Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-08-23
WHEN
MARY WAS
MARRIED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
10 by d. ]. walsh.l

- - vi LiuG blu6C
but she did not see the dim
blueness She was thinking of the
wedding of her daughter, Mary.
81 reckon" she murmured half
aloud after long interval, shat there
Is something mighty wrong about me.
didn't feel like crying and taking
on when Mary went Off on her we'd
ding trip. VIII is good, steady boy
and has a home ready for her; he is
bit stubborn, but there's nothing
mean about him and like man to
be decided. Poor Mary, how she
sobbed and cried when she kissed me
goodby. felt real acknowledgements
that, Victorian" she asked. turning as
a kinky black head surmounted by
frilled white cap was stuck timidly
around the door.
"How 20 feelin now, ma'amf
Hopes yo' amt takin' on about Miss
Mary. She suah felt bad-mighty
bad-when theyall went away"-Vic-
toria had now propelled her huge bulk
into the room and held out glass OF
iced lemonade alphabetically. "Jess'
drink this. honey, and yoall will feel
bettah. yassum. ma'am."
Mrs. Johnson accepted the glass
contritely. Faithful old Victoria had
more feeling than she possessed. She
resumed her task Of setting the dainty
bedroom to rights. In the excitement
preceding the wedding many little du-
ties had been swept aside and her
housewifely soul longed to restore the
usual meticuIous order to her belong
ings.
II came right up, my DEAR" cried a
high-pltched voice. 81 just knew how
you'd be taking on. just want you
to reread Emerson's Compensation.
know you will find something In 1t
to comfort you" Miss Martha tip
toed over to the window and pulled
down the shade.
Mrs. Johnson, ashamed of her own
apathy, thought that they could hard
ly be more sympathetic II there had
been death in the house. 81
thought" she remarked, "that I'd tidy
up things a bit"
The long, aristocratic hand of the
visitor was dropped gently on her
shoulder Eyes, yes, 1t will take your
mind off your loneliness; we are COM
ing over to sit on your piazza tonight
so you won't mourn"
Meanwhile Mary, on her wedding
trip found herself wondering over her
| own callOus nature. She adored her
mother, but she had not left her for
1 iong VISA the 1s..----~--~s -s~sI5 r"1t1s the
] man of her choice had ended she
would return to the town where she
had been born and live within block
of her old home. 'How l shall hate
to go home to get my clothes and lit
tie belongings" she thought. "Mother
will feel so dreadfully that shall al
most regret my marriage and feel
that was unbearably selfish in leav-
ing her. Life Is very perplexlng at
] times, for she wanted me to marry
Will. but"
"Not regretting your marriage, al
ready, honey" Wills tone was joe
uIar, but he looked sharply at his
brides cloudcd face. No man enjoys
the feeling that he is not all-eflclent.
Mary reused herself, but the feel
ing that her mother suffered during
her absence almost spoiled her honey
moon "You see, VIII, have been
everything to mother and 1t is great
loss to her. don't feel like going
down to the dance when she Is at
home crying her poor heart out"
VIII snapped his fingers nervously
as he looked his bewilderment. "But
she was satisfied to have you marry
me. have a good bungalow ready
for you and you'll have every com
fort. In year more the peach or.
chard will be bearing heavily and that
means doubled income"
"Oh, It Isn't the money part of It,
You don't understand women, Will
You see, mother lives in the past.
feel perfectly certain that at this mo.
ment mother is sitting looking over
my baby pictures or grievlng over 1T
tie curls that she has saved"
So Mary refused to join the others
down In the hotel ballroom and cried
herself to sleep while she berated her
self for her own hardness of heart
VIII unable to see her viewpoint, was
distinctly sulky. lie had not carried
her away by main force and he fell
that II was an effront to him to greet
him with tear-stained face and sub
al ,lA
honeymoon was bllssful time, but
ri sure be glad when she gets back
where she can console her mother
he thought.
SO the days dragged and finally
Mary persuaded her husband to take
her home two days sooner. "Mother
writes very bravely, but, Of course,
can read between the lines and know
how she is longing for me. II We
could take the ten o'clock train We
would get in Crozet at three O'Clock
In the morning"
"Just as you like" VIII still fell
that things were out Of tune and hi
was glad to move on.
Mrs. johnson was sleeping quietly
in her sIeeping-porch on the first fool
when she was aroused by light steT
on the piazza. II know you are lying
awake, mother, so you won't bt
startled" Mary was rapidly approach
ing the couch.
Mrs. Johnson opened her eyes will
a guilty sensation Mary had grlevet
so much over the separation that she
had cut short her honeymoon anC