The Holbrook news., 1922-05-05
arIng mo each others faces.

THE HOLBRO, me staring mo each others faces.
 But l didn't stay much longer than Father did. l strode in to the hall, too, by Aunt Jane. But l didn't leave the house. came up here to my own room; and ever since I've been writ ing it all down in my book.
 of course, 1 don't know now what's going to happen next. But l wish you could have seen Aunt Jane's face when Father said I wasn't going to school today. I don't believe she's sure yet that she heard aright-though she didn't try to stop me, or even speak when 1 left and came upstairs. But just know she's keeping up power fu thinking
 For that matter, so am 1. What is going to happen next? Have l got to go to school tomorrow? But then. of course. l shan't do that. Besides, don't believe Fatherll ask me to, aft CT what I said about Mother. He didn't like that-what those girls said-any better than l did. I'm sure of that. Why, he looked simply furious. But there isn't any other school here that I can be sent to, and
 But what's the use? 1 might sur mise and speculate all day and not come anywhere near the truth. I must await-what the night will bring forth, as they say in really truly novels. FOUR DAYS LATER
 And what did the night bring forth! Yes. what did 1t bring! Verify it brought forth one thing thought noth- ing ever could have brought forth.
 II was like this.
 That night at the supper table Aunt Jane cleared her throat in the I-an- deterinined-I-will-sp kind of way that she always uses when she speaks to Father. (Aunt Jane doesn't talk to Father much more than Mother used tO.)
 Charles" she began.
 Father had an astronomy paper be- side his plate. and he was so busy reading he didn't hear. so Aunt Jane had to speak again-a little louder this time.
 "Charles. have something to say to you"
 "Eh? What? Oh-er-yes. Well, Jane. what Is it?" Father was looking up with his patient-if-it-kills-m air, and with his fOrefinger down on his paper to keep his place.
 As if anybody could talk to a per son who's simply tOlerating you for a minute like that, with his forefnger holding on to what he wants to tend to! Why. l actually found myself being sorry for Aunt Jane
 She cleared her throat again.
 Tt Is understood. of course, that Mary is to go to school tomorrow morning. I suppose" she said.
 Why. of course, of course" began Father impatiently. looking down at his paper. Of course she'll go to-" he stopped suddenly. A complete change came to his face. He grew red, then white. His eyes sort of flashed. "School?" he said then. in a hard, decided voice "Oh. no; Mary is not going to school tomorrow morn- ing" He looked down to his paper and began to read again. For him the subject Was very evidently closed But g. ;t
 'You don't mean. Charles. that she Is not to go to school at all, any more," she gasped.
 Exactly" Father read on in his paper without looking up.
 Aunt Jane's lips came together hard.
 Charles, I'm amazed at you-yield- ing to that child's whims like this that she doesn't want to go to school It's the principle of the thing that I'm Objecting to. Do you realize what it will lead to-what it."
 Jane" with a jerk Father sat up straight. q realize some things that perhaps you do not. But that is neither here nor there. l do not wish Mary to go to school any more this spring. That Is all; and l think-it is sufficient"
 Certainly" Aunt James lips came together again grim and hard. "Per- haps you will be good enough to say what she shall do with her time."
 "Time? Do? Why-er-what she always does; read, sew, study"
 study" Aunt Jane asked the Ques tion with hateful little smile that Father would have been blind not to have understood. And he was equal to it-but l most fell over backward when l found how equal to 1t he was.
 Certainly" he says, study. I'm hear her lessons myself-in the H. emoon. Now let us hear no more about it."
 With that he pushed back his plate and left the table without waiting for dessert. And Aunt Jane and were left alone
 l didn't say anything. Victors shouldn't boast-and l was victor. of course, about the school. But when l thought of wha, Father had said about my reciting my lessons to him every day in the library-l wasn't so sure whether I'd won out or not. Recite lessons to my father? Why, l couldn't even imagine such thingi
 Aunt Jane didn't say anything either guess she didn't know what to say. And 1t was kind of queer situation,