Show OO O 90 OO C-OO X O O Exchanged By SUSAN GIBBS O OIT IT IT ISN'T often otten that Romance mayI may I be traced to Its roots Usually It ItIs itis Is not recognized until it bursts Into bloom So when Ned Christie told Helen Gage e that she was made for him she did lid not believe o It How do o you know she asked cJ saucily Has your our mother never neler told you OU about our earliest du days yours days s 's soUls yours and mine dear he lie asked Helen shook the head that would have haye been a riot of curls if she had harJ permitted them to grow long enough Ned Ked was thoughtful for a mo nio ment He lie was wondering wh why Helens Helen's mother had withheld the wonderful stor story from her daughter 1 Knowing Mrs Gage almost as he knew his own mother he realized 1 that she must have e hind had good and sufficient reason for her he silence Well Well Is is it such a n. dyed deep-dyed secret secret secret se se- se- se cret that no one can tell me asked Helen lichen still frivolously frI She was very happy much in love iove and nothing else mattered o. No Its It's just just beautiful beautiful said ler Ier serious loverAs loverAs lover lo As liAs beautiful as our Romance asked Helen It Is is our Romance he lie told her Helen cuddled up In iu the big covered chintz swing Then Then tell tell me please Ned die she she Implored He laughed It seems funn funny funny- my telling you this I dont don't want to know v it It-if It if Its It's funny I dont don't feel like listening to anything humorous she pouted You said It was Romance It Is the most beautiful romance romance ro ro- ro mance In the whole world he said solemnly You were a tin tiny girl girl girl-a a wee baby In arms and your and your mother hind had wanted you to be a n. bo boy Helen sat up and was about to protest when he lie soothed her Into acquiescence again My I mother had been disappointed disappoint disappoint- ed because I was a mere boy when she had lad alwa always s 's wanted a daughter Our mothers had been friends since college days They had confided in each other and aed when each one was frustrated In her wish for a n child of another sex they sex they still confided I dont don't know just oust how It silL all ll come about dear but little by bj little you OU and I were exchanged I would go goto goto goto to your our mother for a n week You Yon would woud come to mine and so both mothers learned to love lo us almost equally Yes Yes and and the fun I used to have haye with nil all your our things added addell Helen Then we went a away ay to college and well and well you jou ou know we seemed to I grow apart Your mother for the I first time appi appreciated the thc value of ofa ofa I a 11 lovel lovely ely daughter daughter- I 1 bow interrupted Helen lichen in mock humbleness And m my blessed mother began bean to be proud of her bl big son Eon There was a certain c well controlled jealousy jealousy jeal jeal- In her attitude when hien I used to want to go to your jour our house so 50 much during vacation and I noticed that when you came to visit us your mother came along It was a lUs' lUs ing lag ing then But nut what happened after mother mOlher took me to Did the they quarrel rel or rel-or or what asked Helen lichen serious no now Yes Yes I I never ne knew exactly how howit it came about but my mother must ha e said something about your belonging belonging belonging be be- longing to her eventually after all nil Meaning of course that you jou ou would marr marry me meThe me- me me- me The Idea began Helen with as as- Walt Valt a minute dear consoled Ned It has all come out right hasn't it Before you came back rpm abroad your our mother and mine had written many letters that cleared the situation for them and they fell Into each others' others arms when you re re- re turned They decided they were selfish to have ha quarreled and ell and well that each of them had gained at last her hearts heart's desire I dont don't mind sa saying that I think my mother Is getting the best of the bargain dear I cant can't subscribe to that but I Ido Ido Ido do think mother might have told me all about It I believe she was afraid deep down in her heart Helen that It If Itou you ou believed she had picked pIckel out a n husband for you wh while le you ou were still In your cradle jou ou would would have ha none of him She was wIse wise in keeping her secret wishes from you ou until It was too late for you jou ou to bolt laughed Ned Ked And It Is too Is-too too late late Isn't It IJ Alas Alas It It Is answered Helen p b by McGinn Newspaper cr Syndicate Service |