The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-31
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CHAPTER |.
Strained Relations

christening font into mothers
boarding school face on the day Of
my baptism.
with Tom Christie only 81,
weeks In spiritland Il isn't de
cent Cousin Polite finished W
individually.
But. aimee you must be freak.
lsh, why not call her Prudence. OF
Patience--to keep oldhurgh from
wagging its tongue In twoG" Aun,
Louella suggested.
oldburgh isn't the towns name
OF course. but It's a descriptive
alias.
"Oldburgh knows how I feel, !"
mother replied. III this baby had
been a boy ! should have named
him Theodore-gift OF God-but
since she's a giri. her name Ia
Grace"
Calling her tho whole OF the
doSology isn't going to get that
Christie look OFF her" fathers fam.
lily shifted. she II the living I'm.
age OF Uncle IAneelot,"
My child like that notorious
Lancelot Christiel" mother burst
into tears. Why. she's n Moore.
I'll have you understand. She's
tho image OF my revercd father"
There's something In that.
Polite" admitted Aunt Louella.
who was tho weakened one OF the
sisters. Look at the poetic little
brow and expression OF spiritual
intelligence"
But what a combinatlon." Aun,
Hannah pointed out. AS sure as
you're a living woman this mouth
and chin are like Uncle Lanceio,l
Think OF i,--Jacob Moore and
Lsncelot Christie living together
In the same skin"
Why. they'll tear the child limb
from limb" This piece OF sarcasm
from old grea,Ercat.aunt. Patricia
Christie. who never took sides with
anybody in family disputes.
She's remarkably like Uncle
fAnceiot. aunty." Cousin Polite de-
clared.
She's n thousand times more
like my father than I. myself. am. .
POOR little mother avowed stanchly.
Then. all Two 60, 70 say IL that
It's a dcvillsh bad combination {"
Aunt Patricia threw out.
And to pursue the matter fur.
Their. ! may state that IL vas You
believe In dual personality.
Well. they're mine,
Then. with this christening and
81, OF genealogical gossip by way
OF introduction. the next milestone
in my career came one day when
the twentieth century was In It's
wee small figures.
4 hate Grandfather Moore and
Uncle Lancelot Christie. boihi" I
to Aunt Patricia upon that
occasion. having been sent 10 her
room 10 make her a duty visit. as
I was home for the holidays. Il
wish you could DO vaccinated
agains, your ancestors. Arc they
Ia you 10 stay"
Hate your ancestorsf Grace.
you amaze me-" abe said.
But she mimicked mothers voice
hurt. helpless. moral.
suaslon voice--aA she said Il. and
we both burst out laughing.
I leapsd to my feet and sprang
across the room TO where three
portraits hung on the opposite
wall. They represented an admiral.
an ambassador and an artist
why can't you adopt an ances-
tor, a. you can a childT" ASKED
again. turning back to her.
Adopt an ancestor7"
Her voice was trembling with
excitement
Il only meant that I'd prefer
these to grandfather and Uncle
explained soothlnsly.
but her anxiety only increased.
(which ons7" she demanded
Which one. Grace?"
The artist"
Come herei Come here quick"
she painted weakly.
Yes, 'um."
She wiped away a tear. in great
shame. for abe was not weeping
woman.
Thank Heaven" she said an.
grily. That awful problem 10
settled at last, knew | couldn't
have a moments peace a-dying I'M
I'll had decided. Now. llsten'
I'm going 10 leave you something
something very precious. DO you
know about that artist over there
james Mackenzie Christie-our
really famous ancestor--my great.
uncle. who has been dead these
sixty years, but will always be I'm.
mortal? DO you know about him %
yes know"
well. I'm going TO leave--those
love.letters 20 you'll"
drew back. as II she'd pointed
n pistol straight at me.
"But they're the skeleton In the
closet" | repeated. having heard
Il expressed that way all my life.
You'll understand them" she
replied. Poor little, heart-strong
ChristIe'"
And. whether her words we're
prophetic or delIrious. she had told
the truth. have understood them
She gave them into my keeping
that day; and the next morning we
found her settled back among her
pillows with an unearthly smile on
her face.
After this II seemed that years
and years passed-all in a heap.
| awoke one morning to find my.
self set in my ways ! was rest.
less. shabby and single-~no one OF
which mother could endure In her
daughter.
My pet abomination begins with
c." | chartered savagely to myself
one afternoon In June az ! made
my way to my own private desk In
the office OF the Oldburgh Herald.
uOnd daring family Affairs In - 9,