Evening star., 1928-11-05
Alhert's Mother.
S the rusty, mud-splashed old
car climbed farther and farther
\ up the hill road, Marietta Wells
q looked Wonderingly at the

~ car climbed fartner ana Iaftner
aotdg up G hill nodsr6dj% r0aa apriett9 ia wffls fbs
Young man beside her. He had
never told her enough about his home
TO lead her to expect anything like this
approach 10 it.
Jolting greatly, the car painted up
rharn Inclines. reeied down abrupt
Ccscents. toppled about amazing curves
where the brilliant Autumn foliage
ffi~ted against MarictJ9'S warm young
cheeks. She hung to the cover braces
End pressed down her feet hard IN or
Cer to keep her place. Her hair Shook
down. her hat Jared loose, her head
threatened to roll from her neck. But
she laughed through her pretty Whlte
teeth.
Albert Page did not laugh. He was
having all he could dc to steer the old
C2r ia its destination. His handsome
<,c9 was one brilliant glow. and ms
hue eyes had the large puphed LOOK
fhat comes from mental as wen as
rhvsical strain.
Suddenly they came out OF the
v-o0ds. and Marietta heard her lover
si-o a sigh of relief as ne qulcKeheo
s-oad along a fairly level stretch OF
rcad. One more sharp turn ana IhSy
t,~,ised before 2 house.
Il was farmhouse. low, weather.
worn. ugly. the kind Of house that Is
~ utilitv. that is made for the pur-
17,ea of shelter, and stops when 1t mas
i,orfornod that service. few. ger
l..tir7s which the frost had nlpped,
rH1ek in the narrow door-yard.
white hen which was roaming ABOUT
ri~ked at the dry stalks. A dog lay
rs'oon on the dropping porch and
cot sitting on Wlnd9W-SlH "AUli'li'
locked out at the arrivals
1r-rietfa followed from hev side of the
Car. Her Young limbs felt crampeo
and stin vibratory.
At that instant woman came ou,
O. small tumble-down woodShed
rrian an armful of wood. She was
rr,7u hunped-b backed and at fTst
Marietta could not see mu2h OF her
faee because 1t was concealed cy an
CID gray sunbonnet
Heres motheri" Albert exclaimed.
The woman dropped the wood ana
rushed back the sunbonneJ. Her eyes
wont from her sons face to the lace
cf The girl whom he had brought nome.
cle held out her hand.
u expect this is Marietta. she SAID
yes" Marietta flushed. She had
worked all her life, but she notced
that Albert's mothers hand was as
hard rs leather.
come in" said Mrs. Page, and led
tho way into the house.
where's father?" Albert asked.
Cutting wood" Mrs. Page motioned
toward the hill which rose steeply be-
hind the house.
Guess I'll leave you to talk and go
and see him." said Albert with a sflll-
ing look.
IN UNiCfil11H
leaked after him fondlv before she
t,l,ne7 her attention to her visitor.
Take of your things and sit down, :,
IT don't think I'll take of nv thinks,
because [ can't stay long" Marietta
replied. I've get to get back to the
MACE where I'm working in time to
got supper. Mrs Hall has new baby
end she isn't very strong"
You've been there quite a spell,
-:Two wears. It's the only place I've
eyer worked"
Are they good to you?"
MY, yes! They treat me like one
Of the family"
You get good wages, I presume.
Eight dollars a week" The chair
IN which Marietta had seated herself
was going to fall down under her,
so she rose and went to sit on the
lounge. where she could stroke the cat.
She felt embarrassed from so many
questions and such Close scrutiny as
she was receiving from Albert's mother.
Ever since she became engaged to
Albert scme months bef0re she had
known that she must some day n9ke
the acquaintance Of his parents. She
wanted to get the strangeness over
before she was married.
"I expect you're getting ready to be
married right away" Mrs. Page SAID.
well" Marietta flushed. "Of course
Albert's in a hurry, but I'd like to wait
till Spring It's only that his time Is
out at the place where he's working
and"
Eyes. He's planning to come home
for the Winter" interrupted Mrs. Page.
IT suppose he's told you his pas trying
to get him to take this place? Jonas
is getting sorta used up and he thinks
Albert could do better than he does. He
saws the house is big enough for us all
to live in together. What do you think
about it?"
Marietta answered the question in the
tired eyes with a direct glance from her
brilliant black ones.
Il don't know. That's what I've come
to find out today" she went on care
fully. "Of course it's Albert's home and
and | want to do what's right and
best. not for myself, but for Albert-and
you-and Albert's father / was brought
up on a farm and