The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-09-28
THE MARRYING
OF NELLIE GRAY
g
By ELSIE ]. PEARSON
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.D
Mcclure syndicate-wNU serviceJ
7 on all know Nellie Gray,
who lives on the hill in a big
house, has a very nice fam

lily, sport car and a hauteur
as affected by the Every best" peo-
pie. And, of course, if you know
her, you know Bob SWEET - big, jo-
vial, well liked, well known, with a
record of achievement in his town
in this or that activity, and a good
job with a comfortable income.
But poor Nellie Gray; no one knew
her well, not even herself. Her
mother taught her the proper ex-
pressions of scorn, how to smile
without warmth, but all her embel-
ishments to the old-time art of be-
ing highly snobby she had preco-
ciously taught herself. She built for
herself shell of GOODNESS, and even
her friends were not familiar enough
with her to be contemptuous of her.
But these porch oracles predicted
great come-down for Nellie some
day; in fact they thought they could
trace it already.
1t was generally admitted by the
fairer sex that Bob SWEET had the re-
quirements for an ideal beau. Know
ing this himself, undoubtedly, was
the reason he had aspired to Nellie.
His aspirations were on the verge of
realization, friends of the two
thought. About a hair and a half
ahead of Marmaduke Paunceforte,
known to the discerning ragamuffins
of the lower village as "Dish-rag"
Paunceforte, This was by virtue of
Bob's having two certified nights a
week, one at home, and one theater
night, while Paunceforte rated but
one, and that not inviolate.
Mr.. Gray frankly liked Bob. Mrs.
Gray thought it unbecoming and a
weakness in one to express anything
but dislike. And Nellie was afraid
of letting herself slip because of
what people might say of the match.
Bob kissed her one night, and it
was not quite fair. She stumbled
on vine on the porch stairs, and
gallant Bob, lucky boy, was right
there to catch her. He held her for
a moment longer than he should
have done and then he noticed how
conveniently close her face was, how
alluring her lips, and so he kissed
her. Nellie, contrary to his expec-
tations, nestled her blonde head on
his shoulder and seemed quite salts
fed.
The door opened, though they
didn't hear it, and a heavy creak-
ing tread was heard, one peculiar
to overfed, underworked matrons.
If one can imagine shock, grief,
surprise, hauteur, anger and cold
ness all burning in two words, mag
inc then how Mrs. Gray disturbed
the peace with her WHY, Hell
EN-" Nellie, dutiful daughter, we'll
trained, guilty disengaging herself,
went and stood beside her mother.
Mrs. Gray pierced poor Bob with
her eyes, then roasted him to
turn on the spit of scathing scorn.
'Mr. SWEET, to think that you dare
just think of it-dare to force your
cheap and unwelcome affections on
my Helen, on her own grounds, in
her own home! Like vulgar trades
man, snatching kisses at back doors.
If were you, I'd go now; and in
the future, if you cannot control your
emotions, it is better, for decency's
sake, to see little of Helen"
Mother, you don't" Nellie be-
gan. Mrs. Gray put a capable hand
on Nellie's mouth, and said:
"Now, now, dear, it's all right,
and I'll see that it won't happen
again" With that she swept the un-
willing Helen into the house, and
the door slammed behind the two.
Bob gaped at the door, and large
round tear of humiliation and anger
stood in each eye. He smacked his
fist into open palm, and ground out,
"By the holy mackerel, I'll mar
ry her, in spite of the old woman"
He went crunching down the grav-
eled driveway. "She doesn't want a
real man." he nodestly observed,
with bean on his shoulders, and
a little gumption. She wants wishy-
wishy rotter, with money and a rot
ten name among real men. These
pin-headed girls, they're disgust
ing"
But he was unwilling to believe it,
so he banished those evil thoughts
with a mental wish for the final
disposition of amiable Mrs. Gray.
But opposition worthy of its name
always acts as a spur to a man
worthy of his caption.
He called her up in the morning,
and found that she had a golf en-
gagement and a dance scheduled
with Marmaduke for the afternoon
and evening. Bob tried to give his
voice an authoritative tone.
Nellie" he began, 81 must see
you tonight"
Really" she raised her voice to
that dangerous level, land If I
can't?"
"Oh, know you better than that.
It's a question of whether you will
or you won't, not whether you can
or you can't. Is your mother still
huffy, or had l better meet you
down town."
Silence for a moment, then the