The spectator., 1921-11-22

name-unless he visited here. CT got into the papers in some way" Mrs. Atwater seemed unwilling to yield mysterious point She rocked l dec0rouSly in her chair. shook her head, and after setting her lips rigid | ly. opened them to insist tbat she could never change her mind: Julia had acted very abruptly. Why couldn't she have let her poor father know. at least few days before she dd?'
 Mir. Atwator sighed. Why. she OK plains in her letter that she only knew it. herself, an hour before she wrote"
 Tier poor fathcf," his wife repeat ed commiseratngly.
 Why. Mollie. don't sec that fath- CTS especially to be pitied.''
 Don't youe" said Mrs. Atwater. | That old man, 10 have to live in tfat big house all alone, cXcCp: few ne gro servantsf"
 Why. no! About half the houses | in the ncishhorh0od. up and down the l street. are fully occupied by close rel:- tiyes of his I doubt If he'll be really IS lonely as he'd like to he. And hes often said he'd give great deal If l Julia had been plain. unpopular girl l I'm strongly of the opinion. myself. l that hc'u be pleased about tl!s. or 1 course 1t may upset him little. just | at first"
 "YeS; I think it wiIl!' Mrs At water shook her head forebodlngiy. 1 And he isn't the only one it's going to upset"
 No. he isn't" her husband admit ted. seriously. '"rhat'S always been 1 the trouble with Julia she never could bear to seem disappointing; and 90, ot ! course ! suppose every one of 'em had 1 q special idea that he was really about 1 the top of the list with her"
 "Every last one of 'cm was positive of it." said Mrs Atwatcr That WIS 1 Julia's way with 'emt'
 Yes, Julia's always been much too ] kind-heHrted for other peoples good V 1 Thus Mir Atwater summed up-Gnd | he was this Jullas brother. Addition l known her since her birth.
 If you ask me" said his wife. "l'li really be surprised if Ii all goes through without suicide
 ''Oh. not quite suicide, perhaps" Mr. Atwatcr protested. I'm glad its a dry state, though !''
 She failed to fatho;n his simple meaning "Why?'
 "Well. some of 'em might feel that desperate ut least" he explained. Prohibitions & safeguard for the dis. appointed in love-
 This phrase and previous one 1 stirred Florence. who had been sitting quietly. according to request, and resting. but not resting her curi- oslty. Who's disappointed in love, papa?" she inquired with an explosive eagerncss which slightly startled her preoccupied parents. What is all this about A t Julia, and Grandpa goIn' 1 to live alone, and people committing suicide and prohibition and every thing? What Is all this, mamaT'
 "Nothing. Florence"
 Nothing, That's what you always | say about the very most Interesting l things that happen in the whole fam fly, What is all this, papa?"
 Its nothing that would be inter esting to little girls, Florence. Mere 1 ly some family matters" My goodness" 1" Florence exclaimed. I'm not \ little girl any more, papa ! 1 You're always forgetting my age And If it's family matter l belong to the | family. I guess. about as much as any l body else. don't |? Grandpa himself l isn't any more one of the family than am. don't care how old he lsf This was undeniabe, and her father laughed. 'lt's really nothing you'd care about one way or the other" he said
 Well. I'd care about 1t if It's a sc cret." Florence insisted. "If It's se- cret I'd wan, to know 1t whatever it's about"
 "Oh. 1t isn't secret particularly, made public for time: it's only to he known In the family"
 Well. didn't l just prove I'm ss much one O the family as"
 Never mind" her father said sooth- ingly. T don't suppose there's any harm In your knowing tiff you won't go telling everybody. Your aunt Julia has Just written us that she's en- gagged"
 Mrs. Atwatcr uttered an exclama- tion. but she was too late 10 check him.
 What's the matterT" he asked.
 I'm afraid you oughtn't to have told Florence. She isn't just the most discreet-"
 "pshaw!" he laughed. 'She certain ly Is one of the family, however and Julia wrote that all of the family might be told. You1l not speak of It outside the family. win you. Flor enc~r'
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