The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-01

rides along the boardwalk that ran
parallel to the pounding snowy ocean,
and ask him to give her a good pinch
around the wrist.
That's for reality, Fred. Some
times it all just doesn't seem real.
Life is so pleasant now. So-relaxed."
That pleased Fred more than he
could express to her. 1t gave him
enormous sense of the well-being of
the producer. He thrilled with the
consciousness of being good-provider
to this nice dear girl who was his.
Erred" she asked him once, again
on chair ride, tucked under rugs,
along the curving shore. do you
think we are getting smug?"
Snug? Fred was not given to in
trOspection.
"You know. Fred-kind of-fat-
minded"
II like you plump" said the literal
Fred and kissed her on the cheek.
Fired dearl not in public"
"Why not? Let them know how
sweet my gel is. Where will we eat
tonight, honey. I could do with one
Of the Shelbourne's big, juicy sirloins
smothered in fried onions"
Little rills longside-Helen's tongue
began to run. After all, it was pleas
ant just to live, surrendering oneself
to creature enjoyments. Life had been
a long and arduous affair for her.
She had done her share in her time
to contribute to the well being of
others. She was doing her share now.
Part of her placid happiness was the
knowledge that her father was no
longer obliged to spend the long
nights through, dragging his weary old
frame through tours of inspection of
a warehouse.
Thanks to Fred, bless him; thanks
to her, the old gentleman was free to
end his days in leisure and a certain
amount of ease.
1t was hard not to feel just little
SNUG with happiness, even If the
vagrant thought did stray across her
consciousness occasionally that she
was fast becoming of the hotel
leisure class of idle women whose
major interests are lap dogs and
bridge whist.
But so low beneath the surface of
her consciousness ran all this, that 1t
scarcely left a consciousness dent.
So that what happened subsequent
iry nf oil w
to Helen herself as it did to Fred,
who had come to realize, after his
first year of marriage to this big,
amiable woman, that he could refuse
her nothing.
One morning they had taken mo-
tor ride along the beautiful coast line
to visit an orphan asylum that was
known for its picturesque location
and its worthy work. A group of
triplets had just been received by the
organization, two tow-headed little
girls and a red-haired boy. Healthy
specimens Of youngsters, unique chief
ly because of the trilogy.
There was never a moments doubt
in the mind Of Helen Sloan, when she
looked at these three, that she want
ed them. Their appeal to her was
swift, sure and devastating. At first,
the idea had struck Fred as too gro
tesque for consideration. But before
they left that institution two hours
later, he had been won over to the
consideration of an idea that up to
that day would have appeared fan
tastic.
Eight weeks later three small chill
dren, aged four years, four months
and two days, were formally handed
over for legal adoption to Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred Sloan.
It is impossible for the Sloans, on
the budget Of their income, any long
er to maintain the suite of expensive
rooms in the sumptuous hotel. The
Sloans now occupy pleasant six
room apartment on the upper west
side of New York. 1t is noisy
apartment, filled with the din of three
children.
Helen's costumes have gone off a
bit in their tailor-made precision.
Fred thinks it all a great joke. To his
amazement, the former idle days in
the sumptuous hotels seem incredibly
vapid to him in retrospect.