Hyder weekly herald., 1932-04-16
Exchanged
By SUSAN GIBBS
xxxxx,xxxXxxxxxx-.,xxxxxxxH
co by Mcclure Newspap per Syndicate.) tWNU Servicel

IT ISN'T often that Romance may be traced to it's roots. Usually it Is not recognized until 1t bursts into bloom.
 So, when Ned Christie told Helen Gage that she was made for him she did not believe it. "How do you know?" she asked, sauciIy.
 "Has your mother never told you about our earliest days-yours and mine. dear?" he asked.
 Helen shook the head that would have been riot of curls If she had permitted them to grow long enough. Ned was thoughtful for moment. He was wondering why Heen's moth. CT had withheld the wonderful story from her daughter. Knowing Mrs Gage almost as he knew his own mother, he realized that she must have had good and sufficient reason for her silence.
 "Wel-is it such a deep-dyed se- cret that no one can tell mel" asked Helen, still frivolously. She was very happy, very much in love and nothing else maltered
 Moo. It's just-beautlful," said her serious lover.
 "As beautiful as our Romance?" asked Helen.
 "It is our Romance" he told her.
 Helen cudded up in the big chntz. covered swing. "Then-tell me. please, Ned'die." she lmplored.
 He laughed. 1t seems funny-my telling you this"
 "I don't want to know tiff it's funny. l don't feel like listening to anything humorous" she pouted. You said 1t was Romance"
 "H is-the most beautiful romance fin the whole world" he said. solennly. "You were a tiny girl-a wee bahy in arms and-yoIr mother had wanted you to be boy"
 Helen sat up and was about to pro- test when he soothed her into acqules- CenCe again.
 "Aly mother had been disappointed because was mere boy when sine had always wanted a daughter. Our mothers had been friends since college days. They had confided in each oth- CT and when each one was trust rated In her wish for q child of another sex they still confded. don't know just how it all came about. dear. but little by little you and l were ex- changed. would go to your mother for week. You would come to mine tn us almost equally"
 "Yes-and the fun l used to have with all your things" added Helen.
 Then we went away to college and well, you know we seemed to grow apart. Your mother. for the first time. appreciated the value of lovely daughter"
 "I bow" interrupted Helen, in mock humbleness.
 And my blessed mother began to be proud of big son. There was cer- tain, weil-cOntrolled jealousy in her attitude when 1 used to want to go 10 your house so much during vacation, and | noticed that when you came 10 visit us, your mother came along. It was amusing-then."
 But what happened after mother took me to Europe? Did they quarrel -or what?" asked Helen. serious now. "Yes-I never knew exactly how 1t came about. but my mother must have said something about your belonging 10 her eventually. after all. Meaning, of course, that you would marry me"
 'The idea," began Helen with as- perity.
 "Wait a minute, dear," consoled Ned. 'It has all come out right, hasn't 1t!
 Before you came back from abroad, your mother and mine had written many letters that cleared the situation for them and they fell into each others arms when you returned. They decided they were selfish to have uuarreled and-well, that each of them had gained. at last. her hearts desire. I don't mind saying that think my mother is getting the best of the bar gain. dear"
 II can't subscribe to that, but l do think mother might have told me all about it."
 ..I believe she was afraid, deep down in her heart, Helen, that if you be- leved she had picked out husband for you while you were still in your cradle, you would have none of him. She was wise in keeping her secret wishes from you until it was too late for you to bolt" laughed Ned. And 1t is-too late?-isn't it?'
 "Alas-it is." answered Helen.