The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-06

about IL.
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 | was a victor.
Of course, about the school But
when | thought of what Father had
said about my reciting my lessons to
him every day in the library
wasn't so sure whether I'd won out
or not. Recite lessons TO my fatheri
Why. / couldn't even ina CINE such a
thing,
Aunt Jane didn't say anything either.
| guess she didn't know what to say.
And it was kind OF a queer situation,
when you came right down to 1t. Both
of US sitting there and knowing |
wasn't going back to school any more,
and | knowing why. and knowing Aunt
Jane didn't know why. COZ course /
had not told Aunt Jane about Mother
and Mrs. Mayhew.) It would be
funny world, wouldn't it, if we all
knew what each other was thinking
wouldn't any of US speak to each 9TH
er, I'm afraid, we'd be so angry at
what the other was thinking.
Well, Aunt Jane and I didn't speak
that night at the supper table. We
finished In stern silence then; Aunt
Jane went upstairs to her room and
l went up to mine. (You see what
perfectly wildly exciting life .llary is
living. And when think of how full
of good times Mother wanted every
minute to be. But that was for
Marie, of course.)
The next morning after breakfast
Aunt Jane said:
'You will spend your forenoon study
ing. Mary. See that you learn well
your lessons, so as not to annoy your
father
Eyes, Aunt Jane" said Mary. po-
lite and proper. and went upstairs
obediently; but even Mary didn't
know exactly how to study those les
sons.
Carrie had brought me all my books
from school. | had asked her to
when I knew that I was not going
back. There were the lessons that
had been assigned for the next day,
Of course, and I supposed probably
Father would want me to study those
But couldn't imagine Father teaching
me all alone. couldn't imagine my.
self reciting lessons to Father!
But l needn't have worried. If
could only have known. Little did
think-But, there, this Is no way to
tell a story. l read in a book. How
to Write a Novel" that you mustn't
"anticipate." q thought folks always
anticipated novels. I do. I thought
you wanted them to.)
Well. to go on.
Father got home at four o'clock. !
saw him come up the walk. and !
waited till | was sure he'd got settled
in the library, then I went down.
He wasn't there.
minute later saw him crossing
the lawn to the observatory Well.
what to do didn't know Mary said
to 20 after him: hnt Marie said nay.
nay. And in spite of being Mary just
now, | let Marie have her way.
Rush after him and tell him he'd
forgotten to hear my lessons? Fa-
ther? WseH.rI guess not Resides 1t
wasn't my fault. was there all
ready. It wasn't my blame that he
wasn't there to hear me. But he
might remember and come back. Well
If he did I'd be there. SO | went to
one of those bookcases and pulled out
a touch-me-not book from behind the
glass door. Then sat down and read
till the supper bell rang.
Father was five minutes late to sup
per. don't know whether he looked
at me or not. didn't dare TO look at
him-until Aunt Jane said. In hel
chilliest manner:
"T trust your daughter had good
lessons Charles"
had to look at him then. i just
couldn't look anywhere else. So
was looking straight at him when he
gave that funny little startled glance
into my eyes. And into his eyes ther
there crept the funniest, dearest little
understanding twinkle-and I sudden
" realized that Father, Father. wa.
laughing with me at little secret be
tween us. But t was only for a sec
ond. The next moment his eyes were
very grave and looking at Aunt Jane
! 81 have no cause to complain-o
my daughters lessons today" he sale
very quietly. Then he glanced Owe
at me again. But had to look ava,
quick, or I would have laughed RICH
out.
When he got up from the table h,
said to me: 81 shall expect to see yol
tomorrow in the library at four. Mary.
And Mary answered: Yes, Father
polite and proper, as she should; but
Marie inside was just chuckling witt
the joke Of 1t all.
The next day I watched again a
four for Father to come up the walk
and when he had come in went dowr
to the library. He was there in hi
pet seat before the fireplace. (Fathel
always sits before the fireplace
whether there's a fire there or not
And sometimes he looks so funny Sit
ting there, staring into those gra.
ashes just as If 1t was the livelies
tind of a fire he was watching)
Continued Monday
NOTICE