The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-09-11
Grandmother Was
Dodging Realities
BY E. r. RICHARDSON
GO by Mcclure Newspaper SyndIcats.l
tWNU Service)

old grandson, Isabel Bingham did not
feel like a grandmother. In addition.
she knew that Henry Wiltshire had
ship. Half dozen times this alto
| gether handsome eligible lad seemed
| to be tottering on the brink OF pro-
! posal. Now If he discovered the ex-
| istence of the grandson, he would for
ever be deferred. She could not In
her widest imagination picture the
debonair Wiltshire In the role of
grandfather. Indeed, she must ward
off his visits until after Peggy and
the baby left. Isabel elbowed her way
towards the train. There was Peggy
in one arm the baby and In the 9TH
blankets. The rebellious grandmother
first shuddered and then gathered the
pink and white bunch Of bouncing
humanity In her arms.
why mother, / never saw you look
SO young" Peggy said. What have
you been doing to yourselfT
Just forgetting realities" Isabel
replied, leading the way to 4 taxi.
I'm willing to be an old-fashioned
grandmother though to give you the
rest you need While you're here, the
baby's my charge"
The girl sighed as she settled her.
self In the corner Of the seat. "That
will be heavenly she said. Il was
never SO tired"
Poor Peggy! During the two weeks
Of her visit Peggy must be as free as
she was in the old days, must play
with the girls until the tired look left
her eyes.
That afternoon while Peggy and
the baby slept, Isabel called Henry
Wiltshire's office. Waiting for the
connection, she remembered franti-
cally that she had thought Of no rea-
son for requesting Henry Wiltshire
not to call. Then she heard his voice
on the wire,
"A most unexpected thing has hap
pened," she faltered. II can't see you
for two weeks. I-I-may have to be
away. I'm call you when l am free
again"
There was real concern In Henry
Wiltshire's tone. Can | be Of service
to you? he asked.
I'm this-er--in this case," Isabel
stammered, there's nothing you can
do. There are others involved besides
myself"
When Isabel hung up she felt that
Henry Wiltshire might conjecture
number of frightful things. Why, she
had sounded positively melodramatic
Failing in love at forty-fiye was more
demoralizing by far than falling In
love at sixteen.
Isabel Bingham had known Henry
Wiltshire only two months. The COM
pany of which he was president was
establishing branch in her city, and
he found it necessary to be there al
most constantly until the new offices
were under way.
Henry Wiltshire's courtship, begin
ming at once, had combined all the
fire of youth and all the determination
OF middle age. Isabel from the first
"
however, she had been bit disturbed
by his failure to propose
The first days Of Peggy's visit were
so full that Isabel found little time
TO grieve over the absence of Wilt
shire. Strangely, Isabel was rather
enjoying her new duties.
AT the close Of day during which
Isabel had had the baby all to her
self-while Peggy went to bridge
luncheon-a terrible possibility oe-
Cured to her. Suppose, after her
marriage to Henry Wiltshire, he
should not like the baby 1t was all
very well to choose between a man
and baby when one loved the man
and had never seen the baby, but 1t
was quite a different matter when
one knew the baby to be the most
adorable darling In the world.
What charming picture you and
the youngster make" said pleasant
voice behind her.
Isabel turned, and with starry eyes
and crimson cheeks faced Henry Wilt
shire. Oh, her hair, her dress, her
unpowdered nose She must say
and her mind blank.
Call 1t curiosity, interest, solici
tude, whatever you WILL" Henry Wilt
shire continued, "but I couldn't stay
away another day."
Isabel heard the garden gate open
al VIII ho
running up the path
"Oh, mother" the girl cried, at
was terrible to leave you with the
baby all day."
Isabel managed to murmur, My
daughter, Mrs. Kilgo, Mr.. Wiltshire"
Peggy acknowledged the introduc-
tion and then turned to the baby. Did
1t miss its muzzer? It's bedtime this
minute"
Then with a nod she was gone. Isa-
bel, having risen from the pallet, was
trying to push the truant hair back
into captivity. 1t was relief to hear
Henry Wiltshire's hearty laugh.
I'VE are all amusing, aren't wef"
he said. "Dodging realities we adore
You are beautiful today, Isabel"
Was 1t possible that he had no dis
taste for grandchildren? Then she
knew that he was drawing her to the
rustic bench beside him.
Il have loved you since that night
l first met you," he said You seemed
30 young to have thrust upon you my
grandson almost five! Could you con-
slider adopting one that old?'
Tcahaltc