The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-06

And all of a sudden I thought, well,
why can't they try it over again, If
they both want to, and If each says
it was their-no, his, no, hers-well,
his and her fault. (How does the
thing 60? I hate grammar But
mean, if she says it's her fault, and he
says it's his. That's what thought,
anyway. And l determined right then
and there to give them the chance to
try again, if speaking would do it.
looked up at Father. He was still
talking half under his breath, his eyes
looking straight ahead. He had for
gotten all about me. That was plain
to be/seen. If I'd been cup Of coffee
without any coffee in it, he'd have
been stirring me. I know he would.
He was like that.
"Father, Father" I had to speak
twice, before he heard me. 'Do you
really mean that you would like to try
againY' I asked.
"Eh? What? And just the way he
turned and looked at me showed how
many miles he'd been away from me.
"Try it again, you know-what you
said," I reminded him.
"Oh, that!" Such funny look came
to his face, half ashamed, half vexed.
'Tm afraid I have been-talking, my
dear" y
"Yes, but would you?" persisted.
he shook his head; then, with such
an oh-that-it-could-be! smil, = said {:
'"Of course-we all wisl lat we
could 60 back and do it over again
differently. But we never can."
eyes, but, Father, you can 60 back,
in this case, and so can Mother, cause
you both want to-" I hurried on, al
most choking in my anxiety to get 1t
all out quickly. "And Mother said 1t
was her fault. heard her."
"Her fault" I could see that Fa-
ther did not quite understand, even
yet.
Eyes, yes, just as you said it was
all those things at the
first, you know, when-when she was
spirit Of youth beating against the
bars"
Father turned square around and
faced me.
"Mary, what are you talking about?'
he asked then. And I'd have been
scared Of his voice If it hadn't been
for the great light that was shining
In his eyes.
But looked into his eyes, and
wasn't scared; and I told him every
thing. every single thing-all about
how Mother had cried over the little
blue dress that day in the trunk-room,
and how she had shown the tarnished
lace and said that she had tarnished
the happiness of him and Of herself
and Of me; and that it was all her
fault; that she was thoughtless and
willful and exacting and spoiled
child; and, oh, If she could only try it
over again, how differently she would
do! And there was lot more. I
told everything-everything I could
remember. Some way, didn't be-
lieve that Mother would mind now,
after what Father had said. And 1
Just knew she wouldn't mind if she
could see the look in Fathers eyes as
talked.
He didn't interrupt me-not long
Interruptions. He did speak out a
quick little word now and then, at
some of the parts; and once I know I
saw him wipe a tear from his eyes.
After that he put up his hand and sat
with his eyes covered all the rest Of
the time I was talking. And he didn't
take it down till I said:
"And so, Father, that's why told
you; cause it seemed to me If you
wanted to try again, and she wanted
to try again, why can't you do It? Oh,
Father, think how perfectly lovely It
would be if you did, and if it worked! !
Why, I wouldn't care whether I was
Mary or Marie, or what was. I'd
have you and Mother both together,
and, oh, how I should love it,"
It was here that Fathers arm came
out and slipped around me in a great
big hug.
''Bless your heart! But, Mary, my
dear, how are we going to1to bring
this about?" Then is when my second
great idea came to me-
"Oh, Father!" I cried, couldn't you
come courting her again-calls and
flowers and candy, and all the rest?
Oh, Father, couldn't you? Why, Fa-
ther, Of course you could!'
This last / added in my most per-
suasive voice, for could see the mo"
on his face even before he began to
shake his head.
"Tm afraid not, my DEAR" he said,
then. 1T would take more than a
flower or a bonbOn TOTO win your
mother back now, l fear"
But you could try" l urged.
He shook his head again.
"She wouldn't see me-if called.
my DEAR" he answered.
He sighed as he said it, and sighed,
too. And for minute l. didn't say