The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-06-12

THE YOUNG WOMAN TURNED QUICKLY.
this was that the girl accepted Lancas-
ter's invitation for herself and her aunt
to see the performance.
This incident would not be important
except for a strange thing which hap
pened in connection with it.
The theater was not far from Mrs.
Barclays, and, as the evening was
pleasant, both Grace and her aunt eX-
pressed a desire to walk. While the
play was in progress, however, the
weather changed, and when they came
out of the theater it was beginning to
rain.
Lancaster found q carriage and they
rode home. AS they stopped before the
door the rain began to fall in big drops
and Lancaster hurried the two ladies
across the sidewalk to the door. When
he turned back to pay the cabman, he
was surprised to see the vehicle rapidly
moving away. The man had not even
asked for his fare.
1t may have been q week after this
when Lancaster met Mrs. Barclay in
the hall of the boarding house as he
was going. out one evening. He took
the old lady gently by the arm and led
her into the parlor, which was deserted
at that hour.
Mrs. Barclay" said he, 81 want to
ask you very serious question, and
you must answer me with the exact
truth. What have 1 done to offend
Miss Harwood?"
''Have you offended herr" asked the
old lady in tone which revealed clear
ly that she knew all about the matter.
'Both her and her aunt" said he,
"and you must tell me how"
"Harry Lancaster" replied Mrs. Bar
clay, Il knew your father, and I've
known you more or less ever since you
were a little boy. 1 can't believe that
there's any harm in one of your blood.
But-but I'm afraid you weren't al
ways careful enough about your assa-
ciates. This big city is a terrible
place and"-
"What in the world do you meanT"
demanded Lancaster.
''Well," said Mrs. Barclay, taking q
long breath as one does at the begin
ming of a disagreeable subject, 81 can
only tell what's been told to me. 1t
seems that your acquaintances are not
of q desirable kind Men that one
doesn't like to recognize bow to you on
the street, and for a young girl like
Grace Harwood to be seen with man
who seems to know every corner loaf
err There, you mustn't be offended,
yet l can't help telling you. Why,
Graces aunt told me that day before
yesterday a most brazen creature with
diamonds the size of an egg and
bleached hair winked at you-winked
knowingly-and waved her hand to
you as if you were an old acquaint-
ance."
"But, blessed heaven" exclaimed
Lancaster, I'm not responsible for
what such creatures do! can't prevent
these people bowling to me. have eX-
planned to Miss Harwood and her aunt
that l am evidently being mistaken for
some questionable character well
known in this neighborhood."
Mrs. Barclay coughed gently behind,
her hanG.
"Yes," said she 81 was told that
you'd said something of the kind. Ah,"
she continued, "a young man can't be
too careful of his associates"-
"Confound it!' interrupted Lancaster.
"These people are not my associates. I
never saw any of them before. But we
won't discuss it. I'll get to the bottom
of this mystery first, and I'll do il
right away. I'll go out and prowl
around this quarter, and the first rascal
that kotows to me will get the truth
shocked out of him mighty quick. T