Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-14
Louise Loved the
Widower
BY CORONA REMINGTON
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ICnnNrlnhlA

OI OUlSE, you can't DelleNe Ill ne
IL says. He's probably not in the
least in love with you and is only
hunting good housekeeper and home
maker for himself and his children"
Old Miss Hagerty shook her head
in horror while Louise Tilson tried
to think of something to say.
"But-I'm dreadfully lonely and I
love him." she confessed at last,
"and the Riddles are precious. I
just wanted to hug little Tubs to
death yesterday when I bathed him.
Love hint" shifted Miss Hagerty.
"What do you mean when you say
you love him7 How could any woman
bring herself to love a secondhand
husband anyway Personally, I
wouldn't care for warmed-over love
myself. Don't take offense at what
I'm saying, Louise, I'm only trying to
help you and open your eyes before
it's too late. You know, since your
mother died I've tried to take her
place."
81 know" answered the girl wear
ily ~ Observation-Disclosures I must
go. Thanks for your advice"
She rose and left the room, de-
cidedly uneasy, and bit alarmed.
"If only Miss Hagerty would mind
her own business" the girl thought
rs she walked down the quiet shady
street. Suppose she were right and
Will Mackay really doesn't"
She stopped abruptly. the color
rushing into her face. How disloyal
Of her to doubt her fiance's love for
her! She was cad to listen to a
disgruntled old maid. But. after all,
could a man really love twice? She
quickened her steps in an effort to run
away from her thoughts. Suddenly
she heard flying feet patterning down
the street behind her and before she
could turn, little arms were hugging
her legs and three mischievous little
faces laughed up at her-the steps.
1--WE saw you comin'," Dorothy ex-
planned breathlessly, $50 we hid be-
hind that hedge there until you passed.
Weren't you s'prised?"
81 should say SOP Louise laughed,
kissing them.
my daddy got s'prlse for you and
we helped to pay for It," said pudgy
little Tubs as he chung to LOuise's
finger and trotted happily alongside.
"It's a" Arthur had turned and
ha p1y o,.dy In FAINT nf
the little group, his blue eyes dark
with excitement.
Its what?" asked Louise.
"Unh-unh-c can't tell. Daddy made
us promise mott"
"Now, Arthur, look out or you'll
slip 1t sure, and Daddy said he'd cry
II you did"
Somehow, Louise could not warm
up to the children as she usually did.
It seemed as If all her affection had
suddenly frozen in her heart, and she
was glad when the Mackey house at
last came In sight.
run along home now, chickabid-
dies she said gayly. Lets see which
of you can get to the porch first"
With much waving OF hands they
fled up the driveway and Louise went
on to the corner to catch the next
car. Two other women were already
waiting there.
"Yes, that big white house through
the trees there is the Mackey house."
said one. "He's wldOwer with three
Of the dearest children. He's going to
get married again soon. ! hear. It
was dreadful about his wife She died
when little Tubs was born. didn't
know her but the nelghbors say she
was terribly selfish and inconslderate
of her husband. His closest friends
say he never talked back to his wife
and she was always crltIclzlng him in
public. It was dreadful. People felt
so sorry for him The chill
dren are perfect dears too-just like
their father"
81 hope the new wife's good to
him. said the other woman. "Poor
little mites"
"It1l be all right II she'll only let
her own heart guide her and not
listen to people. Trouble is folks
NEEDLE so much"
Just then the car came along and
the three women got on. A few mo
ments later as Louise passed down
the aisle nj her corner. she smiled at
the women and said In her frlendllest
tones:
THANK you so much. You've given
me such good advice. You'll never
know what II means TO me-"
That evening when Mackey called
he was astonished by her new ardOr.
"BllI, | just love you and the kid
dies so hard | scarcely know what
I'm doing" she said.
He held her to him for moment
in silence, then:
"All along I've told the children
about YOU" he said, "but ] made them
promise to keep II family secret and
yesterday when told them was
going to buy something for you, they
all wanted to chip In. Tubs gave his
nine pennies and Arthur had twenty.
six and Dorothy fourteen; and this is
what we got"
He opened a tiny box and there lay
n beautiful solitaire.
"My engagement rlngl The darl-
ing dears !" said Louise softly.
"They wanted to come with me,
but couldn't stand that. dear This
Is our moment"
When the first Joy was over Louise
looked up at her flance.
"Bill, let's go over II they aren't
already asleep" she suggested eager
ly, "and have little party. Do you
guess ice cream would kill them this
time Of nlghtT