The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-06
CHAPTER VI
Wh~n I Am Both Together

Boston again.
Wen. came last night Mother
and grandfather and Aunt Hattie
and naby Lester all met me at the
station. And. my wasn't l glad to
sce them Well. JUS, guess was'
was specially glad on account OF
having such a dreadful time with
father that morning I mean. was
feeling specially lonesome and home
sick. and not belonging a anywhere
like.
You see. II was this way: ia been
sort Of hoping. ! know. that At tho
last. when came to really 70. father
would get back the understanding
smile and twinkle. and show that he
really did care for me. and was sorry
TO have mo go. But dear me, Why.
he never was 80 stern and solemn.
and yoa'rcmy -dauS hter only blythe
order OF court sort Of way as he was
that morning.
II. never even spoke at the break
fast table. ue wasn't there hardly
long enough 10 speak. anyway. and
he never ate a thing. only hi. cot.
feel mean he drank IL Then he
pushed his chair back from the table
and stalk~d out OF the room.
He went to the station with me:
but he didn't talk there much. only
10 ask IL was sure I hadn't for.
gotten anything. and was I warmly
clad. Warmly clad. indeed, And
there 4, was still August. and hot as
II could be- hut that only goes 10
show how absent minded he was. and
how little he was really thinking
Of mel
Wen. OF course. he got my ticket
and checked my trunk. and did all
those proper. necessary things: then
We sat down TO wal, for the train.
But did he stay with me and talk 10
me and tell me how glad he had
been TO have me with him. and how
sorry he was TO have mo go. and all
the other nice. polite things most
everybody thinks they've got 10 say
when a visitor goes away II. did
not He asked me again II was
sure I had not left anything. and
was ! warmly clad. then he took out
his newspaper and began to read.
That IN. he pretended to read. but I
don't believe he read much, for he
never turned the sheet once: and
twice. when looked at him. he was
looking fixediy at me. as II he was
thinking of something. SO I guess
he was Just pretending to read. so he
wouldn't have to talk 10 me.
But he didn't even do that long.
for he got up and went over and
looked at a map hanging on the wall
opposite, and at big timetable near
the other corner. Then he looked at
his watch again with a wont.that.
train-ever-c0ne7 air. and walked
back to me and sat down.
And how do you suppose felt. 20
have him act like that before all
those people--to show so plainly that
he was just longing to have me go7
] guess he wasn't any more ANXIOUS
for that train 10 come than / was
and ! didn't see him again. though IL
come. too. And IL didn't come for
ages. 1t was 10 minutes late.
oh. / did so hope he wouldn't go
down to the junction. It's so hard
TO be taken care OF because tia my
duty. you know But he went. I
told him he needn't. when he was
getting on the train with me. I told
him ] just knew I could do IL beau.
ufully all by myself. almost a. young
lady like me. But he only put his
lips together hard. and said. cold,
like ice; Are you then 30 eager to
be rid OF me?" Just as II I was the
one that was eager to get rid OF
somebody
Well. az | said. he went. But he
want much better on the ira IN than
he lad bean In the station. lie was
as nervous and fidgety as a witch,
and he acted as II he did 40 wish u
would be over. and over quick. But
at the Junctlon--at the junction
funny thing happened He put roc
on the train. just as mother had
done, and spoke to the conductor.
tlIow ! hated to have him do that
Why. I'm six whole months older,
most, thao was when went up
thereD And then, when he'd put me
In my seat Gather. mean. not the
all of a sudden he leaned
over and kissed me; kissed me
father. Then, before could speak,
or even look at him, he WAS gone;
end didn't Sc him again. though IL