Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-20

ventional greeting, but said:
william, want you to let me keep
Junior"
Peewee turned from her to his father,
and stood looking up at him expectantly.
Just what he expected he did not attempt
to analyze, but he knew that his fathers
reply decidedly was no. it. His father
stared at his mother oddl, for a breathless
few seconds and said:
''Thats impossible, Clarice."
"Why is 1t impossiblef'
"You know why"
"But / want him! ! want him! He's
mine-my baby!"
According to the courts" Mr.. Pendle-
ton nut in significantly, 'he Is not yours.
He's mine, and he's coming home with me
now"
They faced each other across Peewee's
head ignoring him so utterly that the boy
fancied that they must have forgotten he
was there.
Mr.. Pendleton was calm, and a small
smile. which Peewee somehow found un-
pleasant to look at drew up the corners of
his mouth. Mrs Pendleton was not calm.
She was very far from calm. She fairly
blazed with anger.
.'The courts!' she repeated scathingly.
"What have they to do with it? He's mine!
I bore him, suffered for him-bone of my
bone-he's mine, I tell you-all have in
the world!'
She dropped suddenly, her passion slip
ming from her like loosened garment She
seemed weary and sad now, and little old.
at haven't seen him for so long, she
fho va hot
of her trembling jeweled hands thrown up to
shield her face.
There was a silence. Peewee looked at
his father, standing there so straight and
solemn and unyielding, and then at his
mother. A tremendous pity for her welled
mn in his throat and would not be gulped
down. He wanted greatly to comfort her,
70 do something, anything, that might make
her lift her face again and smile at him.
He moved toward her and patted her hands
awkwardly.
Jaw, motherv' he protested. Don't!
Don't feel bad. mother!
The hands futtered away from her face,
and Peewee realized that she had been cry
ing. He felt panicky. His mother crying!
Why, grown-up people didn't cry! She
mustn't cry!
He turned again, desperately, to his
father. Why in the world didn't his father
do something? Couldn't he see that she
was crying?
Don't be melodramatic, Clarice,' his
father was saying quietly. Its all settled,
of course. wouldn't make scene before
the boy, if were you"
His mother rose abruptly, dabbing at her
eyes with bit of lace.
NO.. she faltered. 'No, mustn't.
You're right. William.
She stopped to kiss Peewee. She looked
long into his troubled eyes, and ruffled his
hair in a way she had-a way which he
had always hated. but which somehow he
didn't hate now.
GOOD night, darling" she said gently.
You go with father now. I'll see you
tomorrow, perhaps-soon, anyway"
This last was put in the form of ques-
ton and directed over the top of Peewee's
head to Peewee's father.
Mr.. Pendleton nodded.
''Soon-yes."
And Peewee, dumb with anguish and be-
wilderment, was led away.
THE academy, reassembled after its two
weeks vacation, had much to impart. to
whomsoever would listen, anent its individual
activities in the interim. Every one had
had superlative time. Every one said SO
rapturously-every one, that is, except
Peewee
The omission was remarked by Eddie
Edwards on the day after vacation ended
in the presence of group of their contem
Al
for an hour, but Peewee had contributed
nothing.
What's the matter, Peewee?' Eddie de-
manded finally. "You haven't said a word.
Didn't you have good time while you
were homer
Peewee started, like one who is caught
dreaming
"Oh-why, yes, sure / did! / had a
grand time! l saw some plays with my
mother and some basketball games with my
dad, and went to an awful lot of different
places. and-gee, yes, had a grand time!'
After moment he added comfortably:
Its kind of nice to be back at school,
though
They all smiled with fine scorn at what
was generally conceded to be Peewees little
joke.
Copyright bv Public Ledger