Bright Arrows Read Online Free PDF

challenge in his tone now.
    Eden still hesitated.
    "Why, no, of course not," she said, trying to speak naturally. "It's quite to be expected of course. But somehow you startled me. I wasn't expecting you."
    "Well, are you coming with me? Get a hustle on. I only have this day, and I want to make the most of it."
    "Why, Caspar, I want to see you, of course, but I couldn't go with you. Nor do all those things you suggested."
    "What? You mean go dancing? You mean your dad would object to that? But surely he doesn't attempt to lord it over you the way he used to. You're of age, aren't you? Or almost. I should think you had a right to do what you want to now. But anyway, if you think he would kick up a row, we could steal away to some place he wouldn't know about. Would he really make a fuss now? It's time you made a stand against such petty domineering. If you're afraid of him, I'll tell him what I think of him. Just wait till I get out there."
    Eden's voice was choked with sudden tears.
    "My father is not here, Caspar."
    "Well then, what's the matter? He needn't know where you went. Where is he? Will he be away all evening?"
    Eden took a deep breath and choked back the tears.
    "Caspar, my father died four days ago. His funeral was day before yesterday." There was a deep sorrow in the girl's voice, and Caspar's lively tone suddenly hushed.
    "Oh!" he said, aghast. "Oh, you don't mean it! You see, I didn't know it. I ask your pardon for barging in this way. I'm sorry! Was he sick for long? Somebody ought to have told me. But I really haven't seen anybody from over this way in a long time. I hope you'll understand. Of course, I don't suppose you feel like having fun right away. I understand. Perhaps you'd rather I didn't come over today."
    "Oh, no, I'd like to see you," said Eden gravely. "I have been wondering what had become of you. Nobody seemed to know."
    "Okay, I'll be over for a little while. Bye-bye!"
    Eden dropped back on her pillows and lay there staring up at the ceiling. Was that really her old friend Caspar? How strangely different he seemed. Even after she had told him of her father's death his voice was hard and unsympathetic. The words were all right, but he sounded as if he were in a world that was not hers. Of course, that was what people were saying war did to the boys, though some that she knew had come home quite changed in another way, more reliable, more gentle, and sometimes grave.
    Well, but this wasn't fair to Caspar. Judging him before she had really seen him at all. It would be natural that one would change to some degree when taken out of a home environment and put among a lot of tough fellows. Although, of course, they were not all tough. Well, she would put such thoughts aside and try to wait until he came, and then perhaps she wouldn't feel he was changed so much after all.
    But as she rose and went about the matter of dressing, the brief conversation over the telephone kept lingering in her mind. The way Caspar had spoken of her father, so disrespectfully, suggested that she get out from under his care. How terrible for him to speak that way! Why, he used always to admire her father, to look up to him! And her father had always been so nice and kind to Caspar. Had he forgotten all that? Didn't he remember how her father had gone with him to see the man at the apartment house after he broke two of their windows in the basement, and paid for the windows, and then let Caspar pay him five cents a week out of his allowance until it was all paid for? And Caspar had been so pleased and had understood why Dad didn't pay it himself, because it wouldn't be good for Caspar to get away without paying for his own carelessness. Caspar used to be such an understanding boy. Oh, he couldn't have changed that way. He used to come to Dad for help in things instead of going to his own father, because his own father simply got angry with him and took away his allowance for a while. Well, anyway, she mustn't judge Caspar