Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-09-29

the corner, there was no excuse Polly
could justly offer to oppose the plan,
though she did not like it.
Mary laughed down all suggestions
| that she was quite too attractive to
wander about alone. Mary was an
American, though she had had for
eign bringing-up, and she reminded
her mother of this, and that she knew
how to take care of herself.
Polly, who had wandered about as
she chose when Mary's age, realized
she was being absurd.
She told Mary to go, but not to
stay late, and II she, Polly, did not
feel better, she would have her din
ner In bed In that case Mary might
dine with the Farleys, whom they had
met on the train. Mary acquiesced.
somewhat absent-mindedly. Having
made her mother comfortable, or at
least as comfortable as headache
would allow, Mary set forth.
Venice, that lovely city Of the sea,
seemed to Mary to be looking her best
that afternoon. The sun shone warm
on the piazza. The shops had a
sleepy look, their awnings like droop-
ing eyelids, and the patches of shade
were grateful to t he eye. Mary
thought Venice was like lovely, Sc
ductive woman, who. past her first
youth, stirred mems hearts to pity for
all she had lost, and then to passion
for the ageless beauty which she still
retained.
| Mary had made brief visits to ST.
Marks with her mother, but now she
hurried up the steep stone stairs
di orc. A service was in progress be-
fore one of the affairs.
Mary paused a moment to fee the
genial old custodian, whose greeting
was as toothless as 1t was friendly.
AS she stood peering down into the
dim church, she was conscious Of
some one near her, watching her. She
looked up-into Ned Carriers eyes.
She could scarcely believe it, and
yet something she read in his eyes
made her stretch out her hand. Ned
grasped it, and that steadied her.
Mary" She was not sure. She
turned, confusedly, her hand still un-
accountably in his, and they went
through the doorway that led to the
golden horses. 1t was so narrow here
that quite naturally she recovered her
| Ac CTR RI fho q
sunshine, and the cool sea breeze.
Mary felt h ,rself able to face Ned.
To her conscious amaZement, she
found this no easy thing to do. There
was shining something in his eyes,
to which she seemed loathe to give
was so much confusion in her mind,
thoughts half formed fitting across it
like birds Of the night, that she finally
left 1t to Ned to break the silence.
All he seemed able to say was Mary =
"Are you here" Mary began des-
perately, with my"
Ned gave a swift look about to as.
sure himself that they were alone.
ooh, what does it matter who !
am with? I'm here because you are
here. and 1 couldn't stay in Clover
Hollow without you. I've followed
you. Mary, to tell you"
"Hushp' said Mary warningly, and
put her finger gently against his lips,
for out of the little doorway had ap-
peared the wondering heads of Ger
man youth of about twenty, and his
bride.
Mary moved away, seated herself on
the stone parapet beneath the horses
and looked out over the piazza. Ned
stood beside her, looking down.
my father" she began.
"Yes, came here with c. NJ. Dabbs,
and know where he is, but I'm not
to meet him for half an hour yet.
Surely you can listen to me for that
length of time. If you don't" he
threatened, II won't tell you where to
find him. If you're kind to me, I'll
lead you to him."
"Mr. Carter, aren't you little sud
den In your methodist"
"I'm anything you like except Mr..
Carter And if l seem sudden, look
at the provocatien. At certain shop
your father is waiting, and once he
gets within hailing distance I'll be
pushed, showed, ignored or kicked
into the background. So, Mary-No
you don't, my dear. There's absolutely
no use in our roaming around looking
at things in shop windows Down
this alley-way there's a flight of stone
steps leading to the canal. If you
come that way, we could wait in the
shade for gondola.'
ITO take me to father?"
Eventually, yes" admitted Ned.
"but primarily to listen to me-"
"About father? Oh, should love
to hear about him.
would you? Well, I've lots to tell.
A wonderful travelling companion.
But first you must hear about me-"
They had reached one step and while
Ned signaled a passing gondola, Mary
thought of him and wondered at her
self. Why should she go with him ?
Mother would never approve of this
Nevertheless she waited for his pon-