Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-06-21

ing. The little country neishDorhoOd
was silent. 1t was the first moment
of this kind that he had had for
months. He thoroughly enjoyed it,
He began to think about a little
parody he was trying to write for a
newSpaper-he had been trying to do
1t at odd moments-in the train or in
his bath-for several weeks. The Oc-
casion that made it appropriate had
long since passed, but he wanted to
finish it If he could. Within a few
minutes, however, he heard the voices
of his daughters returning. He wished
the class had lasted little longer
Yet he was not an unnatural father
and when they entered the room.
flushed with exercise, elegant In their
sheer white dresses and blue bows, he
felt proud of them and glad to see
them. He loved them even when the
following interchange took place:
"Hullo. father. Do yea like my new
shoes? What Is jazzT"
"Well, Marietta, it's kind of mu-
sic where the beat Is irregular"
"Why is it2"
Because people like 1t that way
the time changes"
what is time, father2"
Remembering Mary's assertion that
he didn't try to answer them, he
paused moment to consider, but
Marietta went on: II was called out
In frnf1f of m al tn En
tesy. father. Where's mother? Why
did sl,4 go away?"
'She hasn't gone away" said Eliot,
disengaging his mind with difficulty,
from the problem of time.
"She took bag with her. Why did
she, father?'
"Well see" said Eliot, thinking to
himself that she had probably taken
the wash to the laundry, as it was
Saturday, and sometimes, If they were
short sheet and some one coming to
stay He fiShed her letter out of his
pocket. He had put off reading 1t for
fear It would ask him to do something
that would have interfered with his
moment of solitude. He opened it,
with Marietta sitting on the arm of his
chair, and Doris aged four balancing
on his crossed feet.
The letter said:
Dear Eliot: Something strange has
happened that makes 1t impossible
that you and l should ever live to-
gether again. l want to be alone for a
few days and think over how l can ar
range my life. l will come to the Of
flee Monday, and talk 1t all over with
you. am sorry this is Nora's Sun
day out, but you can probably manage
somehow with the children. They are
50 good. Yours,
MARY.
He became aware that Marietta had
been saying for long time: what
does mother say, father? What does
mother say, father?"
He put the letter back In his pocket.
"Oh, nothing, DEAR" he answered. "She
had to go away for Sunday"
"Why did she2'
There was a question he couldn't
answer He had no idea-no eXplana-
tion-nO possible theory occurred to
him. What could have happened? Had
he done something? Or rather, for
| his conscience was absolutely clear
| did she imagine he had done some
thing to hurt her? Had she fallen un.
| der the spell of some sudden romance
one read of such things happening
but Mary! No. Had she gone mad
He remembered now that she had
seemed silent at breakfast, but not
portentOusly silent. He had questioned
the children as to the events of the
day-had any messages cOme-had
any visitors been there2 No, nothing
1t was almost incredible that you
should live with woman seven years
and be unable to form even a hy.
potheis as to why she had left you
Not that he admitted she had left him
1T was just some misunderstanding.
To his first shock feeling of anger
succeeded How could anyone treat
another fellow creature like that-let
alone husband. And to leave him In
suspense for days. And the children
suppose anything happened to the
children?
They came to ask him to sit with
them while they had supper and read
aloud. They had asked him this al
most every evening, since they had
been able to speak, and he often re
fused. But this evening he consented
1t was like reproof to Mary. He
chose Thackeray's Rose and the Ring
to read to them. He hadn't read il
for years. 1t was magnificent piece
of narrative. He read II WELL too. Al
that place where the naughty Count
Hoggnarme stepped into the arena
and the lions rushed out saying
"Wurra, wurra, wur-rra-" he looked
up to see two level spoons arrested In
front of two opened mouths while -four
eyes dilated with excitement.
After the children had gone to bed
he had long uninterrupted evening
one of those evenings in which he
could have finished dozen parodieS-
except that his whole being was taken
up with anger and speculation. He
walked up and down the sitting room
all evening, and then went to bed
but not to sleep. How could Mary have
behaved So He began to imagine
their interview on Monday-his side
Of 1t at least. About four o'clock, he
found he was going to use the phrase
my little motherless girls"
BY morning, however NJ nud dl
earded II as sentimental. II . feelin
behind tn. words was there, however
1t was Sunday. He would take them