Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-12
CHAPTER XXXIII.

. t1elen, my SIep-nOtner,SO STaclOuSJ L
felt sure l would have a delightful visit.
J Some was the embarrassment l had eX-
), pected to feel because of fathers mar
riage, and my former dislike for my
step-mother, foolish, selfish dislike as
/ l soon found out. She was charming
!; hostess, a loving. unselfsh wife. and
wonderful housekeeper
1.-The servants adore her." Aunt Edith
, told me, "and no wonder"
flows Robert doing?" father asked
me that first thing.
VERY well, now I replied, then
Il Bruce added
He's doing splendidly father! work
Ing up fine practice. He has some very
wealthy clients, and is mighty popular
among the politicians. l told you Bob
would come out all right. Wen hear
4 from him some day.
I'm glad to hear it." father returned
rather dryly. Not yet was he convinced
that a man who was not money-maker
would be "all right" .... ..
It was wonderful to see the fuss they
all made over baby Bruce. Bruce jun
Tor" we had commenced to call him.
Then 1t sort of dropped into just Jun
Tor" ... ... ..-
Fother opened a bank account for
him with a hundred dollars and said he
. would deposit the same amount on each
birthday until he was twenty-one. 1T
will take him through college," he OBJ
served. -.-.. --....
But Robert intends to send him to
college," l said hastily. ...-..
We'll, this will make the boy sure of
his education" father returned, still
doubling Roberts ability.
My step-mother gave him an entire
! new wardrobe. He was just commence
ing to walk, and she thought the cutest
rompers and play clothes as well as
finer things for afternoon and dress oc-
casions. .... . ......
He'd be spoiled if he were old enough
to appreciate all you are doing" told
her after a long mornings shopping.
why, he has clothes enough for a
year"
Il intend he shall have" she re-
piled. -.-. ..--
Philip, too, did his part toward spoil
ing us both. He bought toys of every
. description, hobby horses, stuffed ami
mails, and to our despair, a drum and
horns.
How ever am to take all these
things homer" 1 asked laughingly.
, Hire a freight carr" Philip answered.
at don't care anything about that, tn
kids going to have something to play
, with" ...
"something!"I gasped, why, it's a
menagerie." .-
to have some other things l have In
mind" Philip returned, "shotguns, kites,
bicycle, tools and loads of things to
make him happy and you miserable.
? Well have 'em all, won't we, Buster?'
He caught Junior in his arms and when,
after he was perched on brothers
broad shoulders, he "goo-goed" in his
baby talk. Philip declared he had said
: "yes!
Bruce declared baby was going to fol-
low in his (Bruce's) footsteps, and be
a great lawyer. Herwould commence at
once to get a fine library together for
him. Then brought him an armful of
linen picture books.
"Why the adjective?" Phil teased.
: You wait and see Bruce answered
3 taking Junior on his knee and gravely
showing him the pictures of Jack and
JILL, Little Bo-Peep ETC., and chanting
the rhymes in a sing-song tone which
soon put the little fellow asleep.
you are hired as nurse" Aunt
Edith told him as she took Junior from
his arms. ...-
Aunt Edith had taken almost entire
: care of him ever since I arrived, leav-
: ing me free to go out with the rest OF
3 the family. For few days I had been
3 nervous about meeting some of my old
friends principally because OF my ward
. robe. But everyone was so kind, the
I girls were so glad to see me, that 1t soon
wore away, and almost forgot that M
' clothes were of the vintage of two years
' before.
When 1 had been home about a week,
2 Helen decided to give party for me,
dinner dance. Father approved, and said
: he would give me new dress 1 could
; get one and charge it to him.
: "IlI stand for a hundred or a lit
tie more If Helen thinks it necessary,
} he told me-
was delighted yet couldn't help
, feeling that father was a bit-not I'M
lust but peculiar. He had been so
firm in his refusal to DO anything to
help us when we so needed help, and
J yet was so generous now-to me.
, What a perfectly wonderful time
had shopping, selecting the first hand
some dress / had had since 1 married.
{ Helen said 1t was great sport watching
me- that I acted like a sixteen-year-old
r schoolgirl 1 felt like one.
: remembered Roberts fondness for
) the pastel shades and 1 selected a pale
mauve and light blue gown that was
, really lovely, and vastly becoming.
Bruce remarked when told him Of the
dress: F.. ..
"I'll stand for the slippers and stock
ings. Go as far as you like, Sis, we
| don't have you here very often"
Here's a ten spot, Margaret! get any
> other fol-fols you need to make yourself
beautiful Although to be honest you're
!, fairly good looking without them"
Il I was happy. Is 1t any wonder that
, forgot all that troubled me in this
, loving home atmosphere?
/