Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-09-22

PASSoAC anu uOu lOOh Aouuu ulilii
tell you"
Dabbs obeyed her, wondering a
little, and Mary slipped the hairplns
from her head.
"Now!"
G. M. felt something soft and silky
touching his hand. He looked al
Mary. Her hair down her back as d
child would wear it, she was standing
beside him, smiling fearlessly. The
years seemed to have slipped away
from her.
There, poor old Dad. Pretend I'm
little Mary"
Dabbs laid his big hand caressingly
on the silky head, but shook his own.
You're dear, Mary. but put it up,
my girl. 1t isn't the same thing. Not
but what I'd be content enough if l
could have you running in and out of
my house now, but there's Polly. I'll
nave to take YOU back to her, aud then
what?"
Mary could not answer him. She
went to the mirror over the little writ
ing desk and began piling up her
hair. "Shall I tell her Eve seen your
she asked.
Dabbs watched her, fascinated. It
was wonderful to think that slender
lovely thing was his daughter. "Would
that be good thing, do you think p
Mary thought for a moment, then
shook her head. AS she slowly put
a shell pin In, she had made up her
mind to tell him about Mother. 1t
was the best thing, to be absolutely
frank. She couldn't juggle things the
way Mother did: You'd better know
about Mother" she announced. "We're
sailing for Venice tomorrow"
Tomorrow Venice!"
Mary nodded as she drove home the
last two pins and reached for her hat.
Mothers running away. We're run.
ming away from you, and my instinct
tells me Mother will run far"
Dabbs sat down on the arm of the
chair, thinking.
And If 1 tell her I've seen you
why, she'll move again, and it won't
be Venice, and won't be able to tell
you where we are going"
You're not to tell her." Dabbs said,
decidedly, land it will be Venice. Do
you know your hotel?"
"The Royal Danieln."
"Well, say nothing. I'll meet you
there"
You'll meet us! Oh, Father! Can
you leave the grocery storeY'
Dabbs nodded, smiling. Easy |
can, when it's you"
Mary settled her hat with a slightly
sauey tilt. "Then you'll tell Mother
there Ny! It's romanticl" Dearly
would she love to see the meeting.
G. M. crossed the room, took her
by the dimpled chin and tilted her
face so that he could look into the
eyes that she tried to hide with her
long lashes.
1T isn't romantic" he said. "And
much as it would please you to man.
age the affair, young lady, you can't
Polly Johnston and will manage that
part of,it by ourselves"
"Oh Father. how could your"
'Pm not so slow as look, daugh-
ter, and know Polly. She was never
to be driven, or coaxed either. Polly
will have to settle it herself, and
that's the only safe way"
Mary gave his arm a squeeze. "Oh,
G. NJ. Dabbs, you're wonder. II the
angels had asked me, I couldn't have
picked any father I'd like better"
Claude looked at her gravely. yrm
rough, in some ways, girl, but ifAyou
like me I haven't wasted my life"
II only wish I was a boy, Father.
How we would develop your grocery
business together, and make money
so that Mother would admire us!"
Dabbs frowned. IT don't want you
a boy. The angels suited me, too,
when they picked you" He held
Mary's hand tightly In his. MARY,
Is Polly like that still? Does she
care as much about money, I meanT'
Mary studied her father as she an
swered: "She does and she doesn't.
Mother isn't easy to explain. She
likes the things money brings with 1t
and she hasn't much left"
Dabbs started. FLOWS thatr'
Mary explained as much as she
knew, and Dabbs frowned as she men
toned the borrowing from Loren
Rangeley.
MARY, shall we give her money!"
Mary shook her head. "Not now.
It wouldn't be quite safe. Mother
would use it to run further away
from-us."
Dabbs looked pleased at the "us"
but he frewned a moment afterward,
and when Mary touched his arm
gently, looked down at her warily.
I'm trying to figure out, daughter,
whether you're right about the money
I guess you are, though. As you say,
Polly'd only use it to get further
away from me, and that would Keep
us apart. Besides, it mustn't be
money that briggs Polly to me. 1t
must be-you. You can see that"