Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-06-21

particular. You've already started to
turn the child against me-"
That's not true, Helen" Granny de-
clared sternly. We've hardly ever men,
toned either you or Dick. Wed like
to have Di stay because we love her
and because we believe it's healthier
for her here. But If she must go. she
must. Can't you stay for dinner?"
Thanks" Helen refused and glanced
have to hurry back"
II, don't want to go back" Diane
cried suddenly. please, mother, let
me stay? Please?"
Go up and get your things" Helen
told her quietly.
tried blindly to find all her things to
put in her bag. She couldn't find any
thing until Aunt Nancy came in quiet
ly and lifted her onto the bed. She
found and packed her things quickly
and efficiently and locked the bag.
Then she pulled Diane to her.
""Goodby for a little while. Dr." she
said. Don't cry. Well see each other
soon again. feel it. You see if we
don't. And here's little gift for you
It's S." She took up DANES handbag
and put the bill in it and handed
the bag to her. Il was planning to
buy you a going-away present with 1t
but now that you're going so soon,
won't have time. When you get home,
pretend that Aunt Nancy picked it out
for you. Now, goodby. sweet. Be good
girl"
Diane threw her arms around her
neck and kissed her wetly. Downstairs,
she saw her father, Uncle Tom and
Granny through a mist The only
things she distinguished clearly were
- 10 l,Nt To-. 49, fzA y.
and the hard, unyielding face Of her
mother as they coldly bade each other
goodby. Then the landscape was speed
ing past their car as 1t hurtled them
homeward. Halfway home, they ran
into the storm and Michael drove slow
ly through thunder. lightning and rain
which bounced upon them on the wings
The west wind did not blow again
for long. long time. The weeks fol-
lowed each other Soggily as the city
sweltered with the rest of the nation
in humid heat which was punctuated,
but not relieved, by almost daily thun-
der storms.
Two weeks after she got home, Di-
ane woke early one dreary morning
and lay in her little bed and thought
of the farm. By now, Uncle Tom would
have finished threshing and putting
his hay into the barn. There wouldn't
be much for him to do but milk and
take care of the odd jobs If she were
dow down II there she thought he would have
him things she had found. Daddy, Of
couse, would come too.
She would show them the rabbits
nest she had found on the hillside in
the north pasture and where a garter
snake lived. They would watch the
ftnv NJ
very busy, Uncle Tom would say.
They're getting ready for the winter.
And from the way they're working I'd
say it was going to be cold one" He
always said that. And, maybe by now.
he would have told daddy about her
dolls and they would both inquire po-
litely about them How was little Betty.
and Nancy and Tom? How was Gran
ny'S rheumatism And how were the
beautiful mother and daddy dolls, the
only real ones? And she would answer
them gravely.
Then she remembered suddenly that
the little doll house in which they
in this kind Of weather. She would
write and ask Aunt Nancy to send
them home here to her. She got up
and went to her desk, got out paper
and pencil and wrote:
Dear Aunt Nancy. Please ask Uncle
Oll W BSI lily nc hllO"S WlltlS
they are. Maybe they will be wet. If
they are, dry them and send them.
There are six. Some are corn. Two are
real. Don't wash their clothes, I want
to. How are you? How is daddy? How
is Uncle Tom? Is the calf getting big?
1t is lonesome here. Mother Is well.
go to Central park every day. Mother
sends her love. Love to all.
Diane"
It took a long time to finish the
letter because Diane was not a very
efficient writer. Her mother came in
to wake her Just as she was writing the
address on the envelope.
"Darling!" she exclaimed, what are
you doing UP so early?"
II asked Aunt Nancy to send me
my dolls" Di said.
Her mother read the letter and then
read It again. Then she put It back
on the desk and sat there, thinking.
..Sueetn she asked after n little