Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-11-17

h1uu eyes.
"Then you think" she said, as
though continuing a conversation,
that it's because Mary is uncertain
about what's to become of me that she
can't decide about her own life, and
If made some definite plan for my own
future, not too far removed from Peace
Valley, Mary would be able to take
her own happiness, and yours, into
consideration"
"Any little compromise on your part
would be acceptable. Say you settled
down for while In the White house
so that Mary could see with her own
eyes that you were not pining, and
Claude could call upon you discreetly
once in so often. It's your utterly de-
tacned attitude that's getting on
Mary's nerves."
Then he gave her a quick, frank
look as though reading her thoughts
and said: always remembering, dear
Polly, that I'm deeply Interested"
Polly took out her vanity case and
made the necessary repairs.
Ned watched her. 'You look love-
ly," he volunteered "Nobody'd know
you'd been crying"
Polly turned determined face
toward him. Before we turn back,
Ned, do you think you could bring
yourself to call me 'mother'?"
Ned's hand slipped from the wheel.
His arms went round her.
I'D love tO-Mother."
Polly sighed. do you think I'm ut
terly selfish about Mary?"
Ned did not remove his arms. He
shook his head. mo, it's just-well
in the ordinary course Of events. If
you'd stuck to your job of being
Claude's wife there might have been
four or five other outstanding little
Dabbses, and you wouldn't be so con-
centrated on Mary, to the exclusion
of everything else"
'Take your arms away. You are
rather nasty to me. Ned"
you wanted the truth. Have
cigarette and forget it."
Polly accepted the cigarette.
Let me smoke this in peace and
make up my mind, before we go back. y
They sat, saying nothing, Ned's
thoughts busy with his own future.
The woman beside him was facing the
long years to come, honestly, for the
first time. She knew that her position
was untenable. She knew also that
Claude Dabbs asked only the priv
ilege of watching over and caring for
Mary, for Ned and for herself. He
would ask nothing Of her, grateful If
she would stay near them for Mary's
sake, grateful that the children loved
him.
Polly's mind leaped to its fine con-
clusion. Here was her opportunity.
It might even be that in Claude she
would find the friend and companion
she had missed and longed for, since
Mary had gone her own way. Did
not Claude face middle age, too, but
with philosophy, and brushing aside
it's disillusions, neither grudged youth
it's due nor shrank from life. Claude
was alive, very much so, but of life
he expected little; of himself, much.
Polly wondered if she would ever
grasp life as serenely and as firmly as
he did, taking what 1t gave, grudg-
ing nothing that it withheld.
Polly threw away her cigarette.
Ready to go back, Ned"
In the library at Claude's home,
Claude and Mary were turning over
plans for the new factory and the pro-
posed public library and recreation
ROOM
Mother and Ned take long time
on that drive" Mary observed, finally.
ooh, Dad! do you think anything's
happened?"
mot a bit of it," Claude told her
TRANQUILITY. They've just gone a bit
further than they intended. Why,
daughter, what's wrong?" Mary had
clutched his arm.
Nothing, only 1 get so worried
nowadays. 1 never used to. But
Ned's a little reckless, don't you
think?'
NO" Claude rose to Ned's defense
sturdily. "Ned's a splendid driver"
Then he laughed. 'Is it Ned, or your
mother, who's so precious that you
think the Almighty may be JEALOUSY?
"Oh hush, Father, don't say it,"
Mary implored, and then laughed at
herself, helplessly. "See how print
tive I'm growing, like the heather
who give ugly names to their best
beloved to shield them from the wrath
of the gods"
Its queer" Claude began, more to
himself than his daughter, "but the
old folk were so often right. My
mother used to say that love made
women savage and men gentle. l
wonder"
''There they arew Mary ran to the
doorway leading to the garden. She
stopped astonished. "Father, some
thing must have happened. Mothers
getting out"
Claude looked over her shoulder
LET me past, Mary. If Polly's COM
ing into my store, must be there to
wait on her."
No,u x,otobad him 90 hut stood