The San Francisco call., 1908-04-05

M sister Polly and me to Asit
her old home in Georgia.
NY grandfather's house was large.
old fashioned place which had once
been sIed with the big family. There
were now many vacant rooms
It was in an unused wing OF the
house that my cousin Flo. baby Polly
and I opened the door one day into
great. empty room Though unfur-
nished except for a walnut wardrobe,
which was partly built into the wall.
the room had the appearance Of being
occupied There were half burned pa
pers in ;he fireplace. a window was
raised and the shutters turned to let in
the light
what a dandy place to bring our
delis-
rIo hung back This ia Uncle Joe's
room"
] knew all about my sUncle Joe. He
was my mothers youngest brother.
who. in the last year OF the war. had
slipped away from home. where he had
been held as too young TO fight. He
had never reached his father and
brothers They had learned afterward
that he had Joined a small force of
coafederates on the eve Of a battle and
that was the end OF war for poor little
Joe.
Wen. it isn't his room now" l said.
None Of the servants come here"
Flo hesitated.
Somebody comes here. I looked
around for sign Of what was GER
tain was true. Here 1 cried trI-
umpaantIy. On the floor by the win
dow lay an open book OF architectural
drawings and by the side of it the
fresh new shavings OF a pencil.
I-lo looked relieved. 1T must be the
boys suppose they have been play
ing here All the time and keeping me
away. ] thought heard them talking
when I went by. Wen ask mother if
we may have this room for ourselves"
Ny aunt readily consented.
1t is Joes old room.'' she said to my
mother. You remember how he used
to work up there. I'll be glad to have
the children play there. II will stop
that foolish talk of the servants"
Miss Lucy" said Sarah Ann. the old
negro waitress. who had been lingering
shxiously near, don't you let the chill
iern play up there: faint right"
Ny aunt hushed her sharply and
later I heard her giving Sarah Ann
some severe words about frightening
the children.
50 we took possession Of the room
a splendid place. where we could spread
out our playthings without being in
any ones way.
But from the first 1 had the feeling
that we were in some ones way.
thought then that it was the STRINGS
Of conscience for having dispossessed
the boys Of a playroom. but for what
ever reason, certain it was that 1 set
UP my dolls house keeping and opened
my games with the guilty thought that
was taking advantage of some one
who had previous right to the room
and who did not wish me to be there.
felt the presence Of boy" ! played
as little girls do who know their
brothers are watching. When I talked
Tor my dolls whispered lest boy
should hear.
Yet there was nothing frighsful;
only a gentle, persistent protest from
some other self 1 do not understand,
now, how it was made known to me,
but I remember distinctly I longed to
obey an unfelt pressure; many a time
I started to answer plant that had
never made sound. and many time 1
turned expecting to find a kindly but
objecting boy behind me-
Flo and Baby Polly never seemed to
know. Baby Polly, particularly, was
happy here, whispering to herself and
toddling from corner to corner after
her ball. Flo moved in all her things
as IL determined to take permanent