The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-04-06


Father'll never be happy until he's
made me into a stupid little Mary"
with never an atom of life Of my
own. And, do you know? it does seem
sometimes, as if Mary and Marie were
fighting inside Of me, and I wonder
which is going to beat. Funny, isn't
It?
Father Is president Of the college
now, aad I don't know how many stars
and comets and things he's discov-
cred since the night the star and I
were born together. But I know he's
very famous, and that he's written up
In the papers and magazines, and is
In the big fat red "Who's Who" In
the library, and has lots of noted men
come to see him.
Nurse says that Grandma Anderson
died very soon after was born, but
that it didn't make any particular DIFF
ference In the housekeeping; for things
went right on just as they had done,
with her giving the orders as before !;
that she'd given them all alone any
way, mostly, the last year Grandma
Anderson lived, and she knew just
how Father liked things. She said
Mother tried once or twice to take the
reins herself, and once Nurse let her,
just to see what would happen. But
things got in an awful muddle right
away, 50 that even Father noticed 1t
and said things. Natter that Mother
never tried again, guess. Anyhow,
she's never tried 1t since I can remem-
her. She's always stayed most Of the
time up In her rooms in the east wing,
except during meals, or when she
went out with me, or went to the
things she and Father had to go to
together. For they did go to lots Of
things, Nurse says.
It seems that for q long time they
didn't want folks to know there was
going to be a divorce. So before folks
they tried to be just as usual. But
Nurse Sarah said she knew there was
going to be one long ago. The first
ever heard Of it was Nurse telling
Nora, the girl we had In the kitchen
then; and the minute got chance I
asked Nurse what it was-a divorce.
My, can remember now how scared
she looked, and how she clapped her
hand over my mouth. She wouldn't
tell me-not a word. And that's the
first time I ever saw her give that
quick little look over each shoulder.
She's done it lots Of times since.
AS 1 said, she wouldn't tell me, so
I had to ask some one else. wasn't
going to let it go by and not find out
not when Nurse Sarah looked so
scared, and when it was something
my father and mother were going to
have some day.
I didn't like to ask Mother. Some
way, I had a feeling, from the way
Nurse Sarah looked, that it was some
thing Mother wasn't going to like. And
I thought if maybe she didn't know
vet she was going to have it, that
certainly I didn't want to be the one
to tell her. So I didn't ask Mother
what divorce was.
I didn't even think Of asking Faith
er, Of course. I never ask Father
questions. Nurse says I did ask him
once way he didn't love me like other
papas loved their little girls. But I
was very little then, and don't remem-
ber it at all. But Nurse said Father
didn't like it very well, and maybe
did remember that part, without real
ly knowing it. Anyhow, never think
Of asking Father questions.
I asked the doctor first. thought
maybe twas some kind Of a disease,
and If he knew it was coming, he
could give them some sort of medi-
cine to keep it away-like being vac
cinated SOS not to have smallpox,
you know. And I told him 80.
He gave funny little laugh, that
somehow didn't sound like laugh at
all. Then he grew very, very sober,
and said:
I'm sorry, little girl, but I'm afraid
I haven't got any medicine that will
prevents divorce. If I did have,
there'd be no eating or drinking or
sleeping for me, I'm thinking-rd be
so busy answering my calls"
"Then 1t is a disease!" I cried.
And can remember just how fright
ened felt. "But isn't there any doc
tor anywhere that can stop it,?
He shook his head and, gave thai
queer little laugh again.
I'm afraid not" he sighed. LAS
for it's being a disease-there are
people that call it a disease, and there
are others who call it a cure; and
there are still others who say it's
remedy worse than the disease it tries
to cure. But, there, you baby! What
am I saying? Come, come, my dear,
just forget it. It's nothing you should
bother your little head over now. Wait
till you're older"
Till I'm older, indeed! How hate
to have folks talk to me like that!
And they do-they do 1t all the time.