The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-05-18

He Didn't Say Much at First
many lovely things. But be never said
word about them. BE just talked
because he'd got to talk. I knew It,
and it made me laugh inside, though
all the while it mace me sort Of want
to cry, too. Funny, wasn't it?
After time he didn't talk any more,
but just walked on and on and by and
by we came home.
OF course, it wasn't awfully jolly
that walk wasn't; and I guess Father
didn't think it was either. Anyhow,
he hasn't asked me to go again this
week, and he looked tired and worried
and sort Of discouraged when he got
back from that one.
But he's asked me to do other
things. The, next day after the walk
he asked me to play to him. Yes, he
asked me to; and he went into the
parlor and sat down on one Of the
chairs and listened while I played
three pieces. Of course, / didn't play
loud ones, nor very fast ones, and I
was so scared I'm afraid didn't play
them very well. But he was very po-
lite and said, THANK you, Mary" and,
''That was very nice"; then he stood
up and said, THANK you" again and
went away into the library, very po-
lite, but stiff, like company.
The next evening he took me out to
the observatory to see the stars. That
was lovely. Honestly I had perfect
ly beautiful time, and think Father
did, too. He wasn't stiff and, polite
one bit. On, I don't mean that he was
impolite or rude. It's Just that he
wasn't stiff as If was company. And
? he was so happy with his stars and
his telescope, and so glad to show
them to me-oh, I had beautiful
time, and told him SO; and he looked
real pleased. But Aunt Jane came for
me before I'd had half enough, and I
had to 60 to bed.
The next morning thought he'd be
different, somehow, because we'd had
such lovely time together the night
before. But he wasn't. he just said,
"Good morning, Mary" and began to
read his paper. And he read his pa
per all through breakfast without say
ing another word to me. Then he got
up and went into the library, and I
never saw him again all day except
at dinner-time and supper-time, and
then he didn't talk to me.
But after supper he took me out
again to see the stars, and he was
just as nice and friendly as could be.
Not a bit like man thar's only a
father by order Of the court. But the
next day!
Well-and that's the way it's been
all the week. And that's why say
he's been so queer. One minute he'll
be just as nice and folksy as you
could ask anybody to be, and the very
next he's looking right through you
as If he didn't see you at all, and you
wonder and wonder what's the mat
ter, and If you've done anything to
displease him.
Sometimes he seems almost glad and
happy, and then he'll look SO sorry
and sad!
I just can't understand my father
at all.
ANOTHER WEEK LATER.
I'm so excited I don't know what 10
do. The most wonderful thing has
happened. I can't hardly believe 1t
yet myself. Yet it's so. My trunk b
all packed, and Pm to go home toner.
row. Tomorrow
This is the way 1t happened:
Mother wrote Aunt Jane and asked
If I might not be allowed to come
home for the opening Of school In
September. She said she understood
quite we'll that she had no right to
ask this, and, Of course, If they saw
fit. they were entirely within their
rights to refuse to allow me to go un-
til the allotted time. But that she
could not help asking it for my sake,
on account of the benefit to be'deriyed
from being there at the opening Of
the school year.
OF course, didn't knew Mother was
going to write this But she knew
all about the school here, and how I
came out, and everything. I've always
told Mother everything that has hap
pened. Oh of course, haven't writ
ten "every few minutes" as she asked
me to. CT.hat was joke, anyway, Of
course.) But have written every few
days, and, as said before, told her
everything.
Well when the letter came took 1t
to Aunt Jane myself; and I was crazy
to know what was in it, for recog-
nized the writing, of course. But Aunt
Jane didn't tell me- She opened ii,
read it, kind Of flushed up, and said,
(To be continued next weeA