Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-30
CHAPTER LXV

The next morning the whole famiiy
accompanied me TO the station.
"I can I bear to gol" moaned, 'It
seems as if had been here only day"
81 don't .hink it S right" David de.
elared stoutly. "That husband of yours
is a pig. To keep you whole year and
then let us have you just few days"
Almost two weeks. Davie" Mother
said gently. "We must be thankful he
spared her so long. Perhaps he will be
willing to let her come soon again, and
also come with her." | knew mother
wished it, so l said:
81 He viii surely come next time, /"
Bus in spite of trying to be brave,
there was break in my voice when |
answered nay dear ones; and my eyes
Were misty. Mother looked at me, de-
teeting the gathering tears.
There, dear, we all feel badly, but
we are not going to sadden you by Civ.
ing way, and you must be brave for
our sakes. l should hate to think of you
as weeping on your long journey
Mothers right shut off ,he tear
tap, sis. We all feel bad enough with
cut that. - David broke in.
"0heer up, little daughter" dad said
as he kissed me, 'Come again as soon
as you can.
On the Way Home
1t was over. The train was in motion.
| stood on the ear platform, with my
handkerchief feebly waving as the yrain
gained momentum, until finally they
We're gone. could see them no more.
''Partings are awful" l said aloud
gulping down sob.
" Ain t they, just, Miss!" the brake
man replied, probably thinking l had
spoken to him. But, though l had not
his sympathetic words helped me. He
someone-understood. | thought, as
lef. the vestibule and found my chair.
| had some reading matter and my
candy. The ear was crowded, and | en-.
tertained myself frequently by watching
the people, specializing upon their rela.
tionships, etc.
Among the passengers was a wsman
or girl, no older than l. She had the
dearest baby, and asked her if she
wouldn t like me to hold her while she
went into the dining ear for her lunch.
con. She accorded gratefully.
Baby is very good, but l have been
travelling nearly four days and / am
tired, =" she said, as she put the little
darling on my lap.
| was surprised when she returned
half an hour later. 1t hadn't seemed
ten minutes. The badly had cooed and
laughed, played with my watch, and
been altogether adorable. | never had
thought much about children. l guess l
was 800 young. But, all suddenly, I
darling baby for my own. I never could
darling baby for my own. N never could
be lonely, then.
After | had also had my luncheon, I
begged the baby again. And this time
kept her over an hour while the mother
slept. Then when she came for her. we
talked a while. Her name was Grant.
Mrs. Grant, and she had called the baby
''Nellie.u
"It sounds funny 70 say it, but no
name seemed to appeal to either my hus-
band or | except the name President
Grant s daughter had. So we just gave
it to her."
"Nellie Grant. " I said it aloud. ''Yes
| think perhaps I should have felt the
same. 1t would be hard to think of an
q her name for little Grant girl"
Time Drags.
Mrs. Grant left the train about threl
o clock. She told me her husband was
to meet her. That she had been visiting
her mother in California for six week 3;
aad that she was afraid he would not
know the baby, she had grown so.
When the tran stopped at a small
,own where she got off, eagerly watch
ed the meeting between her and the tall,
bronzed, young fellow who met her. He
was dressed like an engineer, or some
thing of that sort, but she Just elun.,
to him and his face fairly shone. j
watched them almost as longingly as |
had my own people when | left them
They seemed so awfuHy glad to see each
o ther. AWFULLY was the only word
that expressed it.
l wondered how George would meet
me. He would probably kiss me. He had
kissed me goodbye. But he would think
it bad form to show such delight as
that young fellow had shown. He would
kiss me once, ask me if | had good
time, and help me into the ear.
Would he be glad 70 see me, really
glad2 | hoped 50. / felt so anxious to
present a good appearance, that tried
to get little nap. closed my eyes and
rested, but could not Sleep | had too
much to think about. The afternoon
dragged dreadfully. And no one on the
rain was happier than |, when the por
ter called;
Moreland, the next stopl All out for
M0rcland. -
(romorrow-The Welcome Honey