Mamma's Boarding House by John D. Fitzgerald

Author:John D. Fitzgerald [Fitzgerald, John D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Criminals & Outlaws, Rich & Famous, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Native American Studies, History, United States, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781789120936
Google: K8ZQDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2018-03-12T02:39:47+00:00

Henry Forester’s wife stared for a moment at the grease on Adele’s dress, and then, pressing a hand to her forehead, murmured that she thought she was going to faint.

“You probably will, Clara,” her husband said, “when I tell you that I arrived at the park just in time to hear Adele declared the winner of the greased pig contest.”

Clara Forester slumped into a chair and groaned.

“Mother,” Adele said, “it isn’t as bad as Father makes it sound. I’m sorry I went to the park without telling you. But I was having so much fun I just didn’t realize what time it was.”

Her father put his arm around her shoulders. “Your mother and I are only concerned with your happiness,” he said. “It isn’t a question of not letting you go to these celebrations if you enjoy them, but for a girl to go alone to a park and take up with strangers is not proper,”

But they were such wonderful people,” she protested. “They made me feel as if I’d known them all my life. I’ve never met people who knew how to enjoy themselves so much.”

“Who were these people?” Clara Forester asked with a note of skepticism in her voice.

Adele told her. Clara Forester wrinkled her brow. “I seem to recall a Queenie Fitzgerald and a Tena Fitzgerald calling here. They left their cards. When Evelyn Whitlock told me one of them is the wife of a saloon keeper and the other one runs a boarding house, I did not return their calls.”

“You see now, Adele,” Henry Forester said seriously, “why it’s unwise to take up with strangers. These aren’t the sort of people to choose for friends.”

“Your father is right,” Clara said. “You must remember, dear, that your father is the General Superintendent of the Castle Rock Fuel Company, and he has certain social obligations.”

“Now just a minute, Clara,” her husband protested. “I don’t want Adele to think my position has anything to do with my concern for her future happiness.” He looked at his daughter. “Your mother and I love you dearly. You are our only child. I want you to understand the only reason we don’t want you getting too friendly with such people is for your own good.”

“But I want to see them again,” Adele objected. “Especially Earnest.”

Clara Forester spoke quickly. “We will talk about it later. Now you had better go right up and change your dress.” After Adele had gone, Clara turned to her husband. “Who is this Earnest?”

“I just heard he was Earnest Dawson. I don’t know who he is. He was the only person there by the name of Dawson.”

‘I’ll phone Evelyn Whitlock and find out,” his wife said.

“Adele is only seventeen, and if we must put our foot down, we can. But a better way would be to try and make her see that she can make a suitable marriage only if we keep up our standards.”

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