The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-05-20
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Ties That Bind
BY BERTHA LEAH CROSS
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60 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
(WNU Servfce)

(WNU Servicel
ATAOMI 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 dislllusioned. This
night she was feeling unusually 80 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 / only could" she whispered.
"But here I am, as always, tied hand
and foot by mother. II mother could
only see, could realize how terribly she
hampers me in everything want to
do. Talk about the self1shness Of the
young-it's nothing In comparison to
the old. They think only Of them
selvesl"
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-
liness, had forced both her and her
mother to scrimp and save; to 60
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
ters, however, to light the fame Of de-
sire In Naomis crushed ego.
There's money" she told herself,
plenty Of 1t. II only mother can be
aroused
But the mother-a self-effacing lit
tie woman who had lived for forty
years under the domination Of her
husband. Cowed, timid, shrinking,
after these years Of bondage. What
force could galvanize her and make
her forget her husbands reiterated
statement: "Women's place Is In the
home" Could she be freed, emanci-
pated from that obsession?
Naomi was now forty-flve. She had
let youth go by as she had love. Fred
had become tired Of waiting.
She had been lovely girl with a
wealth Of curly, brown hair and large,
wistful eyes filled with dreams. 9th
er 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, stinging her eyes, overhowing-s
perfect torrent Of heart-breaking tears
Of longing.
| Suddenly the tears stopped and shs
set up with snap. The fire In hel
eyes dried the tears: "Tm going +!
she said aloud. I'm going to Europe
with Laura. Mother can go to Call
fornia with the Lawsons" Red spots
appeared on her cheeks. She had de
cided.
| She began formulating in her mint
her plan Of procedure. First sht
would write Aunt Hattie that he
mother was coming, If she could MAKE
her, and ask for her help. Then sh'
would write Laura that she would ar
rive In New York ready to sail th'
seventh of July.
! I'm going to spend, spend, spend 7
she said recklessly. II am going t,
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 postet
a letter to Laura telling her sh'
would meet her In New York th'
sixth. 1--WE burned by bridges now,
she thought. I'm going straight hom'
to break the news to mother. I'll fint
new interests, and new life, ant
youth" she told herself.
Mother" she said abruptly. Th
swaying rocked stopped at the tense
ness In Naomi's voice.
/ "Yes? What Is It, NaomiW He
tone held mild surprise.
I'm sailing the seventh Of July will
Laura"
''Sailing?" in a bewildered tone.
"Yes, sailing for Europe on the sev
enth And I've made arrangements TO
you to stay with Aunt Hattie whil'
I'm gone"
You've made arrangements" icily
II haven't lost my mind, have I? Well
I you've certainly taken pretty indie
pendent STEP" Her quick ange
cooled. She laid hand on Naomi
with quick pressure. Suddenly sh
laughed. "Child, you was afraid t
tell me? wondered what you hat
on your mind for week"
"Yes, I was afraid. I was afrai'
you'd not want me to go. Oh, moth
err" her voice breaking. 1--WE got t
60. / can't let this go by, as / hav
everything else in life" Her voic
as growing shrill and rising little
i "Can't you see! Can't you under
stand?"
| 81 certainly can see," her mother re
piled slowly. II have wanted vaca
tlor fnr yoorc opd a1uayc thauoht