Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-10-06


Polfy's headache was better, but
she decided not to get up. When Mary
came into her room, ready to go to
dinner, Polly was sitting up In bed.
a tray before her.
"My word, Mary, you look sweet.
Turn around and let me see If I'll like
you as well when you leave the room
as do when you come in.
'The Farleys ought to appreciate
you, Mary. Is young Farley to be
there tonight? If his mother knew
we were poor it might make a differ
ence, you know"
81 hope 1t does" Mary answered
lightly, apparently engrossed with
her image in the glass. 81 could do
with less of young Farley"
Then what is it, her mother thought,
that makes her look just that way?
1t must be a man!
anyone interesting among the new
arrivals?"
81 don't know" Mary answered
honestly. "I'll look them over when
I go down, and report"
She kissed her mother and hurried
away.
Polly rested back against her pill
keep Mary? Not very long, II the
men of this generation were at all
like those of the last. Well, at any
rate Claude should not have her.
Mary must have her chance and not
be dragged back to village grocery
store-the same one from which her
mother had fed so many years ago.
Mary explained to Mrs. Farley, hav-
ing first telephoned Claude, that she
| was dining with an old friend.
Mrs. Farley, who had no daughters
and adored Mary, watched with inter-
est Mary's meeting with big, dark,
| middle-aged man who looked rather
distinguished.
Mary thought her father looked
stunning. 1t was frightfully roman
| tic, she told him, clipping with ones
father in a gondola.
"You wouldn't even look at me If
Mother were here in all her glory.
perfect peach!"
"There was a poet, long ago, who
put what I feel about Polly in nut
SHE'LL" Claude answered. ut was
something about: If she isn't my
peach, I don't care how peachy she
u.s."
Father! Stop! Don't murder, If
she be not fair for me, What care I
how fair she be-"
"That's it. Just at this minute
Polly leaves me cold and I wouldn't
look at her tonight, not so long as
had you to myself"
"Father, that can't be true. 1t
must not be. Because I've set my
heart on making Mother-look at
you"
Claude Dabbs laughed, and put his
big hand over Mary's little one. "Just
you listen to me, my Mary, and let
Polly alone. The devil himself
couldn't make Polly look at me-"
swat and see. Maybe what the
| devil can't do, Mary can"
But Claude was saying: I'm to
have you for tonight, daughter, and
| tomorrow. If there's anything to be
| done, toward making Polly look at
me-" He changed the subject, keep
ing Mary busy teaching him italian
words to say to the walters and the
gondoliers.
Ned, not for a moment suggesting
grocery background, was waiting
at the landing. His eyes made Mary
happy, furious and shy. 1t was ride
ulous, but she could not seem to
help It,
| The dinner, whether owing to Ned
or Claude-Mary could not really tell
which, they both seemed so eminently
competent-was delicious. Their table
was decorated with flowers, which al
ways seem doubly rare and precious
in Venice. Her two men, Mary felt,
were the most distinguished in the
room. The two men were equally
sure that she was the most attrac-
tive girl in the world.
After dinner, and coffee in the
lounge, they went up to Claude's sit
| ting room to talk and smoke. It was
happy evening. In the presence of
his daughter, Claude was at his best.
Ned, reveling in the fact that Mary
was noting every shade Of her fathers
feeling for him, drew Claude out for
his daughters sake.
When "the loveliest evening"" as
Mary told her father, was over and
Cinderella-Mary must fly home, Ned
remembered that Claude had never
once called him Rangeley that eve
ming! What night and a moon to
explain under!
He limited. eagerly, that he was
ready to take upon his shoulders the
duty Of seeing Mary home, suggesting
that it would be safer for both Mary
and Claude. Mary simply slipped her
hand into her fathers and looked at
him. Ned's arguments were as moth
ing.
II guess Wen risk that, my boy, If
Mary wants me-" said Claude.
Ned stood on the landing steps and
watched them move away. Mary had