The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-11-19

staged in honor Of the departing ce-
lebrity, and no prophet in her own
country ever departed with more adu-
lation than the local favorite, Miss
Alice Laidlaw.
During the next five years word OF
Alice's accomplishments in foreign
lands; tidings of her presentation at
this and that court, and of her man
ner of projecting her home city into
international prominence came float
ing back. But there was something In
distance that seemed to ease the hurt
in the heart of Marion. Besides in
that period Of five years, three chill
dren were born to the Fred Markuses,
new home had been planned and
built, and the affairs of life had flowed
in busily and happily. 1t was not that
Marion forgot; it was not that her
curious capacity to stumble across
evidences of the success of Alice Laid
law had in any way diminished, 1t
was simply that distance had dimmed
the picture and time had mitigated 1t.
Also, in that interval, even with the
birth of her babies, Marion had tried
to keep up contacts. She was men,
Der of several women's clubs, and
while never an executive, her stand
ing locally was that of an able wom-
an. She was member of important
organizations, of the mayors reception
committee and had created in her
home the air of culture and camara-
derie that made it focal point for
social gatherings Of distinction.
Ironically enough, the most impor-
tant event in which Marion was called
upon to participate as member Of the
mayors reception committee was the
return of Alice Laidlaw after an alb
sence of five years.
1t seemed to Marion that this was
the straw that broke the camePS back.
Nothing in the world could save her
from the ordeal of standing in line to
welcome back into the fold the tri-
umphant figure of the returning ma
tive except the plea of illness. And
despis;ng herself, hating herself, be-
rating herself, Marion remained at
home on the day of Miss Laidlaw's
arrival on that very plea. .
1t WIS more than she could endure
to behold this woman who had sue
ceedel in walking the paths she
yearned to walk, return in triumph.
Triumph it was.
For two weeks after her return, the
local newspapers carried stories of
this or that opinion, exploit or hap
pening connected with Alice Laidlaw.
While sitting in the railroad station
one day waiting for the return of her
husband Fred, who had been away
on a business trip, Marion's eye, with
it's usual cruel capacity for overlook
ing no printed word that had to do
with Alice Laidlaw, lit on an article
in a newspaper held by the man in
front of her on the waiting-room
bench. Sitting there with her fingers
clinched, as always under such cir
cumstances, Marion flagellated herself
by reading the article from end to end.
It was a feature story in which
Alice Laidlaw related to woman
reporter her idea Of ian ideal woman"
How could Marion refrain from
reading such an article? What was
Alice Laidaw's idea Of an "ideal wom-
an"-Alice Laidlaw, who was herself
an ideal woman to so many others,
Alice Laidlaw, who had always been
a leader since her earliest school days,
who was the subject Of so many con.
versations, who had won information
al prominence and for whom every
body worthwhile in the whole town
turned out to welcome home?
Marion read on excitedly. The
ideal woman" was a mother and
home-keeper; she was intelligently
interested in civic affairs, but to her,
home affairs came first; she had not
one child, but several; her home was
the focal point for social gatherings
Of distinction.
At the conclusion Of the article,
Alice Laidlaw cited local figure to
typify a woman whose life, activities
and characteristics embodied all the
fine qualities that went to make up
Alice Laidlaw's composite version Of
the ideal woman.
The figure whom she had chosen
! from the local community as her
symbol was Marion.