The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-18


We sat back--a long ways back. I
wanted TO so up front. real far front
the front scat. IL could get n.
and | told Mother so. But she said.
Mercy. nor and shuddervd. and
went back two more rows from
where she was. and got behind a big
post.
guess she was afraid Father
would see us. but that's what ! want
ed. l wanted him TO see us. ] want
ell him to be right In the middle Of
his lecture and look down and see
right there before him his little girl
Mary. and she that had been the
wife OF his bosom. Now that would
have been what called thrilling.
real thrilling. especially II he jumped
or grew red. or white. or stamufcred,
or stopped short. or anything TO
show that he'd seen us--and cared
I'D have loved that.
But we sat back where Mother
wanted to. behind the post And. OF
course. Father never saw us at all.
IL was lovely lecture. oh. OF
course. don't mean 10 say that |
understood IT. ! didn't But his
voice was fine. and no looked Just
too grand for anything, with the
light on his noble brow. and he used
the loveliest big words that ever
heard. And folks ciappcd. and look.
ed at each other. and nodded. and
once or twice they laughed. And
when he was all thru they ciapped
again. harder than ever. And ! was
so proud Of him ! wanted to stand
right up and hoiier. Hes my father
He's my father!- just as loud ms I
could. But. Of course. ! didn't !
just clappcd like the rest: only ]
wished my hands were big Hike the
mans next to me. 80 ! could have
made moro noise.
Another man spoke then. n little
mot near 80 good as Fathcri. and
then IL was all over. and everybody
got up TO go: and I saw that a lot
Of folks were crowdlng down the
aisle. and looked and there was
Father right In front OF tho plat
form shaking hands with folks.
looked at Mother then. Her face
was all pinky-whitc. and her eyes
were shining. I guess she though,
I spoke. for all OF sudden she
shook her head and said:
NO. no. couldn't. I couldn't Blu,
you may. dear. Run along and speak
10 him. but don't stay. Remember
Mother Ia waiting. and come right
back"
I knew then that Il must have
been Just my eyes that spoke. fos
I did want to 80 down there and
speak To Father. oh. did want "a
got And I went then. OF course.
He didn't see mo Mt first There
was q long limo Of US, and big faI
man doing q lot Of talking TO him
so we couldn't move ut all. for a
time. Then Il came to when I wa,
just three people away from him
And was looking straight at him
He saw me. then. And. oh. how
7 did love the look that came u
his face: Il was 80 surprised and
glad. and said. '-Oh, You" In suct
n perfectly lovely way that chokct
all up and wanted toscry. The idea
cry when was 40 glad 20 sec
HIND
gucsn tho two folks ahead Of me
didn't think they got much attention
and the next minute he had drawn
me out OF the line. and we were both
talking at once. and telling each
other how glad we were TO SEQ each
other.
But he was looking for Mother
know he was: for the next minute
after he saw me. he looked rich,
over my head at the woman back oil
me. And all the while he was talk
ing with me his eyes would look
at me and then leap ms swift as light
ming first here. and then there. al
lover the hall. But he didn't zee her
I knew he didn't see her. by the look
on his face. And pretty quick I said
I'd have to 60. And then he said:
Your mother-perhaps she dldn''
did she Gomez" And his face grew
all red and rosy as he asked the
question.
And I said yes, and she was walt
ing and that was why I had to nc