The Coolidge examiner., 1934-06-08

nat my baby.
II
Jamie. dear
Yes. Mother" jamie. lying on the
grass under the catnlpa tree. looked
up from a magazine
III were you Mother paused
JAMIE knew that she was searching
for tActful words IF we're you, :"
she presently continued. Il wouldn't
tag after Hugh
"Wha, do you meanf- jamie
looked straight Into Mothers eyes.
well. dear The direct gaze
Of Janie's eyes had also. al times.
proved an embarrassment 20 Moth
er. HE may not want"
ibid he tell you thatT" jamie felt
a hot flush creeping into her
cheeks
cot course not" Mother closed
the I'D OF her sewing basket and
gathered up scraps OF lilac tulle
But be may feel that he has 20
be polite just wouldn't DO it,
she finished as though that settled
the matter.
But II didn't settle the matter
For a long time after Mother had
gone into the house jamie lay on
the grass. her arms folded under
her head. her eyes gazing up
through the catalpa leaves into the
blue OF the summer sky. Did Hugh
think she had been tagging1 she
wondered miserably. lie hadn't
seemed to mind.
lie hadn't seemed 10 think she
was tagging" when they went out
10 have tea at "SportsmAn's Hall"
with Aunt Lucy and Muriel and No
riers Washington guests II was
be who suggested that they slip
away Up into the woods behind the
gardens and the stables. so much
elegant conversation makes ms
head ache"
They're your kind Of girls"
"My kindT~
They've all been abroad and had
coming out parties and
1T hasn't done much good ..
what Is Il smells So grand7~
"SassafraS You dig Up the roots
and"
Come on. Brownie. let's diE.
There were other things 20 re
member: having supper with Uncle
Charlie under the tree In his weedy
side yard. snppers that we're fun
because OF Jers soft crabs and
Uncle Charles remarks: sitting
sometimes in the evening beside
the fountain In the square with the
hurdy gurdy playing and the locust
blossoms smelling so sweet Il made
you want 10 cry taking hair
dozen youngsters 20 the circus. buy
Ing them pop corn and Ice cream
cones and lovely scarlet bal
ARAAn
But maybe Mother knew. Per
haps be was only being polite.
Tagging" jamie felt hot with
shame from her head 20 the tips
OF her toes She Topped over on
the grass and buried her face In her
arms.
After that she avoided him.
Let's 90 10 the movies tonight"
mo thank you. Hugh" Very prim-
ly. Il have another engagement"
Or
I'm driving out 10 the Hollis
farm. Want TO 20. young fellowY"
I'm busy" Swallowing hard to
Danish a lump in her throat. I'm
going upstairs TO write"
But she didn't write. She sat on
the sill OF the dormer window with
the locust branches brushing against
the screen. lonely and miserable.
growing up inside. II was silly
10 care about things. But you
couldn't help II II that was the
way you were made
Hugh wondered what had hap
pened.
"See here. small person" he said
finding her picking mint leaves In
the garden one afternoon. Il want
TO talk TO you"
I'D better go dress for supper"
jamie clutched at a straw.
"No you don't." He barred with
his outstretched arms the only path
TO escape. You've been lodging
me for q week. I've got you now"
He lifted her TO the top OF the wall
You can't get away. Tell me.
jamie" He wasn't smiling. His
eyes looked worried and. somehow
hurt what stupid thing have
done?"