Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-03

Its not river! 1t isn't even a creek It's
brook!" said Jim. And Ted agreed, and they
talked of rivers mile wide. until Bill groaned.
Christmas came, and for Bill two weeks at
Swaythling There was good Christmas cheer.
But he longed for snow; he couldn't even skate
He had wanted to ask Ted home for the hol
days. but his mother had written that 1t would
not be convenient. Yet the house had been no
more than half fun of guests. Back to school
after that, and the long grind until Easter in
London, when he did something Of Ted
Bill hated the second winter term at school,
Foot ball all over; hockey had never ap.
pealed to him; he thought it was girls game
And Ted talked of what he called real hockey
which you played on the ice, skating after q
puck endowed with life it slid across the
frozen surface Of a rink.
1t was at Easter that Ted spoke out frankly.
II thought you were coming home some time
They had been having lunch with Mr. Little,
and he. having business. had suggested a matt
nee and furnished tickets. '.'t
I'VE are-drectly my father finishes his
business here" said BILL little flushed.
''Well-bu -say-Dad-he says your faith
er's going to stay here and turn Englishman!
He says he's never going home-says your
mother won't let him
my mater" Bill wanted to say something
in her defense, but he choked on the words. He
stared at Ted, dismayed, Mortified For the first
time the secret fear that had been mounting in
him had been expressed. 'The governor won't
do that!" he cried hercely. He's an American
yau bet"
Nv eria- that's what eveFyone's saying that's
all know" said Ted. "All the men my dad
meets-Americans here. ! guess he heard Il
first from Mr.. White. He's a newspaper man.
and I guess he knows what he's talking about"
II guess he doesn't!" satd B4ll. MOT II he
says things like that! You mind your own busi-
ness, young Ted!"
"Oh, all right was only telling you what
II vou ~
shirt on-as you'd say
Bill dined with his mother. alone, that eve
ming: an unusual privilege. And he gained
the courage to speak to her.
he said
"Why-I don't know She looked at him
curiously 1t was hard for Mrs. Halliday to
realize that Bill growing up; that before
SO very long she would have two men. instead
, of one, to manage do you want to, so very
much, Bill? How do you know you'd like
America? You can't remember It."
mo. Butts home"
She frowned.
'It's home here too, isn't 1t, Bill? You've
grown up here You like school,, don't you?
He nodded. '"And swaythAng? All your friends
here. Don't you want to go to the universe
ty when they do?"
He shook his head.
IT want to go to Princeton"
"You must talk to your father" she said
i
But your father is very important man. Some
one has to lire here to look after business for
his firm Someone will have to do that, al
ways. We've thought that you could do IL, when
your father retires And it will be better If
you're really an Engshman-" -
But can't be that, mother! I'm an
American"
DO you know what it means when anyone
is naturalized, Bill?"
He just stared at her.
"If your father were to be naturalized, for
instance, he'd be an Englishman, afterward.
And you and I would be English, too because
belong to him."
"But-he won't be. mother! He-he-
couldn't"
Hes been thinking about it. Bill suppose
you will have to decide for yourself. later,when
you're 21. But just now your father has to do
what seems best to him."
Tits not fair!"
BILL That's rude. Your manners haven't
been very nice since you have been going around
so much with that American boy-Little, isn't
it?" :.
"Tm sorry, mother. But"
I'VE won't talk any more about 1t, dear.
up his mind
back to school for the long term. But Il was
almost as II Mrs. Halliday sought to prevent q
meeting between them. Nor did Bill see much
more of Ted Never had he seen so much of
his mother during his holidays. He lunched
with her at the Carlton; once she took him with