The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-02-11
THURSDAY-Continued
-16-

cents, family Disguised, family in
dignant, which I had heard so
many times from her mothers
mouth. "She is a perfick disgrace.
I'm ashamed of her. She's got to
have a whole new wardrobe. She
doesn't take care of her clothes at
all. She gets them dirty. She
spills her oatmeal all down the
front. She catches her clothes in
the blackberry vines. She's per-
fickly terrible, terrible child some
times"
Energetic nodding and vehement
emphasis accompanied this dia-
tribe. Of course, like all mothers,
Sylvia was enjoying the utter unre-
generation of her offspring and of
course, like all children, she was
quoting grown-up violences OF ex-
preston. Indeed, when she had fin
ished, she looked up at me with a
sunny smile. Then she set her lips
again. "She ought to be sent to
reform school"
I wondered where Sylvia had re-
ceived her education in regard to
reform schools and then remem-
bered that that was a pet phrase
with Bessie in regard to naughty
children.
"But after ALL" I demonstrated,
sit seems to me, Sylvia, that Do
rinda Belle is a pretty good child.
She's very quiet about the house.
She treats your other dolls very
WELL"
Conjunction apparently hit Syl-
via hard. "She's beautiful child!"
she admitted remorsefully. She
picked Dorinda Belle up from the
| hammock. She was still kissing
the china face when Patrick drove
up to the door.
- left pretty suddenly yester-
aay, Mary" he apologized, "but
It gave me such a-what my old
grandmother used to Gala turn
to hear that story from Walter
and Molly"
AS though by mutual consent, we
withdrew to the living-room to get
away from Sylvia. cts haunted
me all night" I admitted.
Mary" Patrick said, 'tI guess
we've got to admit that from some
points of view, Ace was pretty
bad actor
''It wasn't exactly a SURPRISE" I
agreed, land yet it was surprise
too. Of course before we go any
further, I'll have to tell you, Patrick,
that l believe every word Walter
said"
$50 do l."
"But," I went OH, "I had no idea
that Ace was capable of such-1
wouldn't have believed that he
would have tried to compel Mol
ly-"
'Wel, you see, Ace was spoiled
as far as women were concerned.
He'd always had his way with
them. That's bad medicine for any
man. Especially, if man lets it
get him. And Ace let it get him.
When he was young, as you and /
knew well enough, he was a chaser.
I don't know why I call him chas-
er. He was chased much more
than he chased. Girls fell for him
in all directions. I think you're
the only one who ever gave him
his come-uppance, Mary"
"Ace never was in love with me,
Patrick"
perhaps not. He's always TAX
en- you for granted, that you were
within hands reach SO to speak. He
felt that he could close his fist on
you at any time. But when Mark
began to specialize on you he didn't
like it. Believe me, he didn't like
it, Mary. He couldn't do anything
about it though. I must confess I
took a great deal of private salts
faction out of that"
'Ace and Mark and I were al
ways good friends" I commented.
That's right! And Ace and I
were great friends. Damn it all, I
loved Ace. I love him still. That
story Walter told me yesterday
rocked me more than anything
that's happened in a long time. But
there was something about Ace"
81 suppose he had more natural
charm than any human being I
have ever KNOWN" I tried to sum
it up. "The most delightful per-
sonality!"
''It was that charm that ruined
him." Patrick carried my thought
on. cit brought him so many
things when he was young that he
thought he could keep it up for
ever. Yet, by God, I shall always
feel about Ace"
cts one of the puzzles of life,"
I said. "Once or twice in a life
time, this happens to everyone.
Charm is as strong as the force of
gravity. People who have it sweep
our hearts along in the very face
of disappearing judgment. That
was Ace"
I think I raised my voice a lit
tie; for Sylvia, suddenly abandon
ing her dress-making, seized a
freshly dressed Dorinda Belle and
came pattering into the living
room. She seated herself on a
cricket beside the low table on
which stood telephone extension.
Patrick" she said, ''did you know
that Doctor Ace had gone to Heav-
en-"
Before Patrick could answer the
question, her eyes, wandering over
the surface of the table, fell on
little Dresden box there. Now
Sylvia has been brought up not to
touch bric-a-brac or books without
permission. She is an extremely
docile child and I cannot recall that
she has ever broken anything in
my house. Now her eyes fixed
i IL.