Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-02
CHAPTER xCvI.

erI TO DrlnS IalneT anu helSli
home I'm the car. had not gone to
the station. fearing TO crowd them.
Bruce, who tired of waiting, had
gone to his play. was the first to spy
them. Up the path to the gate rushed
his sturdy little figure. His brown
hair was tousled, and dirt smudges
stained his face and hands. But as if
sure Of his welcome, and forgetting
that he wasn't going to like grandpa,
he flung his gIjmly little self straight
into the welcoming arms of the state
ly old man which were outstretched TO
him.
Has you got a airplane for me-" he
asked. as father gently put him down.
a look of pride on his stern face.
"A little bird must have flown here
ahead of us and whispered to you,
Helen said laughingly, as she, too, held
out her arms and asked, Wont you
come and kiss grandma" there was
a roguish look in her eyes, but she
had settled an embarrassing question
for me and ] was grateful.
Bruce gave her the desired kiss, but
did not understand her reference.
~ don't want no bird. l want a air.
planet" he insisted.
Bruce" l chided trying to quiet
him. but he was oblivious, and simply
dragged at father reiterating his ques-
ton.
oh YOU little love-" Helen exclaim-
ed as she caught Betty in her arms, II
shall take you home with me and never
bring you back" she declared, as faith
er vainly tried to take the baby from
her.
Bruce go, too" Betty asked. She
adored her brother.
replied.
Daddy and muver too" again the
baby lips questioned.
Why. of course! Well take the
whole family" and amid much laugh
ter we finally gained the house.
lis a airplane i'm there?" Bruce ask
ed, pointing to the largest trunk, and,
Il don't see no bird" He looked with
bit of disgust mingled with suspicion
at Helen.
Wen look and see" father told him.
Already / could see that Bruce would
make a slave of him as he had of my
brothers.
When the trunk was opened father
lifted out a large box and, taking
Bruce by the hand, went out on the
porch, followed by Robert. In a few
minutes we heard shouts of joy. and
rushing to the door found Bruce in an
ecstasy over a wonderful airplsne.
Grandpa did bring me a airplane!'
he shouted. "and I love him lots, most
as much as Phil!'
Betty. too. was beaming with JOY az
she Rugged a handsome doll perfectly
dressed in her baby arms. When she
was pleased she was very quiet, so un-
like her boisterous brother, and now
was sitting on the floor grooming to her
new dollie.
Until her bedtime we had little time
to talk One or the other was constant.
~ claiming the attention of grandpa
or grandma" But after they had beer
tucked away for the night We sat on the
porch until late and talked of our.
selves, our friends, aud intimate family
gossip which so interests those who are
near TO each other.
felt that / was going TO have a very
pleasant two weeks. That was the time
father said he was going to stay. and
remembering how firm he was when ht
made up his mind, 1 did not try TO per-
suade him TO make a longer visit, but
determined TO make the two weeks as
pleasant as possible. Robert would helI
me. I knew Whenever Bruce or Philip
had visited us he had been so different
from what ne was when We were alone
Business had been put aside. and he haC
been the charming host
Father was delighted with our house
and did not hesitate to say so. Th'
view was charming, and Helen enthusi
astically praised Roberts judgment II
the choice of lot. A cyclorams OF
hills undulated away from the greer
slopes on which we had built. Purple
and gold and red sunsets brooded ove
us In the late afternoon. while the JOY
Gus sunshine OF early morning greeted
Us as il came up over the hill tops. NJ
wonder they were delighted with it
aut LIT was only for two weeks / re
minded my city-bred stepmother. ant
laughingly told her she would probabl!
tire Of both sunrise and sunsets befor,
the time was up.
/. knowing that for the two weeks
they spent with us Robert would scarce
I. have time for anything beyond IN,
most necessary business. relaxed com
pletely. and determined TO put unpleas
ant thoughts and fears aside, and Rob
ert. while he had said little, showed hi!
pleasure in fathers appreciation, 81
long withheld.
For the first night in months I slep
sweetly all the night through. and new
er once thought OF Phyllis Lawson.
CHAPTER NCVII
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