The Nevada County picayune., 1922-07-13
tThey never let me Interrupt Ike

AioHt Nis, Aoi saw Uy biS ihtt tiiaI 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 tine," begged him.
 T do not expect to-"
 I fell back in my chair, and I know l looked grieved and hurt and disap- pointed, as I almost sobbed:
 "Oh, Father, and when I thought you were going to!"
 There, there, child! He spoke, stern and almost cross now. This ab- surd nonsensical idea has gone quite far enough. Let us think no more about it."
 It isn't absurd and nonsensical :" I cried. And I could hardly say the words, I was choking up SO Every body said you were going to, and l wrote Mother so; and"
 You wrote that to your motherT' He did jump from his chair this time.
 "Yes; and she was glad"
 "Oh, she was! p He sat down sort of limp-like and queer.
 "Yes. She said she was glad you'd found an estimable woman to make home for you"
 "Oh, she did" He said this, too, in that queer, funny. quiet kind of way.
 "Yes." I spoke, decided and firm. I'd begun to think, all of a sudden. that maybe he didn't appreciate Mother as much as she did him; and I deter mined right then and there to make him, If I could. When I remember all the lovely things she'd said about him
 Father" began; and I spoke this time, even more decided and firm. T 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 I 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. 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 I know Mother always has-has your best interest at heart. She-she tried to make me over into Mary before l came. so as to please you.'
 "She did whatw Once more he made me jump, he turned so suddenly, and spoke with such a short, sharp snap.
 But in spite of the jump I went right on. just as I had before, firm and de cided. I told him everything-all about the cooking lessons, and the astronomy book we read an hour every day, and the pink silk dress I couldn't have, and the self f-discipline. And how she said If she'd had self-discipline when she was a girl, her life would have been very different.
 talked very fast and hurriedly. l was afraid he'd interrupt. and l wanted to get in all could before he did. But he didn't interrupt at all He did not even stir until I said how at the last she bought me the homely shoes and the plain dark suit so l could go as Mary, and he Mary when Aunt Jane first saw me get off the train.
 When I said that he dropped his hand and turned around and stared at me. And there was such funny look in his eyes Then he got up and began to walk up and down the piazza, nut tering: "So you came as Mary, you came as Mary" Then, after a minute, he gave a funny little laugh and sat down.
 Mrs. Small came up the front walk hen to see Cousin Grace, and Father told her to go right Into the library where Cousin Grace was So we were left alone again, after minute.
 It was most dark on the piazza, but I could see Fathers face In the light from the window and It looked-weil, I'd never seen 1t look like that before. It was as if something that had been CD 1t for years had dropped off and left 1t clear where before it had been blurred and indistinct. No, that doesn't exactly describe 1t either. can't describe 1t. But I'll go on and say what he said.
 After Mrs. Small had gone into the house and he saw that she was sit- ting down with Cousin Grace in the nhra1u he turned to me and said: