The Holbrook news., 1922-05-12

10 teli nm SOrntInIns aD0ut the mis- siOnary meeting and the heather. and great famine that was raging. At first he didn't say anything; then he said oh, yes, to be sure. how very fn- teresting. and he was glad. very glad. Ana Aunt Jane was so disgusted, and accused him of being even more ab- sent minded than usual. which was en- tirely mneceSsary. she said
 But even that didn't move Father q mite. He just said. yes, Yes, very like ly; and went on scowling to himself and stirring his coffee after he'd drank it all up-I mean. stirring where it had heen in the cup.
 didn't know but after supper he'd speak to me and ask me to come to the library. l hoped he would. There Were lots riSre things I'd like :a have said to hi..i. But he didn't. lie never said word He just kept scowling, and got up from the table and went off by himself. But he didn't go out to the observatory. us he most generally does. He went into the library and shut the door,
 He was there when the telephone message came at eight o'clock. And what do you think? He'd forgotten he was going to speak before the Col lege Astronomy club that evening : Forgotten his old stars for once. 1 .If fnl- f.p a minute. twas Cause of me-wbat I'd told him. But kneX. of course. right away that il couldn't he that. He'd never forgot his stars for me. Prob ably he was just reading up about some other stars. or had forgotten how late it was, or something. Fa- ther's always forgetting things) But anyway. when Aunt Jane called him he got his hat and hurried off without so much as one word tO me. who was standing Fear. or to Aunt Jane. who was following him all through the hall. and telling him in her most I'm amazed -at-yuu voice how shockingly absent-minded he vas getting to be. ONE WEEK LATER.
 Fathers been awfully queer this whole week through. l can't 5make him out at all Sometimes l think hes glad told him all those things in the larlor that day dressed up in Marie'> things. anu sometimes l think he's sor- ry and wished l hadn't.
 The very next morning he came down tO breakfast with such n funny look Dp his facR, He said good-mOIn- ing to me three times. aud all through breakfast he kept looking over ut me with kind of scowl that was not cross al all-just puzzled.
 After breakfast he didn't go out to ihe observatory. not even into the library. lie fidgeted around the din- ing room till Aunt Jane went cut into the kitchen to give her orders to Susie: then he burst out. all of sudden:
 Well. Mary. what shall We do to- day?' Just like that he said it, us if we'd been doing things together every day of our lives.
 ''D-do:" l asked; and l know l showed how surprised I was by the way stammered and flushed up.
 Certainly. do." he answered, impa- tient and scowling. What shall we do:"
 'Why. Father, I-I don't know" I st.,mmered again.
 Come come of course you know" he cried You know what you want to do. don't you:"
 1 shook my hesd I was so aston ished l couldn't even think. And when you can't think you certainly can't talk.
 Nonsense. Mary" scOwled Father. "Of course you know what you want tO do. What are you in the habit of doing with your young friends-yOur Carries and Clarifies. and all the rest?"
 l guess 1 just s.ood and stared and didn't say anything; for after a min ute he cried: "Well-well-welI! I'm waiting"
 Why, we've walk-and falkland play games" I began; but right away he interrupted
 Good. Very well. then. we'll walk. I'm not Carrie or Charlie. but l be lieve I can walk and talk-perhapS even play games. Who knows? Come. get your hat"
 And l got my hat. and we went.
 But what q funny. funny walk that was, He meant to make il good one, l know he did. And lie tried He tried real hard. But he walked so fast l couldn't half keep up with him; then. when he saw how 1 was hurrying. Led slow down. way down,
 LMMxEIaNA