The Holbrook news., 1922-05-12
CHAPTER VI.
When l Am Both Together.
BOSTON AGAIN.

was specially glad on account of having such dreadful time with Fla ther that morning. I mean. I was feeling specially lonesome and home sick, and not-belOnging-anywh like You see it was this way: I'd been sort of hoping, know, that at the last, when l came to really go, Father would get back the understanding smile and the twinkle, and show that he really did care for me, and was sorry to have me go. But, dear me Why, he never was so stern and sol emn, and you're-my-daughter-o only-by the-order- r-Of-the-cOurt sort of way as he was that morning.
 He never even spoke at the break fast-table. Gle wasn't there hardly long enough to speak, anyway, and he never ate thing, only his cOffee-I mean he drank it) Then he pushed his chair back from the table and stalked out of the room.
 He went to the station with me; but he didn't talk there much. only to ask if 1 was sure I hadn't forgotten anything, and Was I warmly clad Warmly clad, indeed And there it was still August and hot as It could be! But that only goes to show how absent-minded he was and how little he Was really thinking of me.
 Well, of course, he got my ticket and checked my trunk, and did all those proper, necessary things; then we sat down to wait for the train. But did he stay with me and talk to me and tell me how glad he had been to have me with him, and how sorry he was to have me go, and all the other nice polite things most everybody thinks they've got to say when visitor goes away? He did not. He asked me again if I was sure had not left any thing, and was I warmly clad; then he took out his newspaper and began to read. That Is, he pretended to read; but I don't believe he read much for he never turned the sheet ance; and twice, when I looked at him, he was looking fiXediy at me. as if he was thinking of something. So I guess he was just pretending to read, so he wouldn't have to talk to me.
 But he didn't even do that long, for he got up and went over and looked at map hanging on the wall opposite, sand at big timetable near the other corner. Then he looked at his watch again with On't-that-train-ever- come? air, and walked back to me and sat down.
 And how do you suppose I felt, to have him act like that before all those people-to show so plainly that he was just longing to have me go? guess he wasn't any more anxious for that train to come than l was. And 1t did seem as If 1t never would come, too. And 1t didn't come for ages. It was ten minutes late.
 Oh, I did so hope he wouldn't go down to the junction. It's so hard to be taken care of ''because it's my duty, you know ,'' But he went I told him he needn't, when he was getting on the train with me. I told him I just knew I could do it beautifully all by myself almost-a-young lady like me But he only put his lips together hard and said, cold, like ice: Are you then so eager to be rid of me?' Just as if I was the one that was eager to get rid of somebody!
 Well, as 1 said, he went. But he wasn't much better on the train than he had been in the station. He was as nervous and fidgety as q witch, and he acted us if he did so wish it would he over, and over quick. But at the junction-at the junction funny thing happened. He put me on the train. just as Mother had done, ant spoke tc the conductor (How l hated to have. him do that. Why, I'm six whole months older. most, than I was when 1 went up thereD And then, when he'd put me ill my seat Ufather, l mean; not the cOnductorl, all of sud den he leaned over and kissed me; kissed me-Father. Then, before l could speak, or even look at him, he was gone; and 1 didn't see him again though it must have been five whole minutes before that train went.
 I had a nice trip down to Boston, though nothing much happened. This conductor was not near so nice and polite as the one I had coming up; and there wasn't any lady with a baby to play with, nor any nice young gentleman to loan me magazines or buy candy for me. But it wasn't a very long ride from the junction to Boston, anyway So I didn't mind. Besides I knew I had Mother waiting for me.
 And wasn't l glad to get therei Well, 1 just guess I was, And they acted as if they were glad to see me Mother, Grandfather, Aunt Hattie, and even Baby Lester. He knew me, and too. And they said had, and that l looked very nice. q forgot 10 say that, of course, I had put on the Marie clothes to come home in-though l honestly think Aunt Jane wanted to send me home in Mary's blue gingham and calfskin shoes. As if I'd have ap- peared in Boston in that rig )
 My, but 1t was good to get into an automobile again and just go, And if | was so good to have folks around you dressed in something besides don't-care | black alpaca and stiff collars. And 1 i said so. And Mother seemed so pleased.
 You did want to come back to me. 1 darling, didn't you?" she cried, giving ! me little hug. And she looked so | happy when 1 told her all over again