The Holbrook news., 1922-04-28

as they used 10 do in Boston. But of i course it cant be for the same reason here, for they've known all along about the divorce and haven't minded 1 it at all.
 I heard this morning that Stella Muyhew had party last night. But didn't get invited. Of course, you can't always ask everybody to your parties. but this was a real big party. and l haven't found girl in school, ' yet, that wasn't invited-but me. But I guess il wasn't anything. after all. ! Stella is new girl that has come here to live since l went away. Her | folks are rich. and she's very popular, and of course she has loads of friends | she had To invite; and she doesn't know me very well Probably that was it. And maybe l just imagine il about the other girls. loo. Perhaps it's The brown serge dress. Still. il cant be that. for this is the first day I've worn it. But. as l said, 1 feel Maryish ai | ready.
 l haven't dared to touch the piano since that night week ago, only once when Aunt Jane was at missionary meeting. and I knew Father was over tn the eoilege. But didn't l have u good time then7 l just guess l did
 Aunt Jane doesn't care for music. Besides. iG's noisy, she says, and would be likely 10 disturb Father. So I'm not to keep on with my music lessons here. She's going t0 teach me 10 sew h. stead. She says sewing is much more sensible and useful. Sensible and useful. I wonder how many times I've heard those words since I've been here. And durable, loo. And nouriShing. That's another word. Honestly. Marie Is getting aw fnlly tired of Marys sensible sewing and dusting. and her durable clumpy shoes and stIffy dresses. and her hour iShiHg oatmrai and whole wheat bread. But there, whaT GaR you do? I'm trying to remember That if's differ- ent. anyway. nnd that l said l liked something different.
 don't see much of Father. Still, there's something kind of queer about 1t. after all. He only speaks 10 me about twice a day-jnst "GOod-morn- ing. Mary" and "GoOdnight." And SD far as most of his actions are con cerned you wouldn't think by them that he knew I was in the house. Yet. over and over again at the table. and at times when l didn't even know he was round I've found him watching me. and with such queer. funny look in his eyes. Then, very quickly al- ways, he looks right away.
 But last night he didn't. And that's especially what l wanted to write about today. And this Is the way 1t happened:
 IL was after supper. and I had gone into the library. Father had gone out to the ohSerN atory as usual, and Aunt Jane had gone upstairs to her room as usual, and as usual l was wandering round looking for something to do. wanted Ia play on the piano. but l didn't dare tO-nOt with all those dead-halr and wax-fiower folks in the pailor watching me, and the chance Of Fathers coming in as he did before.
 was standing in the wSadow star ing out at nothing-it wasn't quite dark yet--when again had that queer feeling tl;at somebody was looking at me. l turned-and there was Father. He had come in and was sitting ill the big chair by the table. But this time he didn't look right away as usual and give me chance 10 slip quietly out of the room. as l always had before. Instead he said:
 What are you doing there, Nary?
 "N-nothing!" Father drowned and hitched in his chair. Father always bitches in lis chair when he's irrtat- ed and nervous. You can't be doing nothing Nobody but a dead man does nothng-and We aren't so sure about him. What are You doing, Mary?"
 Just Hooking out the window"
 Come here. l want to talk to you"
 'Ies. Father
 went. of course. at once, and sat down in the chair near him. He h!tched again in his seat.
 Why don't you do something-read. sew. knit:" he demanded. Why do nothing:"
 Just like that he said il; and when he had just told me
 Why. Father.' I cried: and know ,I, I T thought you just said couldn't do n0thing-rhat nobody cOuld"
 "Eh: What. Tut, tut" He seemed very angry at first; then suddenly he looked sharply into my fpce. Next, if you'll believe it. lie laughed-the queer little chucEle under his breath that I've heard him give two or three times when there was something he thought was funny. 'Humph." he yrunted. Then he gave me another sharp l.ok out of his eyes. and said: Il don't think you meant that to be quite so imperiineEt as it sounded, Mary. so we'll let it pass-this time. I'll put my question this way: Don't you ever knit ar read or sew"
 "I do sew every day in Aunt lanes roGm ten minutes hemniing. ten min utes scanning, and ten minutes basting patchwork squares together. don't know how to knit"
 How about reading? Don't you are for rca,iing:"
 "NNhy. of course do. I love it." cried. And do read lots-at home"
 "At-homef"