The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-14
Alabaster
Lamps
b Margaret ruuasun
THE STORY

the use OF that-Or OF anything
that just means money. The people
around Peace Valley like me for
myself. Where could I get the
equivalent Of that IL I rooted my
self up and started to splurge? II
let on I had money all my old
neighbors would shy of. and only
the lot that always want some
thing for nothing would hang
around. So l kept on in the old
shop. I've had p lot of fun fixing
things up for nice people who
would haye died rather than tell
stranger fheir troubles"
He looked at his daughter 10 see
n she fully comprehended his
scheme. Mary's eyes shonc and
she patted his arm.
1T kept piling up" Claude con-
tinued. THE money, ! mean. II
a man failed. and / as agent, mind
YOU" and he twinkled Mt Mary
over this time-lonored joke.
loaned him money. blamed X his
business wouldn't boom. He'd be
paying 1t back to me in no time
and I'D have all that spare cash
on my hands. Money breeds
money. I've spent all l wanted to.
in "a quiet way. l lived behind the
grocery mostly to keep Aunt Lyddy
happy, but I've had fun building
and remOdeling houses to suit me.
The White house you and Polly
lived in was one of them. own
nearly all Of Clover Hollow. But.
TIL ] met Ned here. l never really
enjoyed travelling about and using
money on myself. I'm a kind Of
timid man about some things. With
Ned, it's been grand. And you.
When | knew about you, knew
what the money was for. Think
Of the fun III get out of just buy
ing things for you! Now that Polly
knows you know me, can't we go
and do some shopping? l want to
buy YOU all the things I've wanted
to hang on somebOdy-and didn't
know you were waiting for me-"
Father, we mustn't be reckless.
l can't take 1t quite all in. How
many thousands have you?"
1T runs nearer TO millions.
Mary"
Mercy. what will Mother say?"
Mary looked up at her father,
dazzled. 1t wasn't the money that
made her proud, but the way he
had made and used 1t. OF all the
dear. original men. Nothing shoddy
about Claude Dabbs and his Dirt
Destroyer"
Claude, watching her face. saw it
change.
what are you afraid OFT" he
asked bluntly.
But Mary could not. or would
not, say. Her father helped her
from the gondola.
When they entered the sitting
room, he said: You're not afraid
Of me?'
Mary shook her head. Il simply
love yOu."
Him, I'm always afraid Of those
l love getting away from me-"
He watched her remove her hat,
and then move about the room. 1t
was lovely, she told him. to be in
his rooms. Still Claude had feel
ing she was not at rest.
III it's Ned. you needn't be un-
easy" he told her, graphically. But
Mary apparently did not hear.
Claude went to the balcony and
looked down. There's Ned now,
at the landing stage. His half hours
measure more like fifteen minutes
Mary came 10 the windows bal.
cony and leaned against his shout.
der.
He watched Ned for a moment
and saw him greeted by two pretty
English girls, guests of the hotel
Claude put his hand under Mary's
chin and lifted her face.
I'm glad you don't rush into his
arms. but don't underestimate Ned
He's the kind of son any man might
be proud Of"
Mary looked steadily mt Claude
without replying, though 1t took ef
fort to do 1t. He patted her hal,
and sighed. Il wouldn't say .
word, daughter. only I can't see you
fighting out this thing alone, with
out Polly's help"
That's odd, Father, and hare
to explain. The difference between
Mothers generation and mine
mean about love and marriage. Il
makes her-well, she just doesn'I
understand. and yet-y0u do"
"Yet Polly was as modern as AM
girl of today-in her own marriage
She took what she wanted and pre-
served her freedom by running
away. tell you, Mary. 80 tina
your mothers example won't &c
you against marriage, that Polly
treatment Of me was really the re
suit of the feelings of Poily's gen
Grafton about love and marriage.
"You see, they saw In their mot
ers how the old way worked. Thu
chain-gang for life. No freedom
Of mind or body. and nothing ex
cused the breaking of the tie b!
woman. !. Naturally the girls o
your mothers age thought the
hated marriage. They were reall!
afraid of 1t. They were ignorant
you see. I've studied the thing
lot, Mary. 20 that l could re
Polly's viewpoint. 1t hurt som,
when she ran away.
''Then l finally got 1t that he
sort tried to break free by tai
Ing up suffrage and roofing 70
more liberal divorce laws, and b,
running away. like Polly. or not mar
rying ut all. They didn't talk ~
much about sex as the women o
today, but they led a sort of se,
revolt. all right Many an old mai,
that you smile ut for her funn,
views and rabid talk about mel
helped pave the way for the free
dom you have today. They wer,
.