Show i u THE ANSWERED ADVERTISEMENT Ii Iii i How d' d dy y do Granny I t I thought Id I'd come to see you on my I thirteenth birthday Old Mrs Dobson looked up from her sewing a and d smiled tenderly at Mary who with her brother in her year two-year-old arms was coming up the path J. f Im real glad to see you dearie I gets sort o 0 lonesome-like lonesome 5 these long afternoons all I sort o 0 but butI by myself myself myself-I was Dolly I guess her mas ma's busy up fruit Babe asleep bless is little j soul lay him on them pillows on the garden seat seat its its it's too warm to d live in the house house that's that's right Now run and fetch that bit of mo mo- t sq bar ito bar on my rocker your rocker your legs is mine child or Id I'd fetch it That's nice the nice the pesky flies wont won't bother him now Mary dropped contentedly into the rustic chair near G Granny anny as s every child in the alley called her Thirteen did you say dearie you dont don't look moren ten in inu u size but I know many a grown up girl that aint got as much sense in ina J a day as youve you've got in a minute It seems so funny to be in my teens Granny I begin to feel leel so old 4 Granny looked over her spectacles at the delicate face framed in coal black hair and smi smiled ed at the serious expression in the big solemn solemn sor- sor sol sol- dark eyes f You little goose What'll you feel like when you get to be seventy-five seventy like me me- me Why me-Why Why there comes Dolly now k kHello Hello Grandma Hello May The new comer was about Marys Mary's age but her exact opposite in appearance being a chubby blonde whose every move showed animation animation animation anima anima- tion and playfulness Sh Sh Sh dont sh I-don't I don't dont wake the baby Dolly whispered Mary with an uplifted warning finger as Dolly came dancing toward them Dolly laughingly threw herself on the grass in front of them How do you feel after the concert May W Wasn't it grand though My but I was awfully scared when I played my piece Didn't I make a pile of mistakes Everybody says your song was the best thing on the program program program-my my but you did sing perfectly lovely Ill I'll bet they i took in eno enough gh money to buy a whole library for the Sunday School dont don't you J Thus Dolly babbled on and on Mary putting in a word now an and d then but Granny quietly listened and smiled The girls were animatedly animatedly animatedly edly discussing the recent circus when Granny suddenly interrupted them II Listen I aint somebody a knockin at the back door Run Dolly and see In a few moments Dolly returned followed by a bent shriveled old woman in a faded dress and bonnet who leaned unsteadily upon a cane II Howdy Mrs Dobson she said in a croaking masculine voice II Powerful warm out in the sun t day eh eh II Yes Yes' m. m Take a seat Betsy said Granny indicating a chair honey Ill I'll jest set in this here rocker she croaked as Mary offered her arm Dolly was making grimaces behind the old woman signalling Mary to come away You can go pick you some berries children then see seeing ng Marys Mary's hesitating glance toward the sleeping child she added hell be all right dearie Ill I'll watch him Dolly seized Marys Mary's hand and dragged her behind a thick thick hedge not far awayA awayA away A IIA likely gal that Miss Dobson eh said Betsy twisting her head to look after the two girls Mary is a likely girl just girl just thirteen today today not not moren more n a month our Dolly II Thirteen eh lemme see that'd make her sister Lize twenty now now and and a pink she is I Betsy emphasized the remark by jabb jabbing ng her cane into the turf Granny glanced uneasily toward the hedge and opened her lips lipsto to speak but Betsy continued II I I seed her her finery and on Main last night at a time when all decent gals is home abed I have my opinion of her Granny coughed nervously nervously nervously-children's children's childrens ears are sharp she knew knew knew- but Betsy was wound up to run at least an hour i The girls had sat down on the shady side of the hedge and were eating g berries and candy Marys Mary's quick ear caught the sound of her her sisters sister's name and involuntarily she listened to what followed though seemingly attentive to Dollys Dolly's detailed account of her canyon trip Betsy's hoarse voice did not trouble Dolly Them two boys too aint they a makin a record though Jims Jim's in for five years fur and now Bobs Bob's sloped with his dads dad's mortgage money I knew em as boys boys they've they've stole fruit and things from me moren and and they'd lie like yankees yankee's Ive I've always said r it was Gods God's on old Miller the way his childrens children's ou out t f ft t v Grannys Granny's imploring look was lost upon her sighted near-sighted visitor but Dollys Dolly's merry laugh was somewhat reassuring reassuring perhaps perhaps the girls didn't hear after all Dolly absorbed in her own recital did not see the look of strained intensity on Marys Mary's pale face as every word of the hoarse voice sent senta w wa a pang through her sensitive heart A judgment on papa What That can it mean her soul panted Miss Dobson how my Abe and your Joe come near an the old brute the very mornin that advertisement advertisement advertisement adver adver- come out Ive I've often wisht they'd swore less and strung im to a tree as he deserved Marys Mary's pulse was throbbing in her dry throat not one word of Dollys Dolly's chatter did she hear now I think hes he's saw his mistake and was sorry for it put in Granny Granny Granny Gran Gran- ny gently Dont you no sech trash Millerd do it again today if he darst the I-the the gal might sell higher now and Betsy rubbed her nose with the handle of her cane and chuckled significantly Then before Granny could speak Ill wager hes he's in a tight corner again now Bobs Bob's stole the mortgage money How Ho much was it asked Granny eager to turn the old gossips gossip's thoughts being still fearful that the girls were attending The mortgage at first it was two thousand thousand that that was what he wanted for the baby gal you but but the good Lord only knows how much it is now Mis' Mis Jones says hes he's goin t make money on her voice when she learns some more the more the old hogs hog's set on makin her pay some how or Mary does sing as sweet as a canary canary canary-as as high or as low as she wants wants wants-it'd it'd make a rock cry to hear her sing Home sweet home Poor a a mighty sweet home she's got Its It's a pity but what some rich bought her when she was new-born new an raised her to be somebody an to do besides tend babies and t I slave 1 save I the babes babe's goin t wake up hes he's pulled off the mos mos- I t b t qUIto qUIto- quito ar know Mis' Mis Dobson I came that very paper what he in it in-it it was the very Daily Tribune of the of June j f I I guess most everybody's forgot all about it it-I it I hope so aI a 3 Just then the little boy sat up ru rubbing bing his eyes and calling May may me wants May-may May Mary herself was beside him instantly and lifting the little fellow t r v 1 dT i i 1 d i il L H in il her r arms she kissed and soothed l him im m but he began to whimper fretfully t. t 0 Go Go in an get him a cookie dearie suggested Granny No No th thanks I guess Id I'd b better take him to mama mama mama-he's he's hes so cross when he dont don't get his nap out said Mary making the child a pretext for not loo looking at Granny 77 J Heres your hat May said Dolly running up her mouth stained with berries Wont Won't Tommy Jommy have haye a po posy y she added adde offering him hima Y a rose from her boquet but he peevishly buried ried hi his face in Marys Mary's a aneck neck and began to cry in earnest arn st st. j Heres Here's your cap ap darl darling ng see now we were we're re going home to mama pet Powerful big baby for them stem pipe-stem arms o 0 yourn t carry honey oney s said id Betsy sy not unkindly ly as s Mary Mry started off He is getting pretty heavy Good by M Mary ry included them j jl all l i in one swift glance glanc then hurried hurrie away w y C f Thoughts like so many fiery darts scorched through Marys Mary's brain In the confusion few were clearly defined Papa dont don't love me me- me t j Two thousand dollars for me me-A me A judgment on papa papa papa-O O why didn't j I die when I was a baby baby I I dont don't want ant to live nobody live nobody loves me nobody loves me c Me loves love sobbed bed little both may May-may sQ Tommy chubby arms clasping her neck She started not realizing she had spoken her last thought aloud Rye r May May-may loves Tommy too too too-oh oh darling you dont don't know how 1 much She clasped the little form tigh tighter er May-may May cry he asked wonderingly his own sobs ceasing Mary gulped down the lump in her throat and in a choking voice answered No No pet see pet see theres there's mama at the window darling run and take her your pretty posy J Tommy slipped from her arms the moment they entered the gate i and ignoring Eliza who held out her hand from the hammock ran o into the house r i rt jo What did you run run away for you little nuisance when Ive I've got gotto to have my organdy waist pressed and the bastings taken out of my 4 new silk skirt in time time for the party party tonight said EI Eliza za looking looking very y sweet Mary thought in In her pink wrapper with the pink rose in In her black hair II I I can do it right now Lize theres there's plenty of time she said going going go go- 5 ing indoors She knew nuisance was Eliza's word for almost everything everything everything every every- thing but it now stung her with a new meaning I wont won't be a Nuisance Nuisance Nui Nui- a J sance any longer longer Ill Ill I'll make them all lov love me yet and how how hard hardIll hardIll t Ill I'll practice I 0 i i 0 tp j r The small head was bursting with the rush of ideas the tears were now co completely under control and the delicate lips were firmly presse pressed as if sealing the new resolve Always quiet her manners attracted no particular attention as the thew w days went by but Mrs Miller was vaguely aware that there was less sweeping dusting and mending left for her hands year old Lilly and little Tommy were always at hand when wanted Eliza's ribbons and laces kept in their places Mr Millers Miller's jack boot-jack acquired the property of bein being in short an invisible spirit pervaded the home invisible because it was so very close at hand Yet almost any hour in the day that spirit could be heard singing with the organ in the best room the exquisite strains being wafted through the open windows until passers-by passers stood at the fence to listen Truly Mary was working working with a determination her teacher could not quite account for He could not know know know-he he nor any other living person that person that under the frill of her dress Mary had pinned a news paper clipping the sight of which served as a goad when her ambition faltered No one knew of her visit to the office of the Daily Tribune soon after the ev eventful afternoon at Grannys Granny's nor of how she had falte falteringly asked for the paper dated June 16 thirteen thirteen years a ago o. o Only God and her guardian angel knew of the tears she shed on first reading the cruel words of h her r fathers father's advertisement No N 0 there th re was no possibility of her giving up her purpose with that goad urging her at every step F One day after a lesson that had more than delighted her aged teacher he turned to her with the he words Mary my child Ive I've had a long along talk with your parents and they t will let you decide in a matter that concerns you and me very much I I know your passion for tor your music and feel sure a great future is before before before be be- fore you Talent like yo yours rs ought to have the best of lof opportunities for development and your parents consent to my taking you back east to my old conservatory Would d you like to go little one Marys Mary's heart had throbbed faster and faster while Professor Professor Reiner was talking and now she could only throw herself sobbing into his arms The gray head bent over the black one and he soothed her as asa 0 a mother would her babe Dear d dear ar teacher how can I ever thank you she sobbed Your Yom success my child will be the best possible thanks you youcan youcan f can give us qs and you have only to work as faithfully as you have been 1 Ill I'll Ill I'll 11 answer for forthe the r rest st st. I wish I were as sure of my nephew nephew Ned Ned Nedwill will go with us the us-the us the young scamp would would be a pianist of the highest order if he be didn't waste his energies in so much uch nonsense Thus it was that hat Marys Mary's a ambitious b bio io s dreams w were re on the point of realization f Four years passed Professor Reiners Reiner's letters always mentioned Y Marys Mary's progress as most flattering and the Miller family began to look forward to her return with a longing that thai was equalled only by their pride in her fame Miller confided to his wife that things didn't seem to go right since Mary left and Mrs Miller tearfully assented If the father thought regretfully of the part he had played seventeen years ago he did not speak of it even to his wife Meanwhile in new scenes and among new friends Mary gradually gradually gradually ally came to feel that the II good good II was less an incentive than was her own love for her work Associated almost constantly in a musical way with Professor Reiners Reiner's nephew Ned it was only natural that the young singer and her pianist should find their continued association association association tion necessary to the happiness of both Mary my child II said the professor one day when she was setting setting setting set set- ting out music roll in hand to practice some songs with Ned keep him hes he's he's hes bound to spend his time well when youre you're his inspiration inspiration inspiration in in- II And he smiled knowingly as she blushingly turned away Ned was seated at his piano idly pointing out outa a melody with his right forefinger his left hand supplying a rambling accompaniment Di M when Mary rang Eagerly he sprang to the door then stood watch in hand severely regarding her II Well May I come in II she asked smiling archly at him Youve kept me waiting an hour Mary do you hear A whole hour You fibber you told me to come at 2 sharp sharp sharp- But Ive I've b been en waiting since 1 sharp see and he motioned herto her herto to enter not my fault so dont don't be cross Very liVery well then take off that sky scraper it makes a dwarf of me Now met Now to business What have you brought the contest pieces Pshaw you'll walk off with that German scholarship without half trying Do you know Im I'm a prophet Well this time next year Y well we'll be lost to the world in that old Dutch conservatory All ready go ahead II Neds Ned's skilled fingers struck the opening chords and Marys Mary's wonderful voice filled the room with the tender strains of an operatic aria The difficult cadenzas trilled and rippled from her throat without without without with with- out seeming effort and before the last note had died away Ned was wildly applauding Magnificently grand grand it it I-it it couldn't be improved I always sing better when you play Ned Ned it it makes a great difference difference difference dif dif- ference how the accompaniment is played r Fact why dont don't you congratulate me on your singing Mary II He whirled on his stool and and looked up sidewise into her face I You do help me very much Ned she said ignoring his sarcasm sarcasm sarcasm sar sar- and Id I'd never have entered the contest without your help There was such frank earnestness in her sweet face that Ned was melted at once Im glad Mary he said simply but his blue eyes looked such t unspeakable tenderness that she turned away blushing Words |