Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-06-05
White CarnatiOn By Alice Douglas Kelly
Copyright: IA1 By News Syndicate Co. Inc
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO

And, Pat mad really annoyed MIN ana
he was glad to turn away from her.
Presently. however. she nudged him
and he turned back again.
Want a drink" he asked perfume
torily.
mo. I do not" Pat answered with
emphasis. And don't like your talk
ing to every Tom. Dick and Harry who
try to get in with decent people"
Shut up" Alan said, without regard
for politeness. His voice was low, but
she looked up, startled and half afraid.
Then she was silent.
He spoke to his other guests.
so you're reporter?" he asked Nell.
We'll, that's what I'm paid for" she
answered, But I don't think my boss
always believes it."
He noticed the pink carnation on
her lapel at the same moment that she
caught sight of the antique white BIOS
som on his.
TOO bad" she said gently.
"We-ell. Don't you think Mothers
day is kind of a racket?' he asked.
Probably dreamed up by florists and
candy stores"
Nell laughed.
"One of those deep thinkers!" she
said. DO you also believe that florists
and candy merchants invented Christ
mas, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings
and all kinds of parties? Of course I
don't doubt that many of them are
very brilliant. Still -
'All right, all right, you win," Alan
broke in. so you find Mothers day
sacred?"
why no." she said seriously. I'm
not as corny as all that. I just think
it's fun to celebrate almost anything
and I can't think of anything much
better worth celebrating than having
a nice mother, can you? I mean, sup
pose fate had dished me out something
with two chins, a high bust and habit
of having heart attacks when crossed?"
In that case you wouldn't have cele-
brated?" Alan suggested.
Not with so much abandon, perhaps.
But still she would have given me life,
wouldn't she? And that's pretty essen-
tial to getting anywhere in the world.
So I probably would"
What are you two children talking
about?" Mrs. Ingham inquired plain
lively II thought I was the feature at
traction today"
"You are" Alan assured her prompt
ly. He raised his glass. "To-er- a nice
mother" he said.
Mother works as secretary to some
perfectly poisonous people," Nell ex-
planned $50 today we want her to hit
all the high spots and drown her sor-
rows in drink"
TRANQUILITY. Tell him to put more
grenadine in the next one, will you?'
She leaned forward to ask the bar
hi rl,i11roY
whom Alan had never heard, and Nell
said, in low voice:
1--WE got to keep her here till I get
a call from home. The other kids are
Ketting up a surprise luncheon for her.
And my little sisters fudge came out
slgary so she had to make it over, and
there's lot of packages to tie up .
Oh, look at that poor woman!"
Alan looked across the room at the
newcomers Nell was indicating. The
woman in question was blondined
faded and harshly made up ghost of
what had been probably a great beauty.
With her were two flashy and unpleas-
ant young men. The woman was chat
tering vivaciously, looking archly at
first one escort and then the other.
AS the three sat down at the bar,
the two young Founders sneered at
the woman, exchanging glances above
her head. And Alan, watching them,
knew that she was aware OF it, too.
For moment she gripped the bar with
a heavily ringed hand and he saw
shame and something not far from
despair in her face. Then she pulled
herself together and smiled brightly.
well, what will it be, boys?" she
asked This is on me, you know"
Fury which he would never under
stand made Alan suddenly see red. He
swung off the stool and said clearly:
why, that's my mother! Hi, Fran
cine. come on over here and join U.s."
AS he walked around the bar toward
her. Pat got down.
my God!" she said. And walked
past him to the Duprees' table. How
do you do, Miss Dupree?" he heard
her say. II had the pleasure of meet
ing you at the Walcott's reception
Alan did not glance at her. It was
better for her to close the chapter
he thought than for him to have to,
and they'd finished the story really,
weeks before. He went to Francine.
I'm afraid your friends will have
to pay for their own drinks" he said.
When he got back to his place he
was amazed to find the Inghams still
there. Mrs. Ingham held her hand out
to Francine.
We've been making friends with
your son." she said. You must be very
proud of him."
Francine hesitated for a minute then
with unexpected dignity she said.
Its nice of YOU to saw So 1 am
proud Of him."
They chatted for a few minutes and
Francine was correct and unaffected
and she looked, Alan saw with a twinge
of pity, tired to death. Then Nell got
her telephone call and Alan walked
to the door with her. As they came to
the Dupree table, they saw Pat lean
ing forward rather uncomfortably lis
tening with ostentatiously rapt interest
to a conversation in which she obvious
ly had no part at all. But young Dupree
got to his feet with subdued war
whoop.