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But to resoom backwards agin. Anna said her Ma had not only acted dretful cool and distant to her Pa ever since, but kep' up a cool, icy demeanor towards everybody who pitied her over Cicero's fate. And the thought her idee in givin' the party wuz to show she could still keep up and hold her ground, and wuz not such a forlorn object of pity as they all seemed to think. Well, Tamer did look queer, her face put me in mind some of our creek before it breaks up in the spring, sort o' cold and smooth and ice bound, and as if you would be apt to slip up if you ventured a foot on it.

Not one of the relations had dasted, so fur as I could make out, to say one word to her about Cicero, and if relations don't dast, then who will! I myself didn't feel like mentionin' his name, no, my feelin's wuz so deep no plummet might sound 'em in regard to that boy and his folks. Deep pity, knowledge of first causes, and prophetic feelings I had as to sure results to spring from dime novels, cigarettes, etc., made my feelin's queer as a dog's, a black dog's. And I didn't feel like sayin' one word, no, indeed, I felt I had had my say, and, as I watched Tamer's icy face, I thought to myself I didn't want to be anywhere round when the ice broke up and the waves of remorse and regret washed tumultous.

Well, she had an elegant dinner and supper, waited on in first class style by a new girl, and I dassent for my