Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-03-18
MOENlNG MARCH IL No q
Exchanged
By SUSAN cIBss

N:S,xxxSscxxs
20 by Mcclure MswspaPer syndicate,
tWNU Servicep
! IT ISN'T often that Romance may be
traced TO its roots Usually It is
not recognized until Il bursts into
bloom
So. when Ned Christie told Helen
Gage that she was made for him she
did moi believe II.
'How do yon knowT she asked.
saucily.
ELIAS your mother never told you
about our earliest days--yours and
mine. dear7" he asked
Helen shook the head that would
have been riot Of curls II she had
permitted them 20 grow long enough
Ned was thoughtful for a moment.
He was wondering VIII, Helen's moth.
er had withheld the wonderful story
from her daughter Knowing Mrs.
Gage almost as he knew HE own
mother, he realized that she must
have had good and sufficient reason
for her silence
wells II such q deep dyed Sc
cret that no one can tell met" asked
Helra stlll frivolously She was very
happy. very much in love and nothing
else mattered
moo. it's Just beautiful" said
her serious lover.
"As beautiful as our Romance1"
asked Helen.
at lie our Romance" he told her.
Helen 81 ,illrd NJ, In the big chlntz-
covered swing "Then tell me. please.
Ned die" she implored.
He laughed. sit seems funny--my
telling you this
81 don't want to know tiff it's
funny. | don't feel like listening to
anything humorous she pouted. "You
said 1t was Romance"
at is-the most beautiful romance
in the whole world" he sald solemnly.
you were tiny girl-a wee baby In
arms and-your mother had wanted
you to be a boy"
Helen sat up and was about to pro-
test when he soothed her into acquies-
cence again.
"My mother had been disappointed
because | was a mere boy when she
had always wanted a daughter Our
mothers had been friends since college
days They had confided in each 9th.
er and when each one was frustrated
In her wish for a child of another sex
they still confided ! don't know
just how II all came about. dear. but
little by little you and were ex-
changed ] would go to your mother
for u week. You would come to mine
and so both mothers learned to love
us almost equally"
"Yes-and the fun ! 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"
II bow" interrupted Helen. in mock
humbleness
sand my blessed mother began to be
proud Of big son. There was a GER
tain, well-controlled jealousy In her
attitude when | used TO want to go 10
your house SO much during vacation,
and ! noticed that when you came to
visit ms, your mother came along 1t
was amusing-then."
but what happened after mother
took me to Europe? Did they quarrel
or what2" asked Helen. serious now.
"Yes-l never knew exactly how II
came about. but my mother must have
said something about your belonging
to her eventually. after all Meaning,
Of course. that you would marry
me-"
"rhe Idea," began Helen with as
perity.
swat a minute, DEAR" consoled Ned.
at has all come out right. hasn't it7
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 we're selfish to have
quarreled and-well. that each Of them
had gained. at last, her hearts desire.
don't mind saying that ] think my
mother is getting the best Of the bar
gain, dear"
II can't subscribe to that, but ] do
think mother might have told me all
about It."
81 believe she was afraid, deep down
in her heart, Helen, that II you be-