The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-10
CHAPTER w.

"What? Are you bluea" Boughton
asked, convinced now that the glisten was
not due to the freight "On Christmas
Eve, tooa That will not do the least in the
world. What's wrong?"
She tossed herself back into the open
arms of the big chair with petulant gest-
ure.
Every thingl" she cried-'s 'sEvery thi,,gi'
Boughton sat a moment gazing steadily
into the fire.
judith" he said, at last, cant you tell
re. Ssears might help you, you knowa"
lou couldntl you couldn't!'' she said,
still vehemently knitting her chestnut
nrows, winch IN tnaU position were aDsurdly
like her fathers. ''Nobody can. I can't
myself. Oh! dearf'
It's impossible to express the rebellion
condensed into that one "Ohl dearr' The
room seemed to reverberale with 1T.
Boughton could think of absolutely moth
ing to say just then, so he edged along to-
ward her over the deershin rug, until he
could rest his arm on the arm of her chair.
s.Tellnle." he urged "Do, Judith. One
can never tell. Perhaps may be the very
one to help you.''
But she said "No," very curtly, and
stared over his head into the fire.
Presently, however, she burst forth
again:
WAS there ever such wild place as the
University of Virginia, do you thinka" she
cried.
At that, s'Ohp' said Phil to himself. Dick
lad of course been getting into trouble, and
had cast his burden upon his sisters plucky
little shoulders, after his usual brave
fashion.
81 don't know much about it, you know"
he made answer "What has Dick been
telling youa"
She looked at him sharply.
ssWhy do you think Dick has been telling
me any things" she asked, in rather care
full voice.
''How else should you knowa" Boughton
caid, easily. ''But OF course don't tell me
anless you wish"
Suddenly she leaned forward setting one
hand back down in the other as they rested
on her knees. Hernecklace swung forward
from her bending throat, and the fire-light
cast dainty, circular shadows fromits beads
upon the snowy white of her neck.
eyes, will tell you" she said, suddenly.
"Dick is in debt-the DID, old story to sis
ters-for how much do you supposed"
81 don't know" said Boughton, stupldly.
He was not thinking in the least of Dick
those little soft round shadows there were
on her white breast, and whether he could
count them if he tried.
'.Well, then-for eight-do you hear9-for
thousand-dollars."
'sThat's not so very bad, said Boughton,
reassuringly. eve can pull him through"
"Wel" sand the girl, haughtily, on the de-
fensive at once. "Who do you mean by
swen"
All at once he got his arms about her. She
felt his hot breath in her hair, on her
throat.
..Who should mean but you and I-you
and I-you and II" he went on repeating, in
a sort of lntoxication. sJudith-kiss mev'
kiss youl' she said s'KIss YOUR
She was absolutely rigid with fury. Was
ever man so blind as Boughton2-so deaf,
one might say. He leaned forward and
kissed the pretty blue bow, and the space of
white flesh encircled by the blue beads. He
looked up and would have kissed her lips,
but was stopped by the furious light in her
eyes. He started back and freed her in a
moment.
srThis is the second time,n she said, with
shut teeth, as he remembered her once be-
fore to have spoken-''the second time you
have behaved like beast to me-"
"Judithr' he said.
'.Yes-a beastp' she said, biting down on
the word, as it were, with her sharp little
teeth
'.Judith,n he said again, "take care-take
care!'
s.Take carel'' she repeated. 'Take care
of whata OF the womanhood that you don't
respect? Therel Your lips have touched
them. they are vileln
OF hn mill, n
sharp movement which broke it. and the
pretty beads went rolling this way and
that over the fur rug and the polished floor
The kitten in the Toby-collar pursued one
into distant corner, and thought the epi-
sode gotten up for her especial benefit. One
or two rolled down into Judiths bodice,
and felt very cold and disagreeable, but she
was too much wrought up just then to think
of physical discomfort
She stood opening and shutting her hands
in sort of helpless gesture of rage.
s'How dare you treat me sop she said,
breathlessly. "How dare youl-dare youl
dare you2"
He was on his feet, of course, by this
time, and stood facing her with his head
well up, and his hands we'll down in his
pockets, an extremely angry man. The
lover was quite taken up with Indignation.
How dare you treat me soy" he returned,
with rather ominous quietness. ''Do you
think it is very-er -ladylike to call people
'beastspn
"Iadyliker" painted poor Judith, who
for the time being could not resist echoing
him. 'IIadylilxei" she cried again.
"Ladylilxe--the DEvTLlr she SAID for the
third time, bringing down her teeth with
vicious little snap over the terrible word.
Roughton was actually livid.
Pardon me-" he said, bowling and turn
ing on his heel. Good evening" But as
he reached the door he wheeled around and
came back to her. judith" he said, in
voice that she did not at all find familiar,
al meant to ask you just now to be my
wife. OF course leave at once. Twill con-
coet some story to tell your father and Dick.
Goodbye"
He went without so much as touching her
hand, and closed the door, opening it again,
however, to thrust a little mat out of the
way. He did not again look over in her
direction Then he went finally.
And she stood staring at the closed door,