New Britain herald., 1929-05-31

- Ae Fsrmhouas Orchard ts Inter-
 rupted by Dicky
 = At Juniors hesitancy. his patent j. inclinatioa to stay in his grand ' fathers room instead of comine ~ with me to the orchard for last = romu before my departure to the . city. I turned toward the door with . quiet, "Very well. dear, come ou' : later." which masked one Of the ' unhappiest moments of my lie. Iae bitterness Of it was not lessened os ~ my full realization of the absurdity . and pettiness of my emotion.
 Nv father made no comment :. whatever while l remained in the = room. But he must have sala = something most effective to Juniol as soon as the door was closed be- = hind me, for l barely had reached . my own room before l heard my small son pelting down the hall, calling me frantically, and the nex' . instant he had flung himself upon ~me with a tempestuous hug.
 ~I didn't really want to stay and play pirate" he said. T just want -you, Nuns, darling"
 His tone rang with sincerity, ana n put from me the unworthy sus- .picion that some admonition Of hia ~xrandfather's had aroused contrltlon land that he was trying to make .up" to me for his reluctance to .leave his play. With his dear young .arms hugging me tightly. I crushed ;. down my secret resentment and re- .turned his hug enthusiastically. "And I just want you. Sweet sheart." I told him. Were going to shave a splendid romp in the or .chard." He ran for his cap and coat, anl coming back, escorted me proudly .out- of doors and through the yard .into the orchard at the rear ot which he had built fearsome and ,wondrous camp Of old boards and sbarrels. It is a structure all ms own, for Dicky and I decided thai Ito help him with it, even to provide .new lumber for it. would spoil his -initiative and his resourcefulness As a result his pride in it is un- .bounded, and he plays the host .with an air of possession which E sadorable or ludicrous. depending 'upon whether the guest is an admir- ting relative or just an acquaintance In the Orchard
 We have had many wonderfully senjoyable hours-my small son and .I-in front of this camp. for it's pro- sportions do not admit adults unless .folded up like jack knives. I looked sAround the lovely orchard with re. sturn of my sadness. When I should enext see it with Junior, feared the last trace of the summer-like au' .tumn would be gone. and the trcei .bare. My original plan had been te sspend almost every weekend at t:le .farm. but the bizarre complications .which had come into our lives with the plot against Prince Georges would make it necessary, I knew flor me to stay at the hotel until the sdanger was over. no matter hcN slong an absence it entailed from the sfarmhouse-and my small son.
 ]. had not meant my boy to see m, mood, but his eyes were too quici sster me The smile with which ] sfurned to hiw eeA asked: Well
 lear what shaif *SSt1y first t6ll notsAAcaiveshim Ills syes grew VI, md tAe grin faded from his ftce. Nuns tell me something" bs ssaid. When are you ccs~ing back, Next week."
 |. mathematical the thoughtless. saess which had let my mask slip. wish to alarm him by telling hin tshe truth.
 Dicky Breaks In
 Its the middle of the week. now s1ear." told him hurriedly. We" sAardiy get in there and comfortabl. settled before next week. And you'll s0e 70 busy with your lessons tha syeu''ll hardly know we're gone" Mot know you're gone?" he re .psated with | mournful emphas sthat brought a lump to my throat s'What kind of boy do you thin, you've got? You're my mother, an. you think I wouldn't know you wer, gone. Wont you know that I'il .gone?"
 His voice was choky by this time and held out my arms to him.
 What do you think? ?" I aske, Z softly. and he rushed into my arm with sob which he quickly con .quered. for he is trying hard to liy ssup to the standard of being bi boy"
 I'm going to miss you every min ute" told him earnestly. realizia
 intuitiyely that this was the assur sAnce his heart demanded. And sknow you are going to miss me. Blu
 there are reasons, which l will eA ,plain to you"
 When I'm older, suppose. .Junior interrupted rebelliously. hate that"
 T wasn't going to say older bl '1ater'.' I explained, refraining fro,
 reproof. Not with any discipliu would l mar this last visit with I'll schild. They are reasons which could not tell you now if you We, much older than you are. And the twill make me stay away from yo sthis winter. though I would muc rather be right here But we cam. always do as we wish to do. my da ding. I have taught you that
 A shadow fell behind me. and looked up to see Dicky smiling dow eat me sardonically.
 Wonderful thing to he able fool yourself into believing that il .clination is duty he said.
 Dicky's taunt-for it was nothir 'less-would have been hard enoue Ito bear if l had been alone. ar
 nafhitax haa