The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-02

~ uuNV WV injury ~ UuU TWO uUAl-
dred and nifty dollars Of my own
ga wings to show him---he agreed
ooh. dear" groaned Mary, then
he was JUST az bad
II don't know" Mrs. Johnston
said thOughtfully. I've often won
dered. You see, his father was
dying"
That's so. Id forgotten"
Mrs. Johnston looked as though
she was about to say something In
her own defense. thought better Of
II. and went on. dOggedly: Uncle
wasn't told anything about the
u agreement. Both my uncle and his
lawyer were favOrably impressed
with Claude.
Uncle insisted that we have the
performed at once. and
that suited both Of US. Claude
looked sick with anxiety. and was
eager to get II over and start home.
We were married before a Justice
Of the peace, who knew neither Of
US. Right after the ceremony
Claude went home with half Of the
Ave hundred In his pocket. The
other halt was to be his when he
signed the papers agreeing to leave
me alone. and not to block any pc. /.
titjon might make for divorce. OK
the grounds Of deserti0n, later. The
lawyer had to have time to draw
the documents up."
Mother, | simply cant recognize
you as the calculating girl who
married that way"
you'll have to. Mary. l did 1t.
Just In time, too. for my uncle died
that night. l was free aud the
money WAS mine. left the board
Ing house and went to \ quiet little
hotel. 1 never told the people at
the boarding house anything about
the money or the marriage.
THE lawyer was kind. He made
arrangements for ine to 81 to
France and live with some friends
0f his sister who would nnish my
education. | was supposed ~ b.
Y young widow"
Il see. Then you went over to
France. where you met my father.
But how did you get rid Ut that
poor young mani
Her mother looked ut her 81
terribly embarrassed that for u mo
ment Mary's heart stood still.
Mary, II didn't get rid OF him.
at once. He came back. l-her
hut l went IL France just the same.
and--you came. and never told
him. I've never gotten rid Ut him.
Mary, can you forgive me-"
Forgive you" Mary leaned for
ward and clutched her mother
tightly. Il haven't anything I" for
give. You've always been the best
mother In the world"
They clung together for 4 mo-
ment. Mrs. Johnston glad of the
excuse 10 hide her face. Then
Mays voice came to her. slightly
muffied by the mass Of her own
dark hair which had fallen over
her mothers ear. Didn't he know
about me. Mother, every"
No"
Couldn't he guess? Ill have to
hate him, you know. II he guessed
and didn't follow YOU"
Polly felt that justice demanded
that she lay no more than his due
share OF blame on the shoulders Ut
Mary's father. He didn't know
was going" she said Imply. Il ran
away from him"
Mary released her mother with 4
little amazed gasp.
Poor. poor Father!'
"POOr Father echoed Mrs.
Johnston Indignantly. Little he
cared for anything but just getting
hold Of me and my money and
dragging me out to his miserable
grocery store In Peace Valley"
Mary sat upright, with astOnished
eyes. gazing at this extraordinary
parent Of hers. But Mother! You
said Peace Valley. You're dream
Ing"
Its only too real! !"
Then 1t was our Mr.. Dabbs. aud
am II am really Mary Johnston
Dabbs, the grocer's daughter"
HE need never know
Hes got TO KNOW Mary de-
clared.
Her mother looked at her deter
minedly. I've the right to say
whether or not he Is to know.
owe him nothing" and in her in
dignant desire to clear herself In
her daughters eyes, she added q
few particulars of the story Claude
had told Ned. But from her own
angle. She stopped suddenly.
Mary was looking at her with 4
queer expression, not shocked, hut
neither was 1t sympathetic. Mrs.
Johnston stuMbled on and reached
the locked door episode. She would
have given worlds never to have
begun. but once begun the story
must be told, and the facts were
the same; though from quite 4 dif-
ferent angle. She thought 1t would
strengthen her case with her
daughter to know that Claude had
gone hack on his sworn word.
Mary leaned forward with up-
raised finger and placed It gently
80 O"S ssSA sbVtbCA y ups. ] UIWHV&
doubted these wife-in.nam only
stOries.' she said. Don't try Ia fool
yourself or me. YOm liked Claude
Dabbs more than \ little. You sim
gled him out of the crowd In that
boarding house. Mother, you were
romantic about him even then"
Il WAS not" Mrs. Johnston In
dignantly defended herself.
stun and nonsense retorted
Mary. rising to the defense Of her
absent father. III you hadn't liked
MIN lot. YOU would have tele-
ph0ned and had him put out"
What can Il. woman say to a
daughter like that? Mrs. Johnston
said nothing, just sat back and
bluShed.
I'm glad you can blush" Mary
went on. mice tale TO tell q girl
who thought she wxs a poor half.
orphan, while all tho time she had
4 perfectly good father keepinx q
grocery SfOro " Nod r..tA.s. 49,.