The Hope pioneer., 1922-05-04

willie unQer your Iatner'S roof, II
would seem to me very poor taste, in
deed, for you to make constant refer
ence to things you may have been do
ing while not under his roof. The
situation is deplorable enough, how
ever you take it, without making it
positively unbearable. You will re-
member, Mary?"
Mary said, "Yes, Aunt Jane" very
polite and proper; but l can tell you
that inside of Mary, Marie was just
boiling.
unbearable, indeed!
We didn't say anything more all the
way home. Naturally, was not going
to, after that speech; and Aunt Jane
said nothing. So silence reigned su-
prelne.
Then we got home. Things looked
quite natural, only there was new
maid in the kitchen, and Nurse Sarah
wasn't there. Father wasn't there,
either. And. just as suspected, twas
star that was to blame, only this
time the star was the moon-aa
eclipse; and he'd gone somewhere out
west SO he could see 1t better.
He isn't coming back till next week;
and when think how he made me
come on the first day, so as to get in
the whole six months, when all the
time he did not care enough about it
to be here himself. I'm just mad-l
mean, the righteously indignant kind
of mad-for can't help thinking how
poor Mother would have loved those
extra days with her.
Aunt Jane said l was to have my
old room. and so. as soon as got here,
went right up and took off my hat
and coat, and pretty quick they
brought up my trunk, and unpacked
it.; and l didn't hurry about it, either.
wasn't bit anxious to get down.
stairs again to Aunt Jane. Besides,
l may as we'll own up, was crying
a little. Mothers room was right
across the hall, and it looked so lone
some, and couldn't help remember
ing how different this homecoming
was from the one in Boston, six
months ago.
In the morning l went up to the
schoolhouse. l planned it so as to get
there at recess, and saw all the girls
except one that was sick, and one that
was away. We had a perfectly lovely
time, only everybody was talking all
at once so that don't know now what
was said. But they seemed glad to see
me. l know that. Maybe I'll go to
school next week. Aunt Jane says
she thinks ought to, when it's only
the first of May. She's going to speak
to Father when he comes next week.
She was going to speak to him
about my clothes; then she decided to
attend to those herself, and not bother
him. She doesn't like my dresses. She
came into my room and asked to see
my things. My But didn't l hate to
show them to her? Marie said she
wouldn't; but Mary obediently 'trotted
to the closet and brought them out
one by one.
Aunt Jane turned them around with
the tips of her fingers, all the time
signing and shaking her head. When
I'd brought them all out she shook
her head again and said they would
not do at all-not in Andersonville
that they were extravagant, and much
too elaborate for young girl; that
she would see the dressmaker and ar
range that had some serviceable
blue and brown serges at once.
Blue and brown serge, indeed! But
there, what's the use? I'm Mary now
keep forgetting that; though l don't
see how l can forget it-with Aunt
Jane around.
But, listen. A funny thing happened
this morning. Something came ur
about Boston, and Aunt Jane asked
me a question. Then she asked an
other and another, and she kept me
talking till l guess talked most 9
whole half-hour about Grandpa Des
mond, Aunt Hattie, Mother, and the
house, and what we did, and, oh, q
whole lot of things. And here, JUS
two days ago, she was telling me that
she wasn't interested in Grandpa Des
mond, his home, or his daughter, OF
anything that was his!
There's something funny about
Aunt Jane.