The Holbrook news., 1922-06-02
I went upstairs then, another flight.

Ana II Seelaeu suddenly 10 me as IT I'd just got tO find her. I wanted her so.
 And I found her.
 In the little back room where Aunt Hattie keeps her trunks and mOthball bags. Mother was on the floor in the corner crying. And when exclaimed out and ran over to her. I found she was sitting beside an old trunk that was open: and across her lap was a perfectly lovely pale-blue satin dress all trimmed with silver lace that had grown black. And Mother was crying and crying as if her heart would break.
 Of course, 1 tried and tried 10 stop her, and begged her to tell me what was the matter. But I couldn't do a thing. not thing. net for long time Then 1 happened to say what lovely dress, only what pity it was that the lace was all black.
 She gave a little choking cry then and began to talk-little short sen tences all choked up with sobs. SD that I could hardly tell what she was talk ing about. Then. little by little. I he. gan to understand.
 She said yes, it was all black-tar- nished and that it was just like every thing that she had had anything to do with-tarnished her life and her mar riage. and Fathers life. and mine everything was tarnished. just like thai silver lace on that dress. And she had done it by her thoughtless selfishness and lack of Self-diSclpilne.
 And when l tried and tried to tell her no, it wasn't, and that I didn't feel tarn-shed bit, and that she wasn't. nor Father either she only cried all the more, and shook her head and began again. all choked up.
 She said this little dress was the one she wore at the big reception where she first met Father. And she was so proud and happy when Father and he was fine and splendid and handsome then. too, she said-singled her out. and just couldn't seem to stay away from her minute all the eve ming And then four days later he asked her to marry him: and she was still more proud and happy.
 And she said their married life, when they started out, wss just like that beautiful dress, all shining and spot less and perfect; but that It wasn't two months before a little bit of tar nish appeared, and then another and another.
 She said she was selfish and willful and exacting, and wanted Father all to herself; and she didn't stop to think that he had his work to do, and his place to make in the world; and that all of living, to him, wasn't just in be- ing married to her. and attending t0 her every whim. She said she could see it all now, but that she couldn't then. she was too young. and undis- thing in the world she wanted.
 She said things went on worse and wOrse-and 1t was all her fault She grew sour and cross and disagreeable.
  she did not realize at all then what she was doing. She was just thinking of herself-always herself; her rights. her wrongs, her hurt feelings, her wants and wishes. She never once thought that he - had rights and wrongs and hurt feelings. maybe,
 She said lot more-Oh, ever so much more; but 1 can't remember It all, l know that she went on to say that ny and by the tarnish began to and that WAS the worst of all. she innocent children should suffer, and their young lives be spoiled by the kind of living I'd had to have, with this wretched makeshift of di- vided home. She began to cry again then. and begged me to forgive her; and I cried and tried to tell her didn't mind 1t but. of course. I'm older now. and know do mind 1t. though I'm try Ing just as hard us l can not to he Mary when I ought to be Marie. or Marie when I ought to be Mary. Only I get all mixed up so. lately, and 1 said so. and guess cried some more.
 Mother jumped up then. and said, ''Tut. tut" what was she thinking of to talk like this when it couldn't do | bit of good, but only made matters worse. And she said that only went to prove how she was still keeping on my happiness and bringing tears to my bright eyes, when certain ly nothing of the whole wretched busi- ness was my fault.
 She thrust the dress back into the trunk then. and shut the lid. And she began to talk and laugh and tell and ne gayer and joliier than I'd seen her for ever so long. And happened to mention the tomorrow night, and ask if she was going,
 She flushed up red then. oh, so red . and said, Certainly not" Then she added quick, with q funny little draw ng-in of her breath. that she should let Marie go. Though. with her Aunt Hattie. It was the only chance Fa- lhtr would have to see me, and she liGn't feel that she had any right tO deprive him of that privilege. and she didn't think 1t wOuN do me any harm to be out this once late In the evening. And she intended to let me go. TWO DAYS LATER
 Well. now I guess something's doing all right, And my hand is shaking so I can hardly write-it wants to get