isa-normaladvance-1913-00090

Description:	90THE NORMAL ADVANCEHes a dandy all right, replied Don as hefollowed her out of the barn. AVanta swingin my new swing? he added, when tliey wereonce more in the yard.Marjorie shook her head. She did not feellike playing, even in the new swing. I thinkIll go home, she said, and fix a house forthe kitty.Well, so long, responded Don. Whenyou get the house done, Ill come over and seeit.Marjorie nodded and went slowly do.wn theroad. She held the kitten close in her arms,but somehow its soft warm body did not sootheher as it had. She did not want to see mother.So she crept softly round the house and up toher own room. Here she put the beloved caton the floor and played quietly with it. Itwas certainly a darling and its cunning trickscharmed her afresh. She had almost forgotten her pangs of conscience when mothersvoice startled her into acute consciousness.Come, Marjorie, called mother from thefoot of the stairs, Supper is almost ready andit is time for father to come home. Hurry nowand wash your face and hands so we wontkeep father waiting.Marjorie thought rapidly. AVIiat should shedo with the cat? If she left him loose hewould come down stairs and father would seehim. With a sudden inspiration she pulledout the chiffonier drawer, hastily shut the astonished cat into it and ran down stairs.She was very quiet at supper and ate almostnothing. Even the little pie with criss-crossesfailed to tempt her. Mother looked anxious.Arent you feeling well, daughter? sheasked.Yesm, said Marjorie.Shes just tired, father came to the rescue.Shes been playing too hard, and the questionwas dropped.Marjorie excused herself, pushed back herchair and slipped quietly out to the frontporch. Bye-and-by father came out and foundher sitting on the top step leaning against thepillar. He lit his pipe and drew his chair upclose to the railing. Presently mother joinedthem and they all sat silent, enjoying thebeauty of the summer night. How shining thestars were, thought the child. They lookedlike angels eyes. She wondered if the angelsknew about the kitty.I guess Ill go to bed, said Marjorie. Shekissed father and mother and went upstairs.Very slowly she undressed and slipped intoher little white gown. Then she knelt by thewindow and looked up at the arching sky andgleaming stars. How still the night was. Alump rose in her throat and choked her hereyes filled with tears. AVith sudden decisionshe rose and went to the chiffonier drawer.The kitten mewed faintly as she lifted himfrom his soft nest. A tear rolled down Mar-jories cheek, but she brushed it aside and wentbravely down the stairs. At the front doorshe paused, a slim little white-robed figure.Gathering her courage for the suprememoment, she walked straight to father and laidthe kitten in his lap. He looked at it in surprise. Why, daughter, he said.Its the kitty, Marjorie cried, her wordsfalling over each other in her eager confession. You said I couldnt have it, and Iwanted it so bad and I just took it anyway,and I hid it. But, oh, father, my consciencepricked me so I couldnt stand it, and—and.Her sobs overpowered her and she criedbrokenly. AVith an understanding glance atmother, father gathered kitten and child intohis compassionate arms, and held them close.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34535
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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