The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-25
MAGAZINE FEATURES
WHO'S TO BLAME?
Sometimes a child is lnstnctvely a woman, just as a woman is
sometimes instinctvely a child again.
BY ETHEL LLOYD PATTERSON.


They'll give YOU an idea where you
stand
"Yes-Dad," said Freddie again.
Though this time there was consider
abe difference In the tone. Indeed his
voice had taken on a new ring. lie was
standing very straigh too, For at
once, his father had made him feel very
proud and altogether responsible 90
The trust made him eager 10 show
the stuff Of which he was made, ~
eager to justify the faith IN his ability.
Observation-Disclosures dollars a
week. Riches hevnnd the dream Of
a%varice, The presents he'd buy for his
motherl And down in his heart he
took a boyish oath to earn every penny
Of 1t and-more. much, much, more'
But man to man one does not say
these things aloud. Consequently;
"Il-do, my best, father was all he
said. And;
"Yes-of course" replied Mr.. Mason
So the next six weeks seemed settled
for Freddie. Irene, his little sister, now
that her brother really was to take II
trunk and bag venture forth into
the wide, wide world alone was too
filled with Of him to try to tease
him about it. InsteRd-rather more
silent than uaual-she helped their
mother count little piles Of %handker-
chiefs, looked carefully through socks
ihai might have holes In them, or APP
piled bits Of tape and buttons 10 under
garments that seemed In need OF such
repair The business was becoming a
real adventure. And, unConsclously
Freddie, rs befitted the occasion, took
ON something Of the air OF the on
guerlng male, while the wonen OF his
household, sewed and pressed and
folded completely rewarded for their
laborS by his. "Gee-lreue-you GER
tally can darnt' Or-'Mother darling,
you fold a fellows trousers just like a
only Elizabeth Deane. Irenc's little
friend, seemed really sad. ChIldlike,
she did not hide her feelings, In
stead
Il don't know what you want to 60
way for, Freddie she said Il want
you TO stay here
lie was stu a little awkward with
her, After his father so plainly had
misunderstood what Elizabeth meant
10. him, Freddie had become solf-COu-
scious with her, His sheer, young de-
light IN her. was gone. Instead, he
rather a been avoiding her again
The. spirit Of frank friendliness was
strained between them. Thus Freddie's
answer sounded pro-occupted; dlsinter-
ested,
"WeIl-Elisabeth," said he. Il want
TO go away because I'm a mar now. ]
want 10 begin to work.
Aren't you ever going to play with
me aud Irene any more ~now-you're a
mani" she asked wistfully.
"Nes~of course he said n little i'm
palient-vaRue.
She felt rebuffed. terribly rebuffed
It was his tone-that was it, For Il
moment she struggled with tears.
Then, from some depth OF potential
~womanhood within her that she. her
self, never had fathOmed, anger at him
struggled to the surface. 1t dried her
eyes and, for an instant. hardened
them c%uriously. And.
Freddie she said-'you don't
care! You don't care whether on not
m sorry you're going You're mink
Ing about yourself-that's all You're
selfish You don't care one bit about
me left behind"
"Yes-Al d6!' he declared hurriedly,
Like most men he was helpless In this
Kind OF storm,
But she wouldn't he fooled now. She
had felt the pre-oCcupation beneath his
hasty assurances. Afterward-when
she was alone-she knew 1t was going
TO hurt-H lot. But now before him she
defended herself instinCtively, %valiantly.
What's the good Of pretending ?" she
asked in a queer, tight voice. We're
not friends any more, Freddie, You've
grown up and-you're ashamed now to
play with little girls, That's what it
Is, when I'm grown up tt shalt never
ee-|9shame9l, But i%t's-over forever
"Goe-Llszlet" he said agaln-oit's
not; honest it's not
BUTT was.