The Nevada County picayune., 1922-06-08

and chain that Mother gave me that Aunt Jane wouldn't let me wear. And l dressed up. My, didn't dress upt And just threw those old heavy shoes and black cotton stockings into the corner, and the blue gingham dress after them (though Mary went right away and picked the dress up and hung it in the closet, of course) but l had the fun of throwing It. anyway
 Oh, how good those Marie thinsS did feel to Marys hot. dried flesh and bones, and how did dance and sing slippers Then Susie rang the dinner bell and I went down to the dining room feeling like a really truly young lady, can tell you.
 Susie stared, of course, and said, My how fine We are today" But I didn't mind Susie.
 After dinner I went out into the hall and l sang all over the house. Then I rent into the parlor and played every lively thing that I could think of on the piano. And I sang there, too-Silly little songs that Marie rsed to sing to Lester And I tried to think I was really down there to Bos- ton, singing 10 Lester; and that Moth CT was right In the next room waiting for me.
 Then I stopped and turned around on the piano stool, and the room was just as still as death. And knew I wasn't In Boston. I was there in Andersonville. And there wasn't any Baby Lester there, nor any mcseer waiting for me in the next room And all the h-ey white dresses ard ~ stockings the world wouldn't ,nake me Marie. was really just Mary and had got to have three whole months more of it.
 And then is when 1 began to cry. And cried just as hard as I'd been singing minute before. I was on the floor with my head in my arms on the piano stool when Fathers voice came to me from the doorway.
 Mary, Mary. what in the world does this meanT
 I jumped up and stood "at atten- tion.' the way you have to, of course when fathers speak to you. couldn't help showing I had been crying-he had seen it. But tried very hard to stop now. My first thought, after my startled realization that he was there, was to wonder how long he had been there-hOw much of all that awful singing and banging he had heard.
 "Yes. sir" tried not to have my voice shake as said 1t; but couldn't quite help that.
 What Is the meaning of this, Mary7 Why are you cryingT
 I shook my head. l didn't want to toll him of course: so l just stam- mered out something about being sorry I had disturbed him. Then l edged o,ard the door to show him that II 1e would step one side l would go
 .a, at once and not bother him any
 ,er.
 Blu, he didn't step one side He asked more questions, one right alter another.
 Are you sick, Mary
 1 shook my head.
 Did you hurt yourselfY'
 l shook my heud again.
 "It isnt-your mother-you maven had bad news from herY
 And then blurted It out without thinking-without thinking at all what I was saying No, no-but l "lsh had 1 wish I had; cause then ee'lid go to her, and go away from hefe The minute I'd said it l knew what Ia said. and how awful it sounded' and clapped my fingers to my lips. But [ was too late It's always too late' when you've once said 1t. So l Just waited for him to thunder out ms anger; for, of course, thought ne would thunder in rage and righteous indignation.
 But he didn't. Instead, very quietly and gently he said:
 Are you so unhappy, then Mary here2'
 And I looked at him, and his eyes and his mouth and his whole face weren't angry at all They were just sorry actually sorry. And somehow before I knew 1t, was crying again and Father, with his arm around me with his arm around me- think or that twas leading me to the sofa.
 And I cried and cried there, with my