The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-03-17
Ties That Bind
By BERTHA LEAH CROSS
(@ ry Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
(WNU Service)

| NAOMI STEVENS sat on the back
porch watching the dusk as it
settled over the garden. To her, this
time of day was the loneliest, and the
hour when she felt the most let down,
tired, old and disillusiOned. This
night she was feeling unusually so be-
cause Of the letter from Laura, the Sec
ond she'd had that week. In the lat
ter she pleaded even more urgently
with her to accept her invitation to go
to Europe as her travelling companion.
IF 1 only could" she whispered.
But here 1 am, as always, tied hand
and foot by mother. If mother could
| only see, could realize how terribly she
hampers me in everything / want to
| do. Talk about the selfishness of the
young-it's nothing in comparison to
the old. They think only of them
| selves!"
All Of her life Naomi had craved a
| good time. She longed for travel and
| excitement.
First it had been her father, who,
| parsimonious to the point of miser-
illness, had forced both her and her
mother to scrimp and save; to go
without and make over, while he
boarded his money. Then when he
had died, ten years ago, each had
lacked initiative and urge to get out
| Of the rut into which their lives had
| settled. 1t had taken but these let
tiers, however, to light the fame Of de-
sire in Naomi's crushed ego.
'There's money" she told herself,
'plenty of it. If only mother can be
aroused :"
But the mother-a self-effacing lit
years under the domination of her
husband. Cowed, timid, shrinking,
after these years of bondage. What
force could galvanize her and make
her forset her husbands reiterated
statement: "Women's place is in the
home" Could she be freed, emanci-
pated from that obsession?
Naomi was now forty-five. She had
let youth go by as she had love. Fred
had become tired Of waiting.
She had been lovely girl with Il
wealth Of curly, brown hair and large,
wistful eyes filled with dreams. 9th
err men had been attracted. But they,
like Fred, had been appalled, by too
much interference, and later by too
much prospective mother-in-law. They
had passed by to other less hampered
girls.
Now had come this opportunity.
Galvanized into life, she let her
thoughts dwell on this chance of a
lifetime. Even the words in the letter
were etched on her mind: Come on,
Naomi" her friend had written.
"Check your mother with her sister
and come with me-"
The tears came now. faster and fast
er, singing her eyes, overfiowing-a
perfect torrent Of heart-breaking tears
of longing.
Suddenly the tears stopped and she
set up with snap. The fire in her
eyes dried the tears: "I'm going"
she said aloud. "I'm going to Europe
with Laura. Mother can go to Cali
fornia with the Lawsons" Red spots
appeared on her cheeks. She had de-
cided.
She began formulating in her mind
her plan Of procedure. First she
would write Aunt Hattie that her
mother was coming, If she could make
her, and ask for her help. Then she
would write Laura that she would ar
rive in New York ready to sail the
seventh of July.
"I'm going to spend, spend, spend!"
she said recklessly. II am going to
make myself young again and see life.
For every dollar I've denied myself,
I'll spend two"
After supper she walked to the vii
lage for the evening mail. She posted
a letter to Laura telling her she
would meet her in New York the
sixth. 1--WE burned by bridges now,''
she thought. ''Tm going straight home
to break the news to mother I'll find
new interests, and new life, and
youth" she told herself.
"Mother," she said abruptly. The
swaying rocked stopped at the tense
ness in Naomi's voice.
"Yes? What is it, NaomiT Her
tone held a mild surprise.
'I'm sailing the seventh of July with
Laura"
''Sailing?" in bewildered tone.
"Yes, sailing for Europe on the sew
enth. And I've made arrangements for
you to stay with Aunt Hattie while
I'm gone"
you've made arrangements" icily.
81 haven't lost my mind, have I? Well,
you've certainly taken pretty indie
pendent step" Her quick anger
cooled. She laid a hand on Naomi's
with a quick pressure. Suddenly she
laughed. "Child. you was afraid to
tell me? wondered what you had
on your mind for week."
Eyes. 1 was afraid. I was afraid
you'd not want me to go. Oh, moth
err" her voice breaking. 1--WE got to
90. I can't let this go by, as have
everything else in life" Her voice
as growing shrill and rising little.
"Can't you see? Can't you under
stand?'
81 certainly can see" her mother re-
rlied SLOWLY az have wanted n y9po-