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

s~GT v
"say That Again, My Girl, and Say
1t Slow"
My God! All the years I've wanted
you. I'll never forgive Polly for that"
Mary raised her head warnfngly.
mot a word against Mother!"
G. MS grasp upon her frightened
again. "Not word. Only she should
have told me, long ago."
"Yes, I think so, too, Dad" Mary
agreed, "but l can't make her see it."
G. NJ. looked down at her sternly.
How long have you knownT
"Since last night. 1 haven't been
able to think about anything else, but
Mother won't talk about it, and she
meant me not to tell. I didn't tell,
did I?'
mot strictly speaking" Q. M. as
sured her. "You just said Father"
all to yourself, and heard you"
Dear, DEAR" and Mary tried to
sound distressed and repentant, what
will become of me when Mother
knows?"
G. MS arm frightened about her, as
though for protection. Mary leaned
on 1t.
''The thing that's got to be under
stood between us at once, Is that$my
mother is the sweetest, best-looking,
most wonderful mother girl ever
had. Father, what were you thinking
about to let her get away from you?"
Claude frowned. He led Mary back
to her chair and sat down beside her.
"See here" he said, looking at his
daughter in alarm, Il don't know how
much Polly has told you"
Everything"
Everything" c. M. started from
his chair, changed his mind and sat
down heavily. '"Then that saves me
something We're not going to dis
cuss it,
Mary nodded. Lets take every
thing for granted, and go right on
from now. That will be the best
thing"
"How can wew
"We must" Mary announced with
decision. There's got to be certain
reticences."
ooh, LOrd!" groaned Claude. You
don't think l want to talk over these
certain reticences' with you" He
breathed heavily. mo, it's Polly"
He looked at Mary as though they
had been in league for years. "How
can we get round her?'
Mary shook her head.
Claude looked at her modify. II
know Polly" He looked down at the
carpet, busy with his problem.
Mary came to him quietly, perched
herself on his knee, and put her arm
about his neck. He did want petting
so badly. Mother will simply have
to take notice of my father"
G. NJ. promptly kissed her. 1t was
nice kiss, on the cheek, and G. M.
wasn't clumsy about it either. Mary's
appreciation of him rose. He had a
certain dizziness, this big man. He
wasn't clumsy nor was he vulgar.
Mother might have-but Claude inter
rupted her train of thought.
zone thing can't forgive is keep
ing you from me. I can hardly keep
from squeezing the life out of you.
Mary. I'm so glad to have you within
reach, and know you're my girl. But
the little Mary! By Jimmy! How
sweet you must have been with your
hair down your back, or maybe tied
with a big bow of ribbon, and little
strapped slippers on your cute little
feet. Polly cheated me out Of that.
Why, look, you're great big girl, and
I'm strange man to you, and you
may be engaged to some hulking fell
!, low, for all know, and no room In
your life for father
Despite the fact that he tried to
treat it lightly, Mary felt the poignant
regret in his tone, and her heart
ached for her father. What could
she do to make him know that he had
not only a place in her life but her
heart.
"Tm not engaged" she assured him,
as she put up her hands to her smart
little hat and jerked 1t off, and slipped
from his knee. Maybe no one will
ever ask me-" Claude made q little