The Hope pioneer., 1922-07-13
CHAPTER vII-continued.
AUGUST

which do they want me to be? Oh, !
wish was just plain Susie or Bes
sic, and not a cross-current and con-
tradiction, with a father that wants
me to be one thing and mother that
wants me to be another! It was bad
enough before, when Father wanted
me to be Mary, and Mother wanted
me to be Marie. But now
Well, to begin at the beginning.
It's all over-the love story, mean,
and know now why it's been so hard
for me to remember to be Mary and
why everything is different, and all.
They don't want me to be Mary.
They want me to be Marie.
And now don't know what to
think. If Mothers going to want me
to be Mary, and Fathers going to
want me to be Marie, how am going
to know what anybody wants, ever?
Besides, it was getting to be such a
beautiful love story-Father and Cou-
sin Grace And now
But let me tell you what happened.
1t was last night. We We're on the
piazza. Father, Cousin Grace, and l.
She got up and went into the house
for something-Cousin Grace, mean
and all of sudden determined to
tell Father how glad was, about hin:
and Cousin Grace; and how hopec
it would last-having him; out theirs
with US, and all that. And told him.
don't remember what said exact.
". But hadn't anywhere near said
what l wanted to when he did stop
me. Why, he almost jumped out of
is-chair.
"Mary!" he gasped. "What in the
world are you talking about?"
"Why, Father, was telling you," !
explained. And tried to be so cool
and calm that it would make him calm
and cool, too. (But it didn't calm him
or cool him one bit.) "1t's about when
you're married and"
"Married!" he interrupted again.
(They never let me interrupt like
that
ITO Cousin Grace-yes. But Father,
you-you are going to marry Cousin
Grace, aren't you?" cried-and did
most cry, for I saw by his face that
he was not.
"That is not my present Intention"
he said. His lips came together hard,
and he looked over his shoulder to see
If Cousin Grace was coming back.
"But you're going to some time,"
begged him.
II do not expect to-"
fell back in my chair, and I know
looked grieved and hurt and disap-
pointed, as almost sobbed:
"Oh, Father and when thought
you were going to!"
"There, there, child! He spoke.
surd nonsensical idea has gone quite
far enough. Let us think no more
about it."
1T isn't absurd and nonsensical ="
cried. And could hardly say the
words, l was choking up so. Every
body said you were going to, and 1
wrote Mother so; and"
"You wrote that to your mother?'
He did jump from his chair this time.
'Yes; and she was glad"
"Oh. she was!'' He sat down sort Of
limp-like and queer.
"Yes. She said she was glad you'd
found an estimable woman to make a
home for you."
ooh. she did," He said this, too, In
that queer, funny, quiet kind of way.
YES" l spoke, decided and firm. I'd
begun to think, all of sudden, that
maybe he didn't appreciate M.ther as
much as she did him; and deter
mined right then and there to make
him, if l could. When remember all
the lovely things she'd said about
him
Father" began; and spoke this
time, even more decided and firm. II
don't believe you appreciate Mother" "
"Eh, What?"
He made me jump this time, he
turned around with such jerk, and
spoke so sharply. But in spite of the
Jump l still held on to my subject,
firm and decided
II say don't believe you appreciate
my mother. You acted right now as
If you didn't believe she meant It when
told you she was glad you had found
an estimable woman to make home
for you. But she did mean it. I know,
because she said it before. once. last
year, that she hoped you would find
one. Yes, and that isn't all. There's
another reason why know Mother
always has-has your best interest at
heart. She-she tried to make me over
into Mary before came, SO as to
please you."
"She did what?" Once more he made
me jump, he turned SC suddenly, and
spoke with such short. sharp snap.
But In spite of the jump I went right
on, just as had befote. firm and de-
cided. told him every:hing-all about
the cooking lessons. and the astronomy
book we read an hour every day. and
the pink silk dress ! couldn't have, and
the self-discipline. And how she said
oh