The guardian., 1941-05-03
Bobby-A He-Man
BY ALICE DUANE
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU serviceD

boynIon When MS father came
home. Bobby was standing in the
middle of the roadway in front of
Grandmother's house, lifting with
the sturdy strength of an eight-year-
old the frail body of little Mary Lou,
and swinging her high over his head,
while she shrieked with delighted
yells. A breath-taking man in a
khaki uniform with a shiny wide
brown belt and hat with a shining
visor and something silver on the
front swooped him up in strong arms
and called loudly: Louise! Lou
ise!"
Then Mother came running out
with a funny crying sound, and
Bobby jumped up and down, yelling,
MY Fathers captain in the army.
He's just come home"
After that they went to the Fort
to live. Mary Lou, who was a sort
of second cousin of Bobby's and
whose Daddy was only lieutenant,
went there to live, too. One night,
when he was lying awake, Bobby
heard his Father mentioning his
name to his Mother. {
"It's shame, Louise" Father
was saying, the way you've been
bringing that boy up to be such
sissy! Why, he doesn't know how
to swim, or play football, or any,
thing boy his age should be able
to do! He just plays hour after
hour with a three-year-old baby
and girl, at that!"
Mothers voice was low, and Bob
by couldn't hear her answer, but
Father said, "Well, I'll take hold of
him and teach him to be a regular
he-man!"
1t was the next Saturday that Bob
by's father took him to the riding
hall and began to give him lessons
in horseback riding. Bobby went
without question or comment, but
he understood that this was the be-
ginning of his training to become
regular he-man." He watched
Wistfully for every sign of approval
from his hero, his sober face break
ing out into delightful smile when
Father would look down from his
horse, Fetter, and say briefly,
"Good!"
All summer Bobby worked hard
at his riding. And finally, he was
allowed to ride Jerry, and to learn
to jump. And only when Father
had gone away from the Fort, did
he swing Mary Lou over his head,
or play tag with her.
He felt little guilty about his
actions toward Mary Lou. She was
such plucky little sport about it.
When he saw her playing all alone
on her front porch (she was the
only child at the Fort under seven)
he felt like deserter. But he hard
ened his heart He knew his Fa-
ther wanted him to ignore girls to
become a regular he-man."
At the end of the summer there
was big horse show. Bobby's
fathers eyes shone as he told Bobby
about it. Look here, Son." he
said, eff you get to be really good
horseman, I'll let you ride with me
in the Pair Jumping!" And when
it came time for the entries there
were their names posted together:
"Pair Jumping: Captain Brown,
Captain Folwell; Lieutenant Wicker,
Miss Flandreau; CAPTAIN BOYN-
TON, ROBERT BOYNTON.
Day after day they put Fetter and
Jerry over the fences, over the post
and rail. And it was up to Bobby to
win, really, for of course, Father
would easily be the best! Up to
Bobby to win, for his Father!
Everyone at the Fort came out to
the Horse Show. When the six
horses in the Pair Jumping came
into the ring, everyone applauded
and shouted, especially when they
saw Fetter and Jerry up. Bobby
sat proud and intent.
They had to take four jumps, two
going away from the wide open door
that led to the street, two going
back toward it. Riding easily side
by side, they cleared the first!
The second! 1t was just as they
turned to face the door that Bobby,
his eyes for a moment lifted from
the course, saw through the open
door Mary Lou come dashing down
the street, clinging wildly to the
name of a running pony! Just as
they came opposite the door, the
pony gave a lurch, and Mary Lou
spilled in a little white heap on the
road.
Bobby's mind was working wild
ly. He would lose the race for
Father! He would be a sissy to
stop being a he-man to pick up
baby The crowd gasped to see
Bobby Boynton's horse make a
sudden smooth dash for the door.
Without pausing in his stride, Jer-
ry reached the still figure in the
road, hesitated just long enough for
Bobby to dismount and gather the
limp Mary Lou in his arms, mount
again. Then Jerry went off at a
smooth canter toward the Fort hos
pital.
Twenty minutes later Bobby
Boynton came slowly out on to the