Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-07-07

Mary Indignantly interrupted. "Wh,
notT'
Being somewhat of a diplomat in her
relations with her daughter. Mrs
Johnston wisely contentsd herself with
saying: Dorothy Seldan seemed COLI
cerned to see you riding with the
grocer's boy"
Then she laughed. Mary's head
went up.
Maybe it would be diplomatic not
to use this young man so Often" Mrs.
Johnston suggested. "Let him 60 back
to the shop today. Tomorrow we will
go with one of the other men as
driver"
"And let. that interfering little cat
think we take her seriously?" asked
Mary. Indeed not! I'm going to
Hillsborough, and with that young
man! If you do not care to come
why, I'll 60 alone"
What could her mother do but laugh,
and go along, though she thought to
herself: Little fox! What is she
up to now"
Before they reached the car she
paused to say: "Bs very sure will
take good look at this young man |!
If like him, we will continue to cham
pion him and his driving. II do not
he's dropped"
I'VE can't drop him far" Mary re-
Joined. Hes got to bring the gro,
ceries, you know"
For one appreciate second, Ned
forgot the chauffeur manner he had
intended to try out on Mary. He
stared. Mrs. Johnston was his ex-
cuse. This was the first day she had
consented to ride with them. Ned
found himself looking into two sleepy
brown eyes that saw more than one
guessed, and at one Of the handsomest
women he had seen in many a day.
The color of that hair alone, he ad-
mitted to himself, was enough to make
anyone look twice. Her mouth was
oddly discencerting. It looked capa-
BILE Of sneering. Then, quite suddenly,
she smiled.
IF Mother were my sister," Mary
thought, watching her with that odd
pride in her mothers beauty that
made her depreciate her own, mo one
would ever look at met"
Mary paused before she followed
her mother into the car. "Oh, Moth
er, just moment. This is Mr.. Carter,
Mr.. Dabbs' nephew, who has been so
kind in driving me about"
Following the introduction, Ned
helped Mary in very carefully. This
was the moment for which he had
waited, and Mary had stood the test.
She had not "Cartered" him to her
mother.
Neither Mary nor her mother knew
Hillsborough. Ned had visited it sew
eral times with Claude Dabbs, and
suggested the Iron Hand inn as their
destination. The idea was acceptable
to Mrs. Johnston, who merely stip-
ulated. Anywhere, except Peace Val
ley."
Mrs. Johnston was conscious that
she was one person too many. It was
curious. Not word or look that
she might object to, yet the feeling
was strong. Mrs. Johnston was ir-
ritated. She had much to worry her.
Surely 1t was impossible that her pre-
cious, level-headed Mary could be
about to further involve them. Mrs.
Johnston, who was really tired, tried
an experiment. She closed her eyes,
complaining that the air made her
sleepy Contrary to her intention, it
really had that effect. When she
opened them, some fifteen minutes
later. Mary was on the front seat with
Ned
ooh, Mother, 1 didn't want to dis
turb you. Mr.. Carter's been telling
me such interesting things about the
country"
Mary joined her mother at once, but
Mrs. Johnston was not pleased with
the result of her experiment.
When they had crossed the cobble-
stone parking space to the entrance,
both Mary and Ned waited. Things
were in Mrs. Johnston's hands. She
knew 1t. She could not treat this
young man as paid driver.
"Mr. Carter" she began a little
hesitantly, "since we've SO freely &C.
cepted your uncle's car and kindness,
won't you accept my invitation to
luncheon7"
1t was very graciously put, but Ned
knew how little Mrs. Johnston want
ed him, even If she was thoroughbred
enough to ask him. He thanked her,
vowing that he had an errand to do
for his uncle but would take them in
and introduce them to The Iron Hand.
He strolled along a quiet residen-
tial street which terminated in an old
graveyard. He sat down on q fiat
tombstone, and thought about life and
Mary.
"Hey, Ned, for one minute
thought you were a monument!''
Claude Dabbs was smiling at him
over the fence.
Ned rose and went to him.
THANK Heaven I saw you first"