Washington telegraph., 1926-06-11

to understand him.
Vaguely Bibs knew lots OF things
had happened. Vaguely he knew the
car had come and whisked him away
with those hot, salty tears on his face
and Granny waving at him. vaguely ne
knew that illness and rebellion were
still on him and that he hated Andrew
and sulked toward his Father ano
presently he had been unable to stahu
it another minute Vaguely he knew
he had been very naughty. He knew
that in an overwhelming rush OF nome
sickness he had wanted his mother
and his tune unbearably and had SAID
so plainly, and that he never wanted
to come back to this place again. Ana
when his Father said ii was his turn
TO have him now and he couldn't go
back to his Mother, Bibs knew he had
stamped and roared. And that his
Father had told Andrew TO play the
phonograph and the louder Andrew
played the louder he had roared. Ana
he had broken a record to pieces An
drew gave him to put on the phono-
graph himself to appease him, ana
when his Father tried to take him IN
his arms and love him he had kicked
his Father on the shins. And his
Father had gotten stern and angry
and had spanked him hard before he
found out that his head was hot ana
his throat sore and he was hurting all
over. And that was all. Except that
he didn't get mother or his tune. II
simply wasn't there in Fathers house.
And then, some way, painful days had
passed and now here he was in Fa-
theirs bed, and even Andrew was look
ing sorry and the doctor was just leav-
ing and Father was being very kind
and-wOnder of wonders-Granny was
therein Fathers housed
She was just taking off her hat. Her
face looked funny and proud at his
Father, as If Ii had things hidden back
Of it. Somehow 1t tore at Bibs. 1t
made him feel an inexplicable urge TO
rally to Granny and Mother, somehow.
"Oh, these broken homes" said
Granny, as she hurried to Bibs. But
Bibs didn't see anything broken any
where He wondered II 1t was any
thing belonging to him. And If that
was why he was sick.
"He seemed toto work himself
into "a fever" his Father explained
shamedly, "over IA certain record
some tune or other that don't seem
to have, that he-he wanted. He-he
wouldn't have anything else. He
seemed to have his heart set on tt
didn't know he was sick and he-he
behaved awfully-poor little beggar
| OF course. was sorry when | found
l thought maybe you would know"
"Oh, yes" Granny was holding Bibs
safe and tight again to her soft breast.
81 know what II Is. | brought 1t in
case-in case you-you positively
wouldn't let me-take him home to-
his Mother. Peter-his Mother--se
frantic"
His Father frowned quickly. He
shook his head hard.
"It's there by my hat, then. Can we
play it?" asked Granny.
'Play IT," said Bibbs, a-whimper
with Joy.
"Not now, son, not now" his Father
seemed stubborn and hard, after all
and somehow displeased.
"Play IT," said Bibbs more stubborn
ly, too, and whimpered again. But not
until he started to roar did his Father
justly surrender.
"All right. buddy boy. All right" he
said, hastily.
And so, holding tight TO his Grand
mothers hand, Bibs shut his eyes to
the joy. And after it had started:
Jazz" said his Father, little bit
scOrnfully Pretty awful jazz, too.
Why does he like it?" But Bibs did
not care.
Just then they had come to the
part that he loved and Granny was
holding him tighter than ever. They
were all very still while it played and
II played. Near the end that didn't
matter, Granny spoke up.
nat WHY sne Sulu suddenly, ana
her old voice was shaking
"'Home Sweet Home,'" breathed
his Father, dazedly, amazed.
Fright in the middle of tall that
noise-all that racket he found 1t and
loved It," said Granny, unevenly.
Ever since he was a tiny baby he's
he's loved It. Just that. Just that
part of lt-'Home, Sweet Home this
| child of all others" Her voice
stopped. Blbs felt her breast shake.
But suddenly his own heart welled
with contentment and sense of we'll
being, a vague sense of mended for
tunes and retrieved possessions, and
things come right.
Maybe 1t was because Granny with
his beloved tune was there, but pos
sibly 1t was because his Father had
suddenly snatched the record up, and
with little gulp had said hoarsely
and tenderly:
"Call the car, Andrew. Wrap up the
boy. I'm going to take him home to
his-his Mother-myself."