Those Lucky Pullens

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 14

Those Lucky Pullens

By

MALCOLM DUART

kind of wedding you’ll have when Julia gets married. Who’s going to do that marrying, anyhow?” “That’s just like a man.” Mrs. Pullen resumed operations on the cook stove. “The bride’s mother has to plan the wedding, doesn’t she? Who'd do it if she didn’t?” “Hasn’t the bride anything to say?” he inquired. “Or the groom?” His speech had become a trifle thick, and Mrs. Pullen whirled upon him. “Fred Pullen, you let" those cakes alone!"

He dropped the bit of pastry that he held in his hand; and with his mouth full, retired to the. living room. “You’re trying to marry Julia to this young lawyer before he proposes,” was his parting shot. “Don’t, forget the fat man.” He shut the , door, and lost Mrs. Pullen’s reply. ... . ~ , “Men think marrying’s just a matter of a fellow dropping in and saying ‘let s get married,’” commented Mrs, Pullen, sagely. “They don’t know that there's got to be a lot of planning. ahead of time.” She had finished the icing, and now was carefully applying it to the cakes through a tiny funnel. “They talk about how jazzy the girls are nowadays dragging the fellows out on wild parties. But it isn’t really any different, Julia. It always was hard to get a man interested, so he’d propose.” Her daughter was arrangin'/ the pastry on platters. “Mama, you won’t say anything to Mr. Parks about getting married, will you?” • -“Ho!” Mrs. Pullen laughed cheerily. “I know better than that, Julia. You can’t catch a man that way.” “But I don’t want to catch him!” the girl protested.\Her mother paused, resting the funnel on the table. “Julia, don’t get a lot of false ideas. One man’s as good as another, as long as he’s got money and & willing to work? Has Mr. Parks got any money ?” “I don’t know, I’m sure. He doesn’t get much salary, though—lawyers never pay good salaries to these young fellows.” “Is he nice looking?” Julia considered. “I think he is. He’s slim, and wears nose glasses with a ribbon when he’s reading, arid has a nice voice. He w-ants me to go out and dance with him.” “Just you do it, Julia,” Mrs. Pullen said. “You’re around the house too much. .A girl should have some fun.” Her daughter’s eyes twinkled. “That’s what the fat man said.”

"And he was right, too,” her mother declared. “I wish your father danced. I’d like to go to supper and dance, and have a gay time, out in society. All he’ll ever do is to play cards sometimes, and then he ecolds when I talk —says I spoil the game.” . ■ ' The table’ was set, the sandwiches, and caki?s were ready, the new candles were in place, and the house was speckless when the Pullens retired. Mrs. Pullen climbed the stairs slowly, being heavy with fatigue, but she was happy; "I’ll be so glad to stop that awful scandal,” she said. "I almost wish Mrs. Hamilton was coming, so she could see my nice new things, and hear me when I tell the ladies about how she lied.”

She was asleep almost instantly after her head touched the pillow, a smile of childlike contentment on’her lips. The day of Mrs. Pullen's tea was clear, and uncommonly warm for late November.

Julia, in a new one-piece dress of French 'serge and a new hat, climbed into the car beside her father, after breakfast.

“Now you both come home early if you can,” said Mrs. Pullen. "It’d be nice if you could come before the ladies go away. It will be such a pretty tea.” She waved good-bye to her husband and daughter, and stood watching after them as they turned the corner. Pullen leaned forward in order to. wave to her in return.

“Your mama looks happier than I’ve seen her in weeks,” he said. “She’s been terribly upset,” said his daughter. “These gifts—the fur coat and ring qnd all —have , excited her, and the burglars and the fat man have made her nervous, and those awful stories Mrs. Hamilton told simply put her on edge. If her party’s a success I think she’ll be a good deal calmer.” “She’s combed, my hair a lot,” he answered, ruefully. “She never did razz me so hard as she’s done the last week or two. But your mother’s a nice woman, Julia.”

The girl giggled. ‘Lind she’ll be happy planning my wedding. But papa—this Mr. Parks is a frightful pill. He thinks he’s the biggest thing on earth.” “Most young men think that,” he said.

“But he’s sure of it, and insists on telling about it,” she eaid. “You’ll meet him to-night. Then you’ll know.”

The father and daughter arranged to meet that evening in front of the build : ing where Julia worked, in order that they might come home together. Julia was waiting on the kerb when Pullen came, just before dark, and she leaped to the seat beside him. “New clothes!” she exclaimed, as they started away. “I bought this suit last week,” ho said, “but they had to alter it. I wanted to look flossy if I showed up for your mama’s party. Is it all right?” “Lovely,” she said. “You’re a regular sheik.” ‘ >

He stopped her car suddenly. A honkin<r of motor horns immediately sounded" behind him. “There’s Sam Carlile,” he said, beckoning.

The young man, however, failed to see them, and dodging through the traffic he disappeared. Pullen started on again. “Do you still like Sam?” he asked. “Yes, I do,” she told him.

“Going to marry him?” She laughed. “He hasn’t mentioned the subject,” said she. “So I didn’t say anything, either. I’ve taken lunch with him two or three times, daddy.” “Well, you suit yourself on this man question,” he said, turning into their street. "I don’t butt in unless you want me to.”

Night had fallen when they reached home. Pullen drew up to the kerb, and they alighted. “Funny there are no machines out in front,” he said. "Why, Julia! The house is dark!”

He ran up the steps, the girl hurrying after him. He tried the door knob, but it refused to turn. Producing his latchkey he fumbled at . the lock. Julia was holding tightly to his arm. “Elsie!’-’ he called, as he entered the dark hall.

There was no answer. He turned on the light, and glanced into the living room. The chairs all were in order, as Mrs. Pullen had placed them the evening before. The man and girl hastened to the dining room. As Pullen pressed the switch, arid the lamps flashed on, Julia gave a gasping cry.

Mrs. Pullen was sitting alone at the table, her hands folded on the cloth, her head erect, her eyes staring at. the well. Before her were the heaps of sandwiches, and little cakes and candies, that she had so lovingly arranged. The candles w r ere wholly burned out. She did not move as Pullen ran to her, dropping to his knees took her in his arms. CHAPTER XXVII. “Poor Mama!” breathed Julia, touchin the little heap of napkins at the edge of the table. None of them had. been unfolded. Pullen drew his wife’s head to his shoulder, and stroked her cheek. She moved her lips, stiffly, but her throat refused to act. Her eyes maintained their dull, unseeing stare. “Poor old girl!” Pullen said, brushing back the hair from her forehead. t let it worry you.” Julia dipped one of the napkins into the tall water pitcher, and bathed her mother’s forehead. Then she sat down, and taking one of Mrs. Pullen’s hands, stroked it gently, while Pullen did' his Best as comforter on the other side.-

When Mrs. Pullen spoke at last, her voice Was dry : arid lifeless. “Nobody came,” she said., bringing out the words with difficulty. “I know—l know,”- soothed her husband. “Wo don’t care, do we, Elsie? Wo don’t want people like that in our house.” ; :

His wife did not say anything more until they had led her upstairs and unfastening her new dress laid her on the bed. ' Theii she turned - her head atvay, wearily. . ■" - ■ ■ “My pretty party/’ she whispered. Pullen and Julia made their dinner on the sandwiches and cakes that ■ ..eaped the dining table. They took turn about, one of them remaining, upstairs while the other ate.. . ■ ■

Filially Mrs.' Pullen seemed to fall asleep. At' least, she lay with her eyes closed, and her- arms limp and motionless. Julia; who was with her stole down the steps. "By George, this is gastly,” said her father, who was huddled in his armchair. “It makes no difference to me if these people around here speak to us or not, but it’s going. to break your mother’s heart.” •

Julia nodded '-soberly. “She just loves to talk to people, ’'and if they wont speak' or come to her house, she’ll simply collapse.-%'f’We’ve • got’ 2 -to do something about it, -papa.” He got out. a. cigar and chewed it. "I suppose we should sue Airs.-Hamilton for slander, and show her up that way.” "That won’t do,” said his daughter, after a moment’s thought. “We’d just be putting ourselves into her class.” “Then, there’s only one thing to do,” ho said, decisively. "That’s to. move away —get into some other part of the town. I can sell this house. By the way —we sold two houses to-day, I got a share of the commission—couple of hundred dollars.”

His daughter came to liis side and smoother his hair. “I’m so glad. 1 knew .you’d be a big . man, papa, if you once got a chance.”' “Big man?” Ho laughed a little. "I’m only small fry, Julia. But I thinkweTe going to have lobs of money—more than I ever thought I’d make. 1 can sell this place and get your mama a new house, and I think I ought to do it.” : The doorbell rang. Julia went to answer it, and Pullen heard her speak in pleased surprise, “Why, come right in, Sam,” she said. Young Carlile entered as Pullen rose to his feet. The boy’s face w r as flushed as ho shook hands.

“Listen here, this is a shame,” he exclaimed, without answereng tho older mau’o greetings. He threw his hat on a chair and sat down. “I just got home a little while ago, and Mrs. Hamilton and three or four other women were over at the house.” He paused, embarrassed.

"Talking about us, I suppose?” said Julia, quietly. / “Yes, they were,” He gulped with indignation, “They said Mrs. Pullen invited them and a lot of women over here to-day, and they got together and agreed not to come or to answer the invitation, and they’re all cackling about it and laughing. And my mother’s as bad as any of them.” He stopped and scowled. “I thought something of the kind had happened,” Pullen said. “Yes, and they say they ■won’t speak to your mother, either, if they meet her, ’ Sam went on, addressing Julia. “I'm. sorry,” she said, twisting her diamond on her finger. “It’s going to be awfully hard for her.” She cast down her eyes and sighed. “Listen here,- Mr. Pullen—listen here, Julia.” Charlie got up and came to the couch where the girl sat. I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You and I’ll get married, Julia, and I’ll take care of you, and that’ll fix these old hens!” He sat down beside her and took her hand.

Julia started, and Pullen slowly lowered his cigar as he regarded the young visitor.

“But how,” said he, “is that going to settle the gossip?” The girl was trying to draw her hand away, but Carlile held on. "It’ll show that I don’t believe a word of it,” said he. “And then, besides, I wouldn’t stand for anybody talking about my wife's mother, ana’ she wouldn’t be my w'ife’s mother unless Julia and I were married. See?” He looked hopefully at Pullen. “Sam,” said Julia. He turned and looked at her.

“You’re a good boy,” she said, gently. “You’re as good and sweet as you can be. But we can’t get married, Sam. You —you can’t support a wife yet.” “Who can’t support a wife?’ he demanded. “Lots of dumber fellows than lam support wives. You supported your wife when you were young, Mr. Pullen.” The older man grinned, quietly. “Thanks for the compliment,” he said. “But, Sam, I’m afraid your little scheme won’t work —at least so far as helping Mrs. Pullen is concerned.”

“I didn’t mean that you are dumb," said Charlie, with anxiety. “I didn’t mean that at all. I’m sure you’re not dumb.” His mind returned to the gathering that he had found at home. “I went

in there among those women, and I told ’em what I thought of ’em,” he said. “I listened awhile, and then I told ’em that Julia is the purest and sweetest girl in San Francisco, and I’d knock their husbands’ heads if any of ’em denied it.” “My goodness!” exclaimed Julia. “I did!” he affirmed. “And then my mother got up and pushed me backwards out the door! I couldn’t hit my own mother, you know. ' Aren’t women fierce'!” ’ .

“But, Sam,” Pullen inquired, “had they'said anything against Julia? You say you told about her being pure and good.”

“They hadn’t mentioned Julia —not that I heard. They were talking about your wife, sir.” “I see—l see.” Pullen lit his cigar reflectively. Julia had succeeded. in releasing her hand, and had moved a little farther from Carlile. Her face had brightened,

however, in the course of the converse* tion, and sho bent a smile on the youth that was both mirthful and tender. “Thank’s for standing up for me,” sho said. “Welcome, I’m sure,” he said. ‘lvo got ten dollars in my jeans, and I’m not going home to-night. Darned if I’ll stay in a house where a nice girl’s mother is treated that way, Julia.”

*** Im Continued.*