The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-01-08
&a1I0&@s 90 &aZSSSSssSZS &aZSsSSSsSZS SSaS5sS&1
N fS~09 N~o~N>0SN~s'-SsS'Sa@ S'Sa@1Sa@,Ss@>N@>O<v - 81
& } HIS FATHERS SON. +
y E. A. WHARTON
NJ IS>=Ss0>SsSoSaS>O~S>S>s>Ss ~
SzzNO1esNAO2aSAOG AOGaSn01as1MO1 N0AnS
By E. A. WHARTON.


and 10 close the screen door softly. For
upstairs in a darkened room Muvver-lov-
er lay in care of a whitecapped nurse,
who was perpetually putting her finger
10 her lips and making frantic ges-
lures for silence if he so much as
thought aloud.
Baby sister walled continually, and
Boy resentfully wondered why nurse
didn't make her keep still. He was
sure that kind of a noise must dis
turb Muvver-loyer far more than
little whistling and slamming of doors.
But perhaps ii was because she was a
lady-baby. he thought, as he settled
himself TO watch for Daddy. Folks
had TO be polite TO ladies. He'd like
to ask Muvver-lover but they hadn't
let him see her for days and days. Al
ways before when she had been sick he
had been allowed to tiptoe in and rub
her head, and she had said it made her
better. But then there had been no
cross nurse.
The lad leaped to his feet as his
father came in sight, and raced 10
meet him. Daddy would make every
thing clear The mans strong hand
closed over the small brown one, and
Neville smiled down into the wistful
upturned face; then straightway all
but forgot the child's existence. And
Boy, skipping along 10 keep pace
with his fathers swinging stride, for
the first time in his short life found
Daddy unresponsive. AS they ascend
ed the steps, Neville reused from his
abstraction TO hear Lawrence say:
as il cause she's lady-baby, Daddy,
and we must be polite 10 ladies?"
That's exactly II, Boy he an
swered the last clause of the question.
Men must always be polite and con-
siderate TO ladies under all circum-
stances. Run out now and play, and
be very quiet" A perfunctory kiss
dropped upon the lads cheek, and Dad
dy tiptoed upstairs.
Boy gazed after him with queer,
choky feeling in his throat till the
door to his mothers room closed be-
hind him. Then he stood still, trying
TO understand what il all meant Had
he done something to displease Daddy?
And didn't Muvver-loVer love him al
all since sister came? He clenched
his fists and winked hard. He wouldn't
cry! If they didn't care, he wouldn't
either.
A shrill whistle sounded at the gate
and he ran out to meet the boy who
sat just across the aisle al school
No. | can't have anyone come here,
because my mo,hers s.CK, he eX-
planned with an odd little assumption
of dignity. I'm sorry, too, for it's
lonesome when your folks are sick"
Returning, he went to tic kitchen
door He wondered at black Susan's
tender manner and at her muttered
Pore lii lamb" as he dragged his
feet up the back stairs. The playroom,
over the kitchen, was fitted with all
sorts of things that boys like. There
were a few simple tools that Daddy
was teaching him to use, and appar-
atus for light gymnastics, for Boys
parents cherished theories as TO train
ing children. Just now the room
was crowded; his bed had been moved
from his pretty room next to mothers,
and there was a cot, where Susan slept
~ IooK after him.
In one corner were the toys that he
was beginning TO consider 200 DaOylsn
for a six-year-old chief among these
was rag doll To Boy, Moll's bowed
bead and detected air indicated grief
being thus cast aside, and with ready
gmpathy he took her in his arms and
ht down to mediate.
He was almost happy as he ran
bwn-stairs at Susan's call. He and
-4addy would have chat over dinner,
and then it would be time TO go back
to school. where there would be a de-
lightful half-hour in which he could
yell and whistle to his hearts content.
But Daddy did not appear. Susan eX-
planned, as she brought his soup and
pushed Boys chair closer to the table.
"Yo paw can't come now. He tole
me TO give yuh yo' dinner an sen yo'
back TO school, lest yuh git late"
AS he ate his solitary meal. Boy
wondered why Susan's cooking didn't
taste as good as usual. Even his fav-
orite pudding lacked flavor. Then he
wondered why Daddy didn't come. and
why they got that baby, anyhow. To
be sure, If Daddy and Muvver-lover
really wanted her, why he'd try to
want her, too. But II really didn't
seem TO him they needed a baby.
He clambered down from the table
and went back TO the playroom, for
q last loew at Mol. the only member
OF his small world that had not failed
him. He reluctantly laid her on his
bed, and was turning away. when a
sudden thought struck him. Why not?
II was Friday, and teacher had ex-
pressly said at noon that they might
bring their dolls If they liked. He
was sure Moll would like il better