to come on to Marion to the Lewis home (Daisy Harding's). ". . . If you can convince him it will not be necessary to call in the others . . . if you have legal papers showing the transaction between yourself and the Willitses, I would bring them along . . ." Miss Harding wrote. She suggested that perhaps it would be wiser if I did not plan to see any of my Marion friends while there, but left that for decision when I should reach her home. "I'm enclosing a money order for your transportation here. I can give you more later for your return fare . . ." This letter, also, was signed "Lovingly," and there was a postscript which said she thought it best for me to be there by Monday or Tuesday morning. However, I did not receive the letter until Monday noon.
This letter struck me as curiously strange in content, and I thought it over as carefully as I could while making whirlwind preparations for leaving that night. I determined, without giving that determination much thought, that I would have to see Tim Slade and get his advice before going on to Marion. And possibly I might be able to persuade him to accompany me, though I disliked to ask him to go to that expense. I promised my precious daughter I would return in plenty of time to hail the rabbit in his jumps at Easter, and left that night for Washington, arriving the following morning.
I telephoned Tim Slade from the New Willard, and met him there an hour or so later. It was a glorious morning and we took a walk around the lower end of the White House grounds. It did not occur to me that the great house beyond the trees was occupied. To me it would always be deserted—because the big, genial, great-hearted man who used to live there had gone away . . .
Tim talked to me about my trip to Marion, and when we returned to the Willard and were seated on a couch in one of the
