The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-05-06
When Lightning
Strikes
By BEN BROOKE
@ Associated Newspapers.
WNU Service.


so altogether good to look upon,
so interesting because of his very
critical, amused attitude toward life
and so adored by the two aunts who
had presided over his home since he
had been left an orphan at Is, per-
haps no attention would have been
paid to his lack of interest in girls.
Given looks and wealth and youth
the public is always annoyed at the
refusal of young man to marry.
Wed like to see your wife in
this home before many years, Jer-
ry," little Aunt Ida often said to
him as they sat before the library
fire after dinner, Aunt Susan busily
knitting across from them. "We're
getting old and it's silly to pretend
we'll be here forever. You need"
GIVE got all need" Jerry pro-
tested gaily, kissing her affection
ately as he arose to pace up and
down the rug. Don't worry-and
don't drag any more girls here, you
two frauds! There's been something
impossible about every one of the
four! Now come to think of it,
the things I most dislike in girls
were embodied in those four! The
first one simply strewed things all
over the place and since I've had
years of your orderliness that came
hard on me. Another one told me
everything said, did or thought was
utterly wonderful, and if there's any,
thing 1 dislike it's hypocrisy or stu
pldlty. Seems to me another one
was boisterous and noisy, and you've
taught me to like quietness and
peace. But that last one, Laura"
"Any woman" he continued, as
he got out cigarette and lit it,
ANY woman or girl who deliberate
ly puts on pink hat tells the world
that she is irresponsible to all beau
ty, and weak and frittering mental
ly! 1t absolutely kills attractive
ness. Laura was quite nice until
she would go and put on that hat of
hers, and l always ran when I saw
it. I couldn't be happy with a girl
who offended me in these ways. I'm
far from perfection myself, but I'm
selfish enough to want it in my wife"
Aunt Ida looked at Aunt Susan
and Aunt Susan looked back. Each
tried to speak and failed, and finally
they spoke together, half fearfully.
'We're-we're terribly sorry, Jer-
ry," they got out, 'but we have an
other visitor coming tomorrow Her
grandmother is an old friend of ours
and Marion is on her way out West,
and we thought we'd like to see her
we"
Jerry Howard burst out laughing.
"Cheer up!" he cried. "I'n be ex-
actly as nice to your guest as 1
can. I'll do everything the per-
feet host should do except fall in
love with her!"
Nervously. the two aunts awaited
Marion's arrival. And 80 minutes
after she came they were swamped
with woe, almost in tears.
Whatever shall we do for 10
days?" Aunt Ida queried of her sis
ter when Marion had gone to her
room. did you ever see anyone who
bounced around more or laughed so
much or had such a funny nose?
And her hat went into one chair,
her bag into another. And what
was it she said as she grabbed up
that silver-framed picture of
Jerry?"
"She said," quavered Aunt Susan
| TREMENDOUSLY, "she said right out:
Isn't he adorable! Is this Jerry?
Oh, I think he's splendid
And" concluded Aunt Ida in
hushed voice, "her-her felt hat
it was that shade of p-p-pink!"
At dinner that night when Jerry
was home to meet their guest, tears
came to the eyes of Aunt Susan.
For Marion with the impish face
was bundle of laughter and talk.
She told Jerry frankly three times
he was marvellous.
The next morning when Marion
appeared in sports clothes, she was
wearing the pink hat, and she
danced off to meet Jerry approach
ing in his runabout. His smile, in
view of the hat, his aunts decided,
was nothing short of heroic. All
that day they suffered vicariously
with Jerry driving his lively visitor
to the country club and the golf
links, pink hat, laughter and chatter
for eight hours at stretch.
cts pitiful" they told each other
that night after the two had re-
turned. From his manner one
would never dream what he is 60
ing through"
For the rest of Marion's visit they
dutifully picked up after her, en-
dured the radio and shut their eyes
to her choice of colors. For she
seemed fond of that shade of pink
and it was frequen: in her ward
robe. They found to their surprise,
however, that they were sorry to
have her go when the last day of
her visit arrived. There was some
thing about the child which had
stolen into their hearts, her gayety,
her real sweetness, her saucy face.
Before Marion goes" Jerry told
them, 1--WE want to tell you that
she's coming back again-to stay! 1
expect you can't believe it for I'm