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

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"Mother, How Brave You Were."
Mrs. Johnston, with lots of money
and pretty clothes to set Off her locks
and hair, and big, overworked, red
headed chambermaid In q boarding
house.
II hated nearly all men. l had a
mind and hopes above my station.
was paid SO little that could only
save money slowly. I wanted to get
enough to nerve myself to leave that
house. My ambition at that time was
to be a school teacher"
She smiled at the girl and Mar,
smiled back.
Mother. how brave you were. lily
heart just aches to think Of yea. with
all your brilliant ideas. tieG 6ewa A.'
way"
BLESS you, Baby" her mother en-
claimed. my lost uncle turned up
just about then, and found me out.
He was terrible creature; six feet
tall, very dry and brittle and had q
bad cough, and vile temper. What
was left Of his carroty hair had
turned yellow-gray. The poor thing
hadn't long to live.
HE had worked too hard, and lived
too roughly, to know how to take care
Of himself He had plenty Of money,
I discovered, and while he knew how
to take care Of it, he didn't know how
to spend it. He didn't want to leave
1t to any one, especially to a girl. But
I was all he had-poor SOUL For
moment, Mary's mother caressed the
toe of her slipper in silence.
"But Mother, please" urged Mary,
show can wait until you get to me-"
Her mother came back from some
long unlit cavern Of her mind.
"Of course" she admitted, that
would naturally interest you most
Though Uncle found me and told me
Of his money, he swore me to secrecy
as far as Mrs. Thomas boarding house
was concerned. He was like lot OF
unmarried people, tremendously keen
about marrying of the rest OF the
world. Mrs. Thomas had had a bad
first and q wretched second husband
and hated men even worse than did.
She assured Uncle that was good
girl and kept myself to myself and
was perfectly safe.
Uncle went away without commit
ting himself in any way, but two days
later a letter came, saying l was to
come to a certain address to see him.
I went. It was private sanitarium,
and Uncle was very Ill indeed.
"He had his lawyer with him, and
then and there I was ordered to get
married. Uncle wanted to know that
his money was going to some proper
~ married woman with man to look
after her. I think some woman had
treated him badly when he was young
and poor. He wanted me to get mar
ried before any one knew I had any
chance of getting money. He wanted
me tied up to Woodworking lad who
would expect to work for me, and
would start honest, as he said, and
have a family at once, and as large
a family as possible.
81 was shocked and angry, furious
~ angry. But oh, how I wanted that
money! There It was, dangling in
front Of me, a. chance to learn all the
things I longed to know, chance to
travel, to have pretty clothes, all the
things I'd sworn to have. My dearest
day dreams could be realities now,
but would be lost to me unless I had
a man to hang them on. I, who hated
men, who hadn't wanted, and never
had had young man."
ooh Mother, what did you do"
81 didn't know what to do. /
came home simply beside myself. I
couldn't confide In the cook or Mrs
Thomas. I knew what would happen.
They~would laugh at me-and despise
me. It's odd, isn't it? It's always
the women who've made the worst
matrimonial blunders who laugh the
hardest.
IT found Mrs. Thomas In a fine
rage. I'd forgotten to do the third
floor before I went out. That was
the floor young De Harms, Woods and
Dabbs occupied. I went up there as
quickly as I could get my things of
and began slapping things together.
Young Dabbs' room left to the last.
because well, because he was de-
cent young fellow and wasn't so fault
an ding as tho others"