The Nevada County picayune., 1922-08-10

cream (not all al once, of course, but In order.) And had perfectly beauti- ful time. And Father seemed to like 1t pretty well But after a while he grew sober again, and his eyes began to rove all around the room.
 He took me to little seat in the corner afterward and we sat down and began 10 talk-only Father didn't talk much. He just listened to what l said. and his eyes grew deeper and darker and sadder, and they didn't rove around so much. after time, but just stared fxedly at nothing, away out across the room By and by he stirred and drew long sigh, and said, almost under his breath:
 "It was just such another night as this"
 And of course, l asked what was told me.
 That I first saw your mother. my dear"
 "Oh, yes, know :" cried. eager to tell him that l did know. And she must have looked lovely in that per fectly beautiful blue silk dress all sill yer lace"
 He turned and stared at me.
 "How did you know thatr he dc manded.
 "I saw it."
 You saw it"
 
 Yesterday. yes-the dress I nodded
 But how could your he asked, frownng and looking so surprised. 'Why, that dress must be-seventeen years old, or more.
 nodded again, and I suppose I did look pleased; It's such fun to have secret, you know. and watch folks guess and wonder And 1 kept him guessing and wondering for quite while. Then. of course, l told him that 1t was upstairs In Grandfathers trunk room: that Mother had got 1t out. and I saw it.
 "But. what-Was your mother doing with that dreSs? he asked then, look Ing even more puTIte0 anu llNsllneu.
 And then suddenly I thought and remembered that Mother was crying. And, of course she wouldn't want Fa- ther to know she was crying over It. that dress she had worn when he first met her long ago! q don't think wom- en ever want men to know such things, do you2 I know I shouldn't ) So didn't tell. Father had begun to talk again, softly, as If to himself:
 "I suppose tonight seeing you, and all this, brought Ii back to me so vivid Iy" Then he turned and looked at me. You are very like your mother tonight. dear"
 "I suppose l am, maybe. when I'm Marie" nodded.
 He laughed with his lips but his eyes didn't laugh one bit as he said
 What quaint little fancy of yours that is. chlld-as if you were two Tn one"
 "But I am two in one" I declared. "That's why I'm cross-curreht ana contradiction, you know" l explained.
 "A whatT' he demanded.
 "A cross current and contradic- tion," I explained once more "Chii- dren of nn.ikes, you know. Nurse Sa- rab fold ms that long ago Didn't you ever hear that-that child Of unilKes was a cross-current and contradic- ton"
 "Weu. no-I-hadn't." answered Fla ther. in a queer, half smothered voice "r sunpOse. Mary, we were-unlikes vour mother and l. That's Just what we were though l never thought or lt before. in just that way
 He waited. then went on, still haif to himself his eyes on the dancers
 "Sbe loved things like this-music laughter gayety. l abhorred mem. l remember how bored I was that nieht here-tlll I saw her.
 And did you fall In love with her right away?" l inst couldn't help asK- ,ns that onestion. Oh I do so adore love stories
 A oueer little smile came to Fathers lips "Well yes. think I did, Mary. ! inst looked at her once-and then Rept on looking tnl 1t seemed as IT lust cou,dnt take my eyes off her Ana after little her glance met mine and the whole throng melted away and there wasn't another soul Tn me room but just us two. Then she looked away, and the throng came hack Rut I still looked at her.
 Was she so awfully pretty, fa- therY" !. conld feel the little f1rlls