The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-29
Mary
Marie
Best story eueS lerttsn By
ELEANOR n. PORTER
Author q
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Author u
"Psuvanna. " "Iust Dssil. "
"Daen. !" ste.

anybody else around she's taken Peter
and had him drive US all over Boston
20 see things-all kinds Of things;
Bunker hill and museums, and moving
pictures, and one play.
But we didn't stay at the play. 1t
started out all right, but pretty soon
man and a woman on the stage began
20 quarrel. They were married (not
really, but in the play, L mean). and
guess 1t was some more Of that in
compatibility stuff. Anyhow, as they
began to talk more and more, Mother
began to fidget, and pretty soon I saw
she was gathering up our things; and
the minute the curtain went down
after the first act, she says:
"Come, dear, we're going home. It
Il isn't very warm here"
Az IL didn't know what she was
really leaving fort Do old folks hon
estly think they are fooling US all the
time, I wonderf But even II hadn't
known then, I'd have known 1t later,
for that evening I heard Mother and
Aunt Hattie talking In the library.
No, I didn't listen. I heard. And
that's q very different matter. You
listen when you mean to, and that
sneaking. You hear when you can't
help yourself, and that you can't be
blamed for. Sometimes it's your good
luck, and sometimes it's your bad
luck-just according to what you hear!
Well, was in the window-seat In
the library reading when Mother and
Aunt Hattie came in; and Mother was
saying:
"Of course came out! Do you sup
pose I'd have had that child see that
play, after realized what 1t was2 AS
II she hasn't had enough of sucl
wretched stuff already in her short
life! Oh, Hattie, Hattie, want that
child to laugh, to sing, to fairly tingle
with the Joy of living every minute
that she Is with me. I know so we
what she has had, and what she will
have-in that-tomb. You know in
six months she goes back"
Mother saw me then, I know; for
she stopped right off short, and after
q moment began to talk Of something
else, very fast. And pretty quick ii
went out into the hall again.
Dear little Mother! Bless her old
heart! Isn't she the ducky dear to
want me to have all the good times
possible now 80 as to make up for the
six months I've got to be with Father?
You see, she knows what 1t is to live
with Father even better than do.
Well, guess she doesn't dread 1t
for me any more than do for myself.
Still, I'll have the girlssthere, and I'm
dying to see them again-and I won't
have to stay home much. only nights
and meals, Of course, and Fathers al
ways pretty busy with his stars and
comets and things. Besides it's only
for six months, then I can come back
10 Boston. / can keep thinking of
Ghat.
But know now why I've been hav-
ing such n perfectly beautiful time
all this week, and why Mother has
been filing every minute 30 full O.
Sun and good times. Why. even when
we're at home here, she's always hunt.
Ing up little Lester and getting him to
have O romp with Us.
But Of course next week I've got to
20 to school, and 1t can't be quite 90
jolly then. Well. guess that's all for
this dime.
ABOUT A MONTH LATER
I didn't make a chapter Of that last
It wasn't long enough. And, really.
don't know as I've got much to add
to 1t now. There's nothing much hap
pened.
60 to school now, and don't have
30 much time for fun. Schools pretty
good, and there are two or three girls
most as nice as the ones at Anderson
Vile. But not quite. Out Of schoo
Mother keeps things just as lively al
ever, and we have beautiful times
Mother Is having a lovely time will
her own friends, too. Seems as II there
10 always some one here when I ge
home, and lots Of times there are tRai
ard parties, and people to dinner.
There are gentlemen, too. I suppose
one Of them will be Mothers lover b.
and by; but of course l don't know
which one yet. I'm awfully interested
In them, though. And of course it,
perfectly natural that I should be
Wouldn't you be interested in the maj
that was going to be your new father
Well, just guess you would! Any
body would. Why, most folks hav
only one father, you know, and the.
have to take that one just as he is
and it's all a matter of chance whethe
they get one that's cross or pleasant
or homely or fine and grand-looking
or the common kind you can hug an
kiss and hang round his neck, or tn
stand off don't-touch- me-I-mustn't-be
disturbed kind like mine I mean tn
one did have. But, there that doeSn'
sound right, either; for of course he
still my father just the same. only
well, he isn't Mothers husband an
more, so I suppose he's only my fathe
By order Of the court, same as I'm hi
daughter.
Well, anyhow. he's the father Pv
grown up with. and Of course I'm use
to him now. And it's an altogethe
different matter to think of having
brand-new father thrust upon you, a
ready-made. as you might say, and q
course I am interested There's sue
O whole lot depends on the fathel