Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-01-31
LAURA
SPOILED THE
MATCH
Observation-Disclosures
ia by D. J. Walsh)

wv YHEN Laura opened the door
N she saw that something had
wv happened to Aunt Lol. She
had run in with a section
of chocolate layer cake for her aunts
supper. There was sound Of rust
ling paper as she entered, but there
was no paper In sight. Therefore
Laura knew that Aunt Lol was sitting
upon 1t, whatever 1t was. The wom-
ans cheeks were red. Her eyes shone.
She looked almost attractive. And
she was wearing her new blue crepe.
Laura stopped and shifted.
Tobacco smoker she exclaimed
laughlngly. "Oh, you sly onei Mr..
Hawl has been here again"
"well, what If he has" snapped
Miss Johnson. "Pm sure have a
right to see company II l choose. I
certainly shan't ask you or your moth
er to pick my friends for me-"
Certainly not. We have no such
Intentions" Laura flushed. She set
the plate Of cake down upon the table
and stood hesltating. Usually Aunt
Lol asked her to sit down. Now 1t
was evident she wanted to get rid of
the girl in order to go on examining
those papers which Laura had heard
rustling as she entered. Laura burned
with curiosity. She felt she just had
to see what Aunt Lol was concealing.
She walked deliberately over to the
window and pretended to be admlring
a pot of begonia on the window SILL
That begonia was Aunt LOIS treas
ure.
"Just lookV she exclaimed. II do
believe-why, it's a mealy bugl" Aunt
Lol sat still. Laura lifted the pot In
her hands. Out of the corner Of her
eye she saw her aunt wnggling I'M
comfortably. The pot slipped from
the girls hands and crashed upon the
floor. With a shout of dlsmay Aunt
Lol leaped from her chair. There on
the cushion underneath her lay some
highly colored circulars. Laura gave
them one quick, comprehensive look
before she ran out Of the house.
Mrs. johnson, a small, faded wom-
an, was at work in the steamlng
kitchen when her daughter dashed in.
The Johnsons had kept boarders ever
since the death of the head of the
house.
"MotherW Laura's bright young face
was pale. "That man, HaWl, IS trying
to get Aunt Lol Interested in what
he's selling. And She is Interested
tried so hard to End out what she
was up to that I broke her begonla
jar SoFm going to give her my blue
bowl to stick the old plant In"
Laura grabbed the blue bowl, which
was worth many such plants, jar and
all, and ran back to her aunts When
she entered the house for the second
time the papers were out Of sight
Aunt Lol accepted the bowl with
more appreciation than she usually
accepted offerings from her brothers
widow and her daughter, for this time
she was pleased. It was worth risk
ing the begonia to get hold Of the
bowl which she had long wanted.
I'm going to have some news for
you one of these days, Laura" she
said Importantly.
"Good news, | HOPPER Laura started
to put her arm about the woman. But
the arm fell to her side, as Miss John.
son said impressively:
"You needn't be a mite surprised II
Pm married before long to Mr.. Fred
rick Hawl"
This time Laura returned to her
mother in agony.
"Motherl She thinks she is going
to marry him. Now we have got to
do something"
"What can we dor Mrs johnson
prodded with a fork into the potato
kettle. II was almost time for the
six O'Clock whistle to blow when six
hungry factory workers would come
trooping In.
Laura pushed back her short wavy
locks from her knitted brow. She was
troubled and perplexed
Laura Run over to the store and
get a piece Of cheese to go with the
apple pie. Miss Miller's so fond of
cheese. There's some money on the
shelf there. Hurry" Mrs. johnson
turned from the potato kettle to peep
into the oven.
Laura flew on the errand. As she
turned the corner she saw Mr.. Hawl
coming toward her.
Mr.. Hnwl was q stranger In town.
He lived at the hotel and his business
was unexplained He had made a
friend or two and these friends had
introduced him to certain persons,
women mostly, widows and spinsters.
Thus he had made the acquaintance
Of Aunt Lol. From the first he had
seemed to pay Aunt Lol great deal
Of attention. He had sent her flowers
and candy. Naturally she was I'm
pressed. Laura, In her second college
year, was mystiHed until she remem.
bered that Aunt Lol had received all
the money from relatives estate
which should have been divided equal.
ly between Aunt Lol and Laura's ia
Their. Some said she had used her In.
nuence unfairly. Laura and her moth
er did not know. very little of the
money Aunt Lol was boarding would
have made them comfortable and
helped Laura through college. AS II
was, Aunt Lol kept every penny for
herself. But her nature had its soft
side. and that was where Mr.. Hawl
came In.
Mr.. Hawl was SNOWY looking and
much younger than Aunt Lol, though
he pretended to notice no difference
in their ages. Now, when he met
Laura. his eyes III with interest For
hurry and worry had heightened
DR.. r.. ERNEYHOUGH,
NETEpINA INV cftnrva.t