The Washington times., 1920-11-04

Sounds like a wedding trip.'
cried. squeez ng his arm.
"oh. Babbsie. how could you fore
stall my surprise by guessingf"
laughed Neal by heck! here they
come; and there's tho blessed old
governor Juggling his own bag. for
all the world as II he hadn't a rich
son In real estate and pining to
spend his earnings In ten-cent tips
and such"
He finished as we dashed for
ward to swallow up Father Andrew
in our eager arms. In a m mute we
had begun the usual series OF ques-
tions about health and feelings and
were fighting for Father Andrews
possessions as we piloted him
across the station.
"What's this? What's this-'
cried Father Andrew as we pulled
up short next to the big dark blue
car. whose door panel was marked
"a. l. H."
This is our Babbsie's own coach.
but II may turn back nto a pump
kin any minute" chuckled Neal.
$50 my girl is riding around in
the comfort she deserves" said
Father Andrew tenderly.
FATHER ANDREW PLEASED.
By this time Lyons was off the
drivers seat and slowing fathers
possessions In the car. Touching
his cap. he asked II he should take
the trunk check and get the bag
gage to carry home on the car,
but. transfxing the man with one
OF his shrewd yet kindly glances,
Father Andrew replied that he
was travelling light-just the two
bags we'd already slowed in the
car.
Yes. sir" said Lyons. touching
his cap again. But in that moment
I felt, strangely enough. that the
two had measured each other.
All the way home the talk was
of Neal and me. Father Andrew
seemed to have an Unsuitable appe-
tite for everything that concerned
his children. and showed even
more than his usual reticence
when 1t came to talking about
himself. But when he'd greeted
Phoebe and Jim. and had admired
the apartment and enjoyed Angys
version Of fatted calf for
fathers. there was a purposeful
air in the way he settled down in
the living room and to a big per-
fecto.
Don't make the old man feel too
good. children" he said. "or he
and start on his long hike In day
or two"
where you hiking to. dadr"
asked Neal. phoebe and I are
some little mixers ourselves. May
hA cntIld Nth
AFTER what,- asked Father An
drew briskly.
After the wedding" cried Neal.
throwing out his chest "Jeanie
and Pat are honeymooning again
and we're ready to be next"
Father Andrew beamed.
"Fine! But you must wait for
my return" he said, skipping over
Virginia's romance in astonishing
fashion and imposing his will on
Neal as I'd never known him to
do. you see, children, I'm of for
a very important trip to the wilds
of the Canadian northwest" he
added. Expecting a wire any day.
Probably have to go tomorrow"
RATHER A BLOW.
There was a queer mumbling ef-
feet to his sentences. 1t seemed
unlike dear. straightforward Father
Andrew. wondered II 1t meant
that he was getting old and-dif-
ferent But when I took quick
inventory Of the faces I perceived
that no one else seemed mystihed.
Father Andrew. however. caught
my wondering glance and went on
with an abrupt change of manner.
II want to be best man or some
thing prominent like that at this
wedding. But for all that I can't
postpone this trip of mine, SO may
be you'll oblige an old gentleman
who's more or less interested, by
putting off the great day"
Phoebe's face paled-then GRIM
soned. Her lips trembled from
wistfulness to wilfulness.
will you be long gomez" she
t-A