The Nevada County picayune., 1922-06-15

weeks he'd Been different, really diff ferent. But more of that anon. I'll 20 on with what happened at the table. And, as I said, I did feel bad to have him speak like that. And I can re- member now just how the lump came right up In my throat.
 Then Aunt Jane spoke, stiff and dig nif1ed
 "Oh, very well, of course, If you put 1t that way. can quite well under stand that you would want her to go- for your sake But I thought that. under the circumstances, you would manage somehow to put up With the noise and"
 "Jane - Just like that he interrupt ed, and he thundered, too so that Aunt Jane actually jumped And guess did, too. He had sprung to his feet. "Jane, let us close this mat ter once for all am not letting the child go for my sake. l am letting her go for her own. So far as I an concerned. if l consulted ne ones wishes but my own, l shouid-keep her here always"
 With that he turned anG strede from the room, leaving Aunt Jane and me just staring after him.
 But only for q minute did stare. It came to me then what he had said that he would like to keep me here always. For I had heard it, even if lie had said the last word very low, and in queer, indistinct voice. l was sure I had heard 1t, and l suddenly realized what 1t meant. So ran after him and that time, If had found him, l think 1 would have hugged him. But I didn't find him. He must have gone quite away from the house. He wasn't even out to the observatory. 1 went out to see.
 He didn't come in all the afternoon. 1 watched for that. too. And when he did come-well, I wouldn't have dared to hug him then. He had his very sternest I-am-not- thinking of -you-at-all air, and he just came in to supper and then went into the library without say ing hardly anything Yet. some way, the look on his face made me cry. don't know why.
 The next day he was more as he has been since we had that talk in the parlor And he has been different since then. you know. He really has. He has talked quite lot with me. as I have said, and think he's been try ing, part of the time, to find something I'll be interested i'll. Honestly think he's been trying to make up for Carrie Heywood and Stella Mayhew and Charlie Smith and Mir Livingstone. think that's why he took me to walk that day in the woods, and why he took me out to the observatory to see the stars quite a number of times Twice he's asked me 10 play to him and once he asked me If Mary wasn't about ready to dress up in Marie's clothes again. But he was joking then. I knew, for Aunt Jane was right twinkle in his eyes that I've seen there once or twice before just love that twinkle in Fathers eyes
 But that hasn't come any since Mothers letter to Aunt Jane arrived. He's been the same in one way. yet different in another. Honestly. if il didn't seem too wildly absurd for any thing. should say he was actually sorry to have me go. But of course that isn't possible Oh. yes, I know he said that day at inc dinner tahlp thHt he should like to keep me always. But don't think he really meant It. He hasn't acted a mite Ike that since and I guess he said if just to hush up Aunt Jane. and make her stop arguing the matter
 Anyway Pm going tomorrow. And I'm so excited can hardly breathe