The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-11-04
SHORT
SHORT
STORY

SHON daughter.
Madge put warn
ing finger to her fresh young lips
and tiptoed over to her mother.
Keep real quiet and he'll think
we're out" she said. -
Tense and silent they waited for
the peal of the doorbell. It came,
at first timid, then loud and strong,
then long and persistent.
After a while the doorbell was
silent but they were not rewarded
by a glimpse of a straw hat re-
treating gateward and terror seized
them when the rhythmic squeak OF
the porch swing below told them
that their visitor had settled himself
comfortably for the afternoon.
"We'u stay right here till he
leaves, if it's midnight" said Madge
defantly, as she noiselessly seated
herself on the bed and began basting
a hem.
"But I've got so much machine
work to do" complained Mrs. Mar
tin.
Cant do it now. Here, you can
unpick this sleeve. It doesn't Set"
She tossed the garment toward her
mother and they worked silently for
a while.
Ninety dollars is too much for
the old machine anyway" said
Madge at last. eff I'd been here I
never would have let you sign for
it. 1 could have bought you a good
one for forty-fve."
Maybe so, Madge, but wouldn't
have anybody know we were trying
to get out of paying the balance for
anything. Folks would think we
were crooked. Besides, l paid sew
enty-five dollars on it and I don't
aim to lose it." She passed wor-
ried hand over her forehead.
"XN ERE not going to lose it or
w I'll make him trouble, COM,
ing here every day and tormenting
the life out of us. I could >"
Words failed her and a second later
her pretty face relaxed into a smile
as another thought came to her.
It's dinner time now He'll either
have to 60 away or starve."
An hour or more passed thus in
silence. Madge was busy and con-
tented, her mother hungry, but sic
lent. Suddenly the girl dropped her,
sewing and exclaimed in a tense
whisper:
Mother, what do 1 smell?" she
asked shifting the air.
Land, it's the potatoes I put on
to boil" said Mrs. Martin, starting
toward the door, but Madge re-
strained her.
Here, I'll slip down." She quick
ly unbuttoned the strap of her shoes
and slipping out of them, hurried
noiselessly downstairs.
A suffocating odor greeted her
and as she approached the kitchen
the smoke was almost alarming.
Mrs. Martin, glad of the chance,
hurried down behind her daughter.
What had once been potatoes was
now only a few bits of char giving
forth smoke like soft coal engine.
"The beans are burnt up, too"
said her mother, grabbing another
odoriierous kettle from the stove.
We'll never get these pans cleaned
as long as we live"
"Sh-h-h-h," warned Madge NOV
ing toward the sink with her pan.
81 IL
the sound of scurrying feet in the
hall and stood transfxed at the sight
of a terrified young man who, upon
seeing the two women, stopped
short.
"Oh-ah-I-er-um," he said
lamely. "I-er-thought the house
was on fire and believing no one to
be at home took the liberty of COM
ing in"
M ADGE dropped the potatoes
1NA and sat down on her feet. Mrs.
Martin stared at her daughter who
was acting very peculiarly.
"I-oh-I," she stammered.
Ignoring Mrs. Martin the young
man went over to Madge and took
her limp hands in his.
"You knew all along was out on
the porch. Why wouldn't you re-
ceive me? When a man comes over
200 miles to see girl, it isn't a
very nice welcome to leave him
waiting outside for nearly two
hours. If you have anything to say,
Madge, say it now. l think you owe
me an explanation. What were you
afraid of and why were you tiptoe-
ing around with your shoes OFF,"
Madge blushed. She had hoped
he hadn't seen her feet.
"Look at me-" he commanded Sc
verely. "Why did you do it?"
Suddenly her face relaxed and
she was a pathetic shy little girl
struggling with a painful confession.
ell didn't know it was you, Jim
my. Honest. l thought it was that
hateful old Willingham man. He's
been coming here every day and l
can't stand him, so l told Mother
simply wouldn't see him again. l.
l hate himl" She was verging on
tears.
Jimmy's arms slipped protect
ingly about her. Next time he