Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-02-29
The Smoke of
Victory
By ROSE MEREDITH
Mcclure Syndicate.)
WNU Service.
MRS. HENRY DUCKWORTH sat


able summer vacations. Her grand
daughter, Amy Delorme, who at
tended her this year, was playing
tennis with the particular young man
who was her grandmother bette
noir, Ralph Fricke. Ralph was a
college graduate, and heir to his
Grandfather Mallot' swealth-hewas
young, handsome, and just the sort
OF young man that grandmothers
usually delight in-he had one de-
feet in Mrs. Duckworth's eyes, and
that defect disqualified him entirely
from falling in love with her favorite
granddaughter, Amy-for Ralph was
the adored grandson of Old Colonel
Mallot, he who had been Granny's
declared lover once upon a time, in
ages past.
"Shall we go and confess to your
Granny" whispered Ralph to Amy.
Amy blushed charmingly. "Not
now, dearest" she objected. 81
must break the news to Granny
and I don't know how she will take
it-you see, it just happens that she
doesn't like you bit-why?"
Answer is, Grandpa" replied
Ralph cheerfully.
'How perfectly silly!" exclaimed
Amy giggling. "Just fancy, people
as old as they are-caring!"
"Who was that young man." de-
manded Mrs. Duckworth acidly as
Amy entered the piazza and joined
her Granny.
"That was Ralph Fricke, Gran
n.y."
"Humph-I believe asked you
not to play with him, Amy"
II know that, Granny-but it
seems odd not to, when there are so
few men here this year."
"You like him?"
Amy blushed furiously. every
MUCH" she admitted.
'Humph! Nice state of affairs-I
suppose he is helpless idiot-rich
mans heir-good for nothing!"
"But Granny, dear, Ralph has
worked his way through college-he
wouldn't take one cent from his own
people," protested Amy.
"Humph! Don't let him fall in love
with you,'' warned Mrs. Duckworth
severely. eff you marry anybody
that I do not approve, Amy, I shall
cut you off with shilling and leave
every penny to the Sailors Home"
Amy Delorme dallied over her
dressing for dinner that evening
She thought about her grandmother
and old Colonel Mallot. We're not
the old couple horrible example of
lovers separated in youth? Even
now, in their old age, they might
find some solace together - so
dreamed Amy.
''How wonderfully happy we would
all be-" she sighed, as she tapped on
Mrs. Duckworth's door, and then
pushed the door wide open.
"You look like a pink carnation,
Amy" said Grandmother, who had
been day-dreaming herself.
"Well, you look very captivating"
said Amy, her eyes dancing.
The old lady's eyes glanced at
the girls pinkness, her air of joy,
and she sighed sharply. It was so
easy to be happy when young-so
difficult to grasp it when one was
old and rheumatic. She wondered
where Lucien Mallot was.
They were halfway down the front
stairs when that cry of fire came
from the upper story-as they
paused, uncertainty, the dining
rooms gave up a crowd of diners, all
pouring out of the front doors-Amy
caught a glimpse of old Colonel
Mallot who looked up the stairs at
his old love, Mrs. Duckworth. In an
instant he was fighting with the
crowd to reach her.
maria! Just lean on me, my
dear, there, will take care of you,"
and Maria Duckworth, forgetting all
about her pretty granddaughter,
leaned Imply against his shoulder
and they moved down the stairway.
Alone, Amy thought of their valua-
bles, and fairly flew up the wide
stairway to their room-her grand
mothers dressing case, her own
case, smaller, was not far away
Grannie's favorite fur cloak and
bottle of smelling salts-staggering
under this burden, Amy met Ralph.
Darling! Give me those things
now, you'll" and Amy tainted in his
grasp.
Grannie and Colonel Mallot sat
under the trees, hand in hand, bliss
fully smiling, and when Ralph ap-
peared with his burden, it was the
colonel who arose and helped him.
"The little girl-ah, she looks very
much as you did, Maria!"
"Amy! Hand me ny smelling salts,
young man! It was like her to think
of me at such a time-there, my
dear, here we all are, and Colonel
Mallot is going to take us to his
place in his carts this your grand
son?-I have heard Amy speak of
him-I am very grateful to you for
saving my granddaughter, Ralph
of course-of counsel"
"Gee whiz!" exclaimed Ralph
joyously, ''here is our car-Mrs.
Duckworth, may I escort you"
Colonel Mallot pushed him aside.
"Look after your little girl, Ralph"
he said with dignity. 81 am at