Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-09-01
CHAPTER TX

Not for long now could Polly count
on blind obedience. It was not In the
nature Of things, nor the nature Of a
grown-up daughter. Polly decided the
time had come for frank confession.
While Mary brushed her hair. Polly
announced that she meant to go to
Venice and look about for place to
spend several months, cheaply and
comfortably.
Mary said 1t sounded interesting,
but did not commit herself further.
She was tired and hurt by these half
condolences.
Frankness was impossible, until her
mother was frank with her. She
would not degrade her mothers intel
ligence, or her own, by playing the
hypocrite. Mary said she was sleepy
and went to bed. But not to sleep.
Mrs. Johnston stayed in her own
room. the door slightly open between
them. She disrobed and stood In her
dressing gown before the long mirror,
a wonderful color study in soft,
clinging chiffon robe of blue, with her
red hair flaming against white Shout
ders. Polly did not take her usual
nightly delight in the spectacle. She
braided her hair with no eyes for the
vision In the mirror.
"Got to do 1t, Polly. Come" she
said to herself and put down the
comb. She went to the door and
softly opened 1t.
Mary, want to sleepr
Mary shook her head, turned on
the reading light, threw a rose-colored
dressing gown over her shoulders and
patted the bed beside her. She rec
ognized from her mothers face that
the time had come.
I'D like immensely to have you
come and talk yourself out to me. It's
been-quite WHILE" she announced
with sly look up at her mother.
Mrs. Johnston sighed There was
no doubt she was In for it. She sat
down, looked at Mary, shut her eyes
and took the plunge.
MARY, I'd like to talk about your
father"
Mary sat up. OF all the unlikely
things. Talk about her fatherl Blue
boards door was about to be opened.
From her earliest youth she could re-
member her mother saying: Mustn't
ask mother questions about father.
Mary. 1t only makes Mumsy un-
happy and miserable" What could
1t mean?
Mrs. Johnston settled herself back
on Mary's bed.
How much do you know about me,
Mary,w
"Only that you're the incest mother
ever invented" Mary told her, hon
estly. "The best looking and the bes,
friend girl ever had"
Mrs. Johnston leaned over i'm.
pulsively and kissed the girl.
81 only hope you'll think exactly
the same when get through"
Hurry up, Mother, and tell. You
sound like best SELLER"
II have known some less interest.
ing plots. Well, Wen begin with the
fact that was born OF poor people
in Eimekilns, N. J. My mother and
father both died when I was q lit.
tie thing, about twelve, and a kind
woman brought me up. She took me
to New Brunswick. and sent me to
school. I helped about the house
after school hours. She kept board.
ing house. 1 had only one relative IN
the whole world, my Uncle Michael,
ny mothers brother, and he was as
grabbed an old bachelor as ever drew
breath. He was supposed to be In
Pennsylvania somewhere, working In
the iron mines, when my people died
But nobody could find him, so Mrs
Bradley took me In.
Mrs. Bradley died, and her sister
came and took the house and ran II
as a students boarding house. 1 was
inherited with the house, and kept
right on working there. Mrs. Thomas
the sister, took no interest whatever
in me. All she cared about was keep
ing the house clean and getting the
work done. She didn't keep enough
servants to do that comfortably, so
had to work from morning to night
It was CHASTITY"
She paused, looked at Mary shyly
and began to describe the men at the
boarding house. Mary listened, fas-
cinated. To think that her mother
was capable Of keeping this odd past
to herself all these years. It was
most romantic. She waited eagerly
for the first mention Of her father,