The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-27

Frank was a fair. frail and magnetic
fellow and his wife, named Marigold.
was Just that. Her prettiness was q
perfect kind of thing. II astonished
old Tom Clausson. Her bright beauty
had quality to it that he had never
before seen. 1t made the more studied
perfection of his daughters pale to the
commonplace.
But all in all. the coming home OF
Frank and his bride was at an I'M
propitious time for the Claussons. The
business, as if reacting from the long
strain of years. slumped into what
was chronic precarious state. There
were days when black thoughts of
suicide actually crossed the tired old
brain of Tom Clausson. Media did
not make things any easier to bear.
The Homecoming Of her daughter-in-
law was bitter, humiliating and shame
full 10 her. Social stigma was across
the name of a Clausson. Marigold
had not only been notorious as a show
girl, but she was the daughter of one
of the most notorious women In New
York. Not even her beauty or her
radiance could efface the hatred from
the heart of Media.
1t was not studied hatred. 1t is
possible that it was not all conscious
hatred. And in the end ironically
enough IL reacted most cruelty of all
upon old Tom.
Media, with the sense of superiority
that CALLED and at the same time
animated her, set out to impress
Marigold with the scale of living of
the family into which she had so I'M
welcomely projected herself.
After the advent Of Frank and Mari
gold into the household, the regime
there became more complicated and
more ostentatious. There was less en-
tertaining. Media was too embar-
raised for that. but a new car was
added to the several in the garage,
fresh flowers blazed throughout the
house, and Media took frequent trips
to town for new and expensive clothes.
II was a curious, twisted reaction
that took place in Media. She wanted
TO impress Marigold and yet not TO
share. Day after day she set out for
calls, for bridge, for visits upon her
daughters. for this and that recreation
without inviting Marigold. Franks
heart bled for his bride. Yet the
alacrity with which she set about
adapting herself TO her uncongenial
environment was surprising. It was
hard to quarrel with one who held her
peace and recognized no slight 1t was
hard to pick dissonances with one
whose capacity for sweetness was
without limit.
MarigoId was Ike that. Frank
blessed her in his heart. but, with her,
kept up the pretense Of not noticing
Tom Clausson. whose quandary and
panic grew as his home burdens be-
came inexplicably heavier. even with
his daughters married and gone, pre-
tended, too, not TO notice.
She could keep playful under a
snub, Marigold could. That was part
Of the wonder of her. No limit to her
capacity for nonsense and yet, withal.
there were scars across the very being
of Marigold. Her life as a child had
been cruelty sophisticated. She had
seen life in the raw with those clear
blue eyes of hers and yet she could
laugh as a child laughs.
Tom Clausson, when he could not
sleep. used to like to think of that
laughter And more and more he
could not sleep. Grave times were
about to fall upon him and he knew
it. The business was about TO crasL
One day. in the midst Of those ter
rifying times. Marigold Clausson
sought out her father-in-law in his
dingy office in the gunnysack factory
He was tired old man now and his
head had begun TO shake with palsy.
Frank and l." she began without
preliminaries, want to take over the
responsibilities of the business. have
succeeded in negotiating a loan for
twenty-five hundred dollars, at six per
cent. That will avert anything i'm
mediate. tn get US on our feet"
What do you mesn?" said her
father-in-law, and looked into her eyes
which were as blue as a dolls.
You needn't be afraid that l am
not capable of taking hold. I've been
out n the world all my life. I've
known nothing but knocks and hard
ship and struggle. | was a business
woman before | went into the theater.
| am not afraid Of work. Frank has
the makings of a business man. I'll
make him."
I'm tired. Marigold," said Clausso1
and, to his enormous humiliation AMI
surprise, began to cry weakly with
tears running down his face.
He was not accustomed to anyonf
being personal with him.
Il know you are. Father" sale
Marigold. and laid her hand on his
arm. but nobody seems to have cared
enough TO notice it. It's time now
that you were beginning to get some
thing out of life. as well as the other
members of your family. I'm going &c
see TO it"
She did.