Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-10-13

Iy, "if you'll come behind that easel
I'll kiss you"
Sure" said Claude.
They came from behind the easel
presently. Claude studiously avoided
a glance at the painting, which he
privately thought too ugly for words
Don't ask me to look at any more
big, fat women who wouldn't take any
exercise, lost their figures, and yet
would have their portraits painted
he begged Mary. Lets find Ned"
But Mary protested. HE can wait.
You don't know everything yet, Fa-
ther. Mothers sent for Loren Range.
ley. She's going to marry him for his
money"
"Loren's got quite a pile" Claude
agreed calmly, ''but then, there's me-
She'll have to get rid of me, first. I'm.
less she has?" He cooked an inquir-
ing eye at Mary. Mary shook her
head.
Ned joined them. Claude looked at
him critically.
COlu yOu.
Mary gasped. Father was terribly
direct
IF there has to be a husband,
right away" Claude observed to the
Bellini in that room, "Td rather It
was Ned"
IF you'll come behind the picture
Of that big, thick woman, who's been
roughly handled" Ned told him, "Tll
kiss you"
Don't be sickening," Claude warned
him, as they moved away toward the
entrance. "Where can we three 60
to talk about our lives In general,
and have little privacy. No
churches, no palaces, and no picture
galleries" he warned. my feet ache
at the very thought Of them, and they
are all full of gabby guides" he
paused near the gondola steps, and
considered a moment. "We can take
a gondOla-"
He was unprepared and a little
startled by the mirth Of his COM
panions, but continued gravely and
without waiting for an explanation,
"and go to my sitting ROOM"
He handed Mary in, and turning to
Ned, surveyed him cody. ION second
thoughts, which are often best, Wen
leave you to find your way there
yourself, and slowly. I've something
to say to Mary, and" he added with
n lob hof nrn11n6 Maids n
rebel, there are times when father
and daughter actually like to be
alone together, though you don't seem
to think so.'
A fatherly squeeze of Ned's arm
helped Ned to interpret these re-
marks and to withdraw with better
grace than Mary expected.
"What a comfort you are, Father"
"You don't have to marry Ned, you
know, unless you happen to want to"
'Don't worry! Loren Rangeley
will put his foot down. He knows
Mothers moneys gone. I'm only u
poor grocer's daughter"
els your mothers money all gone?'
"Pretty nearly. That's why she's
considering Loren Rangeley."
Claude considered her gravely. "DO
you mind the grocery business, very
much?'
Mary patted his arm. "Of course
don't. Only, Father, you're foolish to
spend so much money travelling.
When I go back we'n need to alter
things a little. can save you money
by waiting behind the counter or keep
ing the books, until we see what I'm
best fitted for. I do hope you'll let
me ride around in the car with you
when you deliver orders"
Claude's arm frightened about her.
you're my girl, all right" he said
with husky voice. "But that isn't
necessary. AS a matter of fact, Loren
will jump at the chance Of getting my
daughter for his son. Ned, of course,
doesn't know this" he added quickly.
Ned thinks he's asking you to put
up with what he's got. He has some
Of his mothers money, and he can
earn more. He quarreled with Loren,
you know"
"Why should Loren Rangeley Jump
at me?"
Her father looked at her. She was
so pretty, so lovable, and so unlike
Polly, in that money meant so little
to her.
"You see, daughter, I'm 'SCOUR-
EEN'"the Dirt Destroyer" Then, in
answer to her look Of amazement:
you've seen the signs, surely.
They're everywhere. It's good ar
ticle, too. I invented it out of Mons
old kitchen cleaner recipe. Then ]
had an idea for fancy tin can. It
caur' on. It's years since I've been
a poor grocer. At first I kept quiet
about it-well, because of Polly. |
was fool enough to fancy she'd come
back, if I had money. I thought I'd
keep it dark and go and find her my
self, and surprise her. But I never
did There was a time, when had
no money, when 1 really wanted to
find her; but after considering every
thing-well, I just couldn't. Remem-
Der, I didn't know about you"