The Holbrook news., 1922-04-21

watching.
 It won't he Mir Harlow, anyway i I'm pretty sure of that, even if he has started in to get his divorce (And | he has. I heard Aunt Hattie tell | Mother so last week) But Mother doesn't like him. I'm sure she doesn't 1. He makes her awfully nervous. Oh ! she laughs and talks with him-seemS as if she laughs even more with him than she does with anybody else. But she's always looking around for some body else to talk to; and I've seen her get up and move off just as he was | coming across the room toward her and I'm just sure she saw him. There's | another reason, too why I think Moth CT isn't going to choose him for her lover. l heard something sine said to him one day.
 She was sitting before the fire in the library. and he came in. There were other people there, quite lot of them: but Mother was all alone by the fireplace, her eyes looking fixed and dreamy into the fire. I was in the windOw-seat around the corner of tbe chimney reading; and I could see Mother in the mirror just as plain as could be. She could have seen me, loo. of course, If she'd looked up. But she didn't.
 never even thought of hearing anything l hadn't ought, and I was iusl going to get down and speak to Mother myself. when Mr. Harlow crossed the room and sat Gown on the sofa beside her.
 Dreaming, Madgc?" he said, low and soft, his soulful eyes just devour- ing her lovely face. q read that, too, in a book last week. just loved It.
 Mother started and flushed up.
 "Oh, Mr. Harlowl" ske cried. (Mother always calls him ."Mr" That's another thing He always calls her 'Madge." you know) "How do you dof' Then she gave her quick little look around to see if there wasn't somebody else near for her to talk to- But there wasn't.
 But you do dream of the old days, sometimes. Madge. don't you?" he be- gan again, soft and low, leaning a lit- tie nearer.
 "Of when I was q child and played dolls before this very fireplace? Well. yes, perhaps I dO," laughed Mother. And could see she drew away lit tie. ''There was one dCll with brok- on head that"
 T was speaking of broken hearts" interrupted Mir. Harlow, very mean ingfully.
 Broken hearts, Nonsense! As if there were such things in the world !" cried Mother, with little toss to her head, looking around again with a quick little glance for some one else to talk to.
 But still there wasn't anybody there
 They were all over to the other side of the room talking, and paying no at tention to Mother and MT. Harlow, only the violinist. He looked and looked, and acted nervous with his watch-chain. But he didn't come over I felt, some way, that I ought to go away and not hear any more; but I couldn't without showing them that l had been there. So thought it was better to stay just where I was. They could see me, anyway, If they'd just look in the mirror. So I didn't feel that was sneaking. And I stayed.
 Then Mir. Harlow spoke again. His eyes grew even more soulful and de- vouring. I could see them in the mir TOT
 'Madge, it seems so strange that we should both have had to trail through the tragedy of broken hearts and lives before we came to our real happiness. For we shall be happy, Madge. You know I'm to be free, too, soon, dear, and. then We"
 But he didn't finish. Mother put up her hand and stopped him. Her face wasn't flushed any more. It was very white.
 Carl" she began in a still, quiet voice, and I was so thrilled. I knew something was going to happen-this time she'd called him by his first name. 'Fm sorry she went on. Eve tried to show you. I've tried very hard to show yOu-without speaking. But If you make ne say 1t I shall have to say it. Whether you are free or not matters not to me. It can make no difference in our relationship. Now. will you come with me to the other side of the room, or must be so rude as to go and leave you?"
 She got up then. and he got up, too. He said something-I couldn't hear what it was; but it. was sad and re prOachful-Im sure of that by the look in his eyes. Then they both walked across the room to the others.
 was sorry for him. do not want him for father, but l couldn't help being sorry for him, ne looked so sad and mournful and handsome; and he's got perfectly beautiful eyes. (Oh, I do hope mine will have nice eyes when 1 find him D
 As l said before, I don't believe Mother'll choose Mr. Harlow, anyway, even when the time comes. As for any of the otherS-I can't tell. She treats them all just exactly alike. as far as can see. Polite and pleasant, but not at all loverlike. l was talking to Pe- ter one day about it, and l asked him. But he didn't seem to know, either, which one she will be likely to take, If any.
 Peters about the only one I can ask. Of course I couldn't ask Moth CT, or Aunt Hattie And Grandfather well, should never think of asking