Gunnison news-champion., 1922-06-02


when fathers sIeak 20 you couldn't
had seen H. But tried very hard TO
stop now. Ny first thought. after my
startled realization that be was there.
was to wonder how long be had been
thsre-how much q all that awful
sInsin. and banging he had heard
Yes sir ! tried not 10 have my
voice shake as said II but couldn't
quite help that
What i the meaning OF this. Maryt
Why are you cryirgT-
shook ny head. ! didn't want 10
tell him. of course; 50 Just STAN.
mered out something about being sorry
! had disturbed him Then I edged
toward the door 10 shoN him that II
he would step one side would 20
away at oucs and not bother him any
longer.
But he didn't step one side He
ssSed more questions. one right after
sruthrr.
Arr you sick. Mar :"
shook my head.
did you hurt yoursslfT"
~itupE my head again.
1t lSii't--ynur mo,her-yon haven.
had bad news from herr
And then blurted It out without
hlnkIug-without thlnkins at all what
was saying: No, no-but wish ]
had, wish | had; cause then could
70 to her, and go away from herei"
The minute I'd snld Il knew what I'd
said. and how awful Il sounded and ]
ClHpped my fingers to my lips But I
WIS too late It's always too late
when you've once said Il. So | just
waited for him TO thunder out his
anger; for. of course. thought he
would thunder In rage and righteous
Indignation.
But he didn't. Instead, very quietly
and gently he said:
Are you 50 unhappy. then, Mary
here7" r
And | looked at him. and his eyes
and his mouth and his whole face
weren't angry at ali. They We're just
sorry, actually sorry. And somehow.
and futher. with his arm around me
with his arm around me! think Of
that was leading me to the sofa
And | cried and cried there. with my
head on the arm Of the sofa. till I'd
made big tear spot on the linen
cover; and wondered II IL would dry
up before Aunt Jane saw II, or II Il,
81 Oh l. 81
the red plush underneath. or some
other dreadful thing. And then. some
way. ! found myself telling 1t all over
to Father-about Mary and Marie. 1
mean. Just as II he was Mother or
some one ! loyed-l mean, some one
loved and wasn't afraid Of: for OF
course love Father. OF course do!
Well, told him everything twhen l
got started there was no stoppIng)-
all about how hard II was to be Mary,
and how today / had tried TO be Marie
for just little while. to rest me- He
interrupted here, and wanted to know
II that was why / looked so different
today-more as / had when | first
came; and / said yes, that these were
Marie things that Mary couldn't wear.
And when he asked, why. prayf" in
voice almost cross. / told him, OF
course. that Aunt Jane wouldn't let
me; that Mary had to wear brown
serge and calfskin boots that were
durable, and that would wear well.
And when I told him how sorry
was about the music and such noise
as I'd been making, he asked II that
WIS Marie's fault, TOO and said yes,
of eourse-that Aunt Jane didn't like
to have Mary play at all, except
hymns and funeral marches. and Mary
didn't know any. And he grunted a
queer little grunt. and said. We'll,
well. upon my soul. upon my soul II
Then he said, go on" And l did 20
on.
l told him how I was afraid II was
going to be just ike DR.. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde. Il forgot to say I've read
II now. found 1t In Fathers library)
OF course not just like It. only one OF
me was going to be bad. and one good.
was afraid. II didn't look out r.
told him how Marie always wanted 10
kick up rugs. and move the chairs out
Of their sockets in the carpet, and
leave books around handy, and such
things. And SO today IL seemed as If
I'd just got to have a vacation from
Mary's hot ginsham dresses and
clumsy shoes. And l told him how
lonesome was without anybody. no,
anybody: and / told about Charlie
Smith and Paul Mayhem and Mr..
Claude Livingstone, and how Aunt
Jane wouldn't let me have them.
either, even II was standing where
the brook and river meet.
Father gave another funny little
grunt here. and got up suddenly and
walked over to the window / thought
at hrst he was angry; but he wasn't.
he was even more gentle when he
came back and sat down again. and
he seemed Interested. very much inter-