Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-10-14
Mary Loved Dick
Ward
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS
(Copyright.l

ANA she sometimes Of late had been
consumed with doubts as to whether
they would be happy together.
And Dick-well, on one or two
occasions Dick had implied that her
skirts were too short or her hair
a wee bit fantastic In Its single,
and Mary resented 1t slightly. She
wouldn't have minded half so much
IL the criticism had not originated with
Dicks ultra old-fashioned mother and
had been passed on to her.
And, thought Mary. rightly, too,
that since the only pair of precious
parents in the world to her. con-
sidered her quite all right-there
was no reason why Dicks or any other
parents opinion should bother her.
IF my skirts were too short or
my hair all wrong for my particular
type" said Mary bit holly to Dick,
II think my own mother and dad
would be the first to tell me so. If
you don't approve Of me the best
Lizzie Markwell-her hair and skirts
being equally long-she would per-
haps suit you better-as q WIFE"
"Rotw said Dick. II wouldn't be
seen at a cat fight with her and you
know Mary, darling, couldn't love
anyone but you in thousand
years."
"Then stop picking holes In me all
the Time" said Mary. "If l want to
look up to date and not frumpish
and use lip stick when l need it
intend to do It." And with that
she pulled out her vanity and dabbed
powder on her fair nose
And the next time Mary went to
Dicks to have dinner with his fam
lily she wore her newest frock, which
was just wisp of golden silk, and
her hair was like a golden helmet
close fitting and well polished.
When Dick called for her he drew
In a long breath of delight.
"You certainly do look a dream
tonight. Mary" he said, and saw the
same admiration In the eyes Of both
her fond parents.
The atmosphere at Dicks home was
very dlfrerent-a chilly, critical bar
rier seemed to rise between Mary, and
in fact, all the Ward family
my DEAR" said Mrs. Ward, sure
ly you must be cold In that thin
frock. Do let me get you shawl"
"No, thanks" said Mary sweetly,
Pm beautifully warm and If weren't
I wouldn't admit It as a shawl would
absolutely ruin the ensemble Of my
costume"
Dick repressed a smile, but the
evening was anything but a success,
and as they went home together
Mary realized that Dick had uncOn-
sciously absorbed some of his moth
er's critical attitude and 1t prompted
her to take the step she had con-
templated for some time.
"Dick, am going away for three
months to think things over You
and would never be happy together
while you let your mothers antag-
onistic feelings toward me influence
you"
Mary wrote regularly from the
small town she was staying In and
then wrote that she would be down
for the big dance which was an an
nual affair attended by all the young
er set. She asked Dick to call for
her on that evening.
Dick was so overJoyed at the very
thought of seeing the only girl he
could possibly love that he could
scarcely wait until the evening when
he would behold her in all her love
illness again.
When he went for her on the
evening Of the dance he took a great
sheaf of red roses and when Mary
herself opened the door for him he
nearly dropped the flowers when he
looked at her.
1t wasn't the modern Mary he had
seen three months before, but a
dowdy, old-fashioned girl who, how
ever, greeted him with her same fond
smile.
Her hair was long and shaggy, of
a length guaranteed to rob relgning
beauty of her reign, and her skirts
were ample and just midway between
the knee and ankle. Her dainty fg-
ure was completely concealed beneath
vOluminous clothes.
"Whats the joke" asked Dick, and
laughed as IL Mary were playing some
huge trick on him.
"What joker I'm Just wearing the
kind of things that you seem to think |
more comely in your future wife. But |
come, dear, It's time we were start |
ing for the dance" And, almost I'M
able to keep the mirth from her eyes
at the pathetic figure Dick presented |
while not daring to tell her how she
really looked, she led the way toward !
the sitting room, where her parents |
we're aiding and abettlng her.
swell, well, hello, Dick" said |
Mary's father "glad to see you, my
boy. You've certainly helped our
Mary to become quite sensible
young woman-it's good to see the
old-fashloned type once in a while
after all, isn't TT"
$50 sweet and simple" said Mary's
mother II think she's dear to fall
in with your ideas OF how a wife
should dress herself. But run along,
dear-the whole crowd will be walt
ing for you two"
Dick swiftly dragged Mary into his
arms and held her. "Pd still love you
II you looked even worse" he said,
but do hustle back into the adorable
modern Mary--I'll never again soy
word TO- favor Of the sweet old-fash
Toned tyre"