The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-15

eaten TO ". uifn nc Eot UP anu """'
ed up and down tho piazza again.
Cwhy do old folks always walk up
and down tho room like that when
they're thinking hard about some
thingy Father always does: and
Mother does lots OF times. tool But
II wasn't but n minute this time be
fore Father camo and sat down.
well. Mary" ho began. and his
voice sounded odd. with little
shake In Il. you've told me your
story. no l suppose may ms we'll tell
you minc--nov. You sce. not only
got ready for Marie. but had
planned 10 keep her Marie. and not
let her be Mary---at all"
And then he told me. Ife told me
how he'd never forgotten that day
In the parlor when cried land made
wet spot on the arm OF the sofa
never forgot thnto, and he saw
then how hard II wns for me 10 live
here. with him 40 absorbed in his
work and Aunt Jane 10 stern In her
black dress. And he said put II
very wildly when I talked about
being Marie In Boston. and Mary
here. and he saw Just how II was
And so he thought about IL all win
ter. and wondered what he could do.
And after time II came TO him
he'd let mo be Marie here: that In.
he'd try 10 make II NO could be
Marie. And he was Just wondering
how hc was going 20 get Aunt Jane
to help him. when she was sent for
and asked 10 go 20 an old friend who
was sick. Then he rot Cousin Grace
to come here. He said he knew
Cousin Grace. and he was very sure
shs would know how 20 help him
20 let mr. stay Marie. so he talked
Il over with hcr--how they would
let mo laugh and nng. and play the
piano all wanted 20. and wear the
clothes ! brought with me, and be
just m near as I could bo tho way
I was In Boston
"And TO think. after All my prepara-
ton for Marie. you should be Mary
already. when you came" he fin.
ishcd.
Yes Wasn't II funny 7 laughed.
"Ali fhr time you wcr. getting ready
for Marie. Mother was getting me
rvsady To be Mary. II was funny
And II did seem funny 20 me then.
But Father was not laughing. lie
had sat back In his chair. and had
covered his eyes with his hand again.
as u he was thinking and thinking.
just as hard az he could And
suppose II did seem queer 10 him.
that he should be trying TO make me
Marie. and all the while Mother was
trying to mako mo Mary. And 81
seemed 10 TO me. as began to think
u over. II wasn't funny Mt all. any
longer.
And 20 your mothcr-dld that"
Father muttercd: and there was the
queer little catch IN his breath again.
lilo didn't say any more. not q
single word And after q minute he
got up and vent into the house. But
no didn't 70 into tho library where
Mrs. smaii and Cousin Grace were
talking. lie wen, straight upstairs
10 his own room and shut the door.
heard II. And he was rtiil there
when I went up 20 bed afterwards.
Well, gueas he doesn't feel any
worae than ] do. ! thought al first
II was funny. a good ,oke-his try.
Ing to have mo Marie while Mother
was making me over into Mary. But
nec now that II isn't Is's awful.
Why. how am I going TO know at all
who 20 be--nowf Before. used 10
know just when 20 be Mary. and
when to be Maric--Mary with
Father. Marie with Mother. Now I
don't know AZ all. why. they can't
even seem % agree on that, I sup.
pose IT'S Just ~nfne more Of that in
compatibility business showing up
even when they are apart And poor
me- have 10 suffer for H. I'm be.
ginning TO SEQ that tho child does
suffer- mean the child of unlilkcs.
Now. look Mt me right now--about
my clothes. for instance. tOf course
clothes arc n iittic thing. you may
think: but I don't think anythings
little that's always with you like
clothes areD Well. here all summer.
and even before came. I've been
wearing stuffy Bingham and ciumpy
shoes TO please Father. And Father
isn't pleased at all. He wanted me
TO wear the Marie things
And there you arc.
How do you suppose Mothers
going 10 feel when tell her that
after all her pains Father didn't like
Il at all. He wanted me TO be Marie.
It's a shame. after all the pains she
took bur I won't write IL to her