. That meant scrappy dinner
barbecue out of the question
women, white and black, so taken up
with what to wear, theyfhad hardly
a thought as to feeding the multitude.
Which vexed Uncle Abner no end. He
had from his youth upward been the
unofficial host and head of all public
affairs-in virtue of inclination, appe-
tite and Milly and Phemy, his black
trained. Give them time, the keys,
and free hand at everything, they'd
turn you out a feast. Now they were
visiting down country, kinfolk in num-
beers like the sands of the sea. The
three governors knew Alb and his vi
ands indeed, they had said that was
why they were coming. How could
he manage to feed dozen epicures
all Bharpset by long morning ride?
Almost weeping, he asked young
Abs advice. 1t was given sportively-
with earnest under the jest-and
heard pasmodically- betwixt shout
ing, swearing and at last eloquent ST
lence-which emboldened Alb to chuck
his elder roguishly under the chin,
and say awedly yet with twinkle:
Its a true leading of Providence"
Abner senior rose at the crack Of
day, whisked away to the country
town, bought new garments, had him
self barbered, manicured, even very
family scented, ate the lightest break
fast of his existence, then did bust
ness with his best jeweler, the coun-
ty officials, and the most persuasive
minister current Further. he bought
new car, dashing but roomy, made
his will, held conclave with his bank
ers who, after a minute of puzzlement,
slapped him jovially on the back and
gave him Godspeed, after which on
the. edge of noon, he was whirled
homeward, but halted at the Gray's
Hospitality open gates, shot through
them, to demand insistently, instant
speech with Miss Ellen.
Now look at these II he command
ed when he had gained admission and
produced wrist watch and lavaliere.
df1mond-set both and flashing along
with them a solitaire ring, not over
big but perfect.
Must be you're settin' up to peddle
jewelry," from Ellen.
That's as you say" came back EFF
they don't suit we've can sell EN-"
"We!'' she gasped.
He nodded, then laid in her hands
two folded papers, saying MY will
and the license you git all I'm worth
after I die in consideration of comm
home with me to git things all set for
them id governors"
''This joker" Ellen asked sternly,
her eyes sparkling.
"Read the will-thatll show you"
he said huskily. I'll sorter got
notion l been wantin you there at my
house the longest tsme--but never had
the sense to know it till right now"