The Washington times., 1931-02-14
NOU Go On With the Story

ficial gesture OF the generous
heart was born.
II know" Clara said after a
moment, "that Gram will take
Billy-she and Adelaide can
look after him all right-but
there's you, to be considered,
dear"
III be all right" said Mary
Lou bravely. It could stay with
Gram for a little while, until I
get a job"
Gram" was Clara Sander
sons mother, Mrs. Jennings, a
dear old lady, almost old enough
to be her daughters grand
mother. She lived out on Long
Island in a quaint little, old
fashioned house, and with her
lived her only other surviving
child, Adelaide, who had given
up school teaching for happy
invalidism. Adelaide was over
so and enjoyed poor health.
There would be room for Billy
with Gram and Aunt Adelaide;
cookie jars and creamy milk; a
garden to play in; two devoted
slaves to bind up wounded
knees and tell stories and listen
to prayers. There was a school
nearby. Oh, Billy would be
taken care Of!
No Room for Her
But there was no room for
Mary Lou, that is, not for long,
and Grams income was very
limited, indeed. The Sander
sons could pay for Billy's certi-
fled milk, board and lodging,
but they couldn't afford to pay
for Mary Lou's-and Mary Lou
needed lots of air and space
and she had a healthy appetite.
Presently, the meeting ad-
journed. Out on the front porch
Mary Lou sat with Larry, while
the SandersonS, in the living
room, went over the details Of
their trip-the advantages, the
fears and hopes and worries,
Howard pacing the floor, smok-
ing furiously and Clara sitting
on the couch, a wet handker-
chief in one hand, but a sparkle
in her eyes. If she could only
persuade herself that Billy
would be all right and Mary
Lou settled she would be the
happiest woman in the world,
she thought, and the most ex-
cited.
"Job?" said Mary Lou to
Larry in a small voice. Il sup
pose I can learn something!
But business school takes times
and money. I guess" she added
on a stifled giggle, "1'll end up
as mothers helper or as a sales
lady. Charge it, Modom?"
asked Mary Lou in an affected
tone of voice.
Look here, Mary Lou, marry
mel haven't much, but we can
get along, somehow" said
Larry abruptly, and his own
voice sounded strange to him.,
II don't want you behind a
counter or gallivanting around
by yourself. You-you are a
dear little idiot and you'd get
into all sorts of jams. You
marry me, Mary Lou. and Ill
take care of you!" he ended,
sternly.
Mary Lou stared at him
speechless. Then the bright
tears welled to her eyes and
fell. round drops sliding down
her flushing cheek.
Am 1 so-distasteful to you,"
he asked, in dismay.
Her Best Friend
"No-no-you're the best
friend have on earth," choked
Mary Lou, "and-and-Oh,
Larry, what a lamb you are!
Asking me to marry you when
when you're so ambitious, so
anxious to get ahead. . asking
me to come and be a burden, a
regular old milestone. You
don't want me, really, Larry,
you don't love me, dear"
But. -" began Larry, help
lessly.
mo, you don't Not. not
the marrying way. And I don't
love you-that way. Every
other way, yes. But not. not
that. Larry, you know I won't
marry you-but-I, do thank
you for asking me-" said Mary
Lou with a quaint sort Of cere-
mony.
He took her cold little hands
in his own and leaned close to
the fragrant, rounded cheek,
the crop of curling red.gold
hair.
It want to take care of you!"
Chivalry isn't dead. after all.
Mary Lou shook her head.
IN have to take care of
myself" she cried out, "and
it's high time I learned how.
Get me a job, Larry, any kind
of a job and I'll be so grateful
to you. And now, for mercy's
sake, go home"
She turned a little and
brushed very small kiss across
his lean, freckled cheek, and
got to her feet.
"Golly," said Mary Lou, SIM
ply, but you're good friend"
Continued Monday