The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-28

Z pretty Tor all that she MHu DlaCk
hair. One day she said To her
mother, II wish I had fuzzy
golden hair like jamie Tedman.
just wish looked like her.
Margaret was used to the
child's vehemence. She said ami.
ably: why do you wish that ~
He'd Be sure to like me thenl'
.'Who would like your
Nora Lee turned red as to-.
mato. She stood first on one
foot, then on the other. Sud-
denly she answered: COd--1
meant God. :
Nothing could induce her to
alter the answer.
At Fairdale other children ask
ed: what does your father dor"
And she became more than ever
eager for his return.
When they were IN Fairdale q
year q baby was left on Mrs.
Csildermanss doorstep. There was
the most fascinating time. The
older girls kept dropping into
the schOolroorn at noon with all
the new gossip about II. Nora
lee was IA q heaven Of ex-
citement. She reveled IN these
phrase took her fancy. She re-
peated It all day. It was this:
And not q living soul knowns
who can be the haby's father
That night when she was dry
ing the supper dishes she said
quick and breathless: 'Marnees
was I found on doorstep2
Margaret gave q great laugh;
you certainly were not.
Nora Lee hated to be leased on
serious things. She went on OBJ
stinately: ''Then where was !
found! I'd just like to know! Does
anyone living know who my
father is?n
Margaret saw q speck on the
cup she was washing. Sne
scrubbed It intently. But finally
she said: why, yes! There's not
doubt in the world Of your
The little girls blue eyes
flashed. you're making things
hard with talk! ! think it's
mean to do that. You said he's
not dead, didn't your"
''He isn't dead
.Then why doesn't ne ever
conner, Why don't we have him
in our house like other children
dor
Margaret dried her hands. She
twined one Of Nora Lees block
curls about her finger; then In q
slow. ever-so-gentle way. pushed
the hair from her forehead ana
kissed her.
ssOh-but won't you please tell
me. rnarmee? ] want to know
the worst way. Doesn't he love
as? Ii that why he doesn't
come?''
"Yes-that,s why. He didn't
love us enough so we had to leave
him. This was long ago. Nora
Lee. You must never speak Of
1t to anyone"
''But was I born then?"
s'Yes-you were two years old.
IT don't remember. Do You
thing maybe he'll come some day?
He might want to see US ana
come.'
:.No-he never win. Don't
think about it.
The finaIity of this pleased her.
1t sounded 60 sad that, tears
came Ia her eyes. As she put
the dishes IN the cupboard she
repeated: 'FIe never wili-he
never will" and was quite
hapuy about II.
When she was going to bed
that night she said: well, it's
too bad It wasn't Andrew"
Margaret looked up in astonish'
ment.
II mean It's too bad Andrew
didn't turn out to be my father.
He's nice to all us children.
Not long after this Nora Lee
became afraid that her mother
and Andrew were going away to-
gether, and she was to be left
alone In F'airdale. This was be-
cause Of thing Andrew said one
night when he came In for din-
ner. His face was very white
and excited looking. When any
thing was needed he jumped up,
saving, I'm get it," He brought
In tho tea and the baked apples.
He kept watching Margaret, but
her eyes were always on her
plate. She didn't say q word
until finally Nora Lee was I'm.
easy and apologized:
Don't mind mama, Andrew"
she said, quirking her eyebrows
the way Cissy Parsons did. She's
been most extremely quiet all day.
I guess It's the weather.
Margaret picked the frOsting
from her cake and laughed. Her
were tears ID them.
Later, when Nora Lee was In
bed, they went out on the porch.
where the purple wistaria swayed
like scented bells. They wills
pefed a long while together, think
ing she was asleep. 1t was then
she heard Andrew say, III take
you awayS-we can 60
Margaret answered as though
she were afraid: You mean you
Will leave herr You would go
away and leave her2''
'.Tes. She WIN be better Ola
thousand times
There fell a hush between them
then as though the whole earth
closed mutely. They moved ever
to the rail and she didn't hear
any. more.
For few days she followed
Margaret about In a broken
hearted way. She kept thinking:
"WilI they go today? ! wonder
II it's today?" an
Margaret said to her: my darl-
ing gypsy child, why In the world
do you look at me eo7"
She almost cried then; she al
most pleaded: "Oh nnarmee,
please-I don't think you ought
to g0' But she wouldn't. II
Margaret liked Andrew better.