Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-03-22

Naturally conversation langulshed.
For awhile Mrs. Hicks kept up a
sprightly chatter, but after a mile or
two even she fell silent. Amelia sat
with cllnched hands. ready to cry be-
tween anger and modification. or
course Billy would be angry. He had
right to be, Not with her, to be sure
. but, then, how could she expect him
to discriminate? Her mother, she
knew well, had the name of being
proud and schemer. There would
be plenty of folks to tell Billy, II he
did not think of It himself, that the
whole thing had been planned between
mother and daughter on purpose to
make him ridiculous.
Being self made, he was keenly sen
sitiSs. c.s.caH she could make hin IN,
derstand her innocence she had lost
him, and she did not want to lose him
She loved ever fiber Of his six foot
rudy comeliness as she hated the oily
lankness of Brother Gillian.
Her heart leaped when Gillian drew
up alongside the buggy and said, trying
to speak jocularly: "Why, Batson, don't
you know there are laws against mo-
nopoly2 Here Pm driving to town
without a soul to bear me company.
Divide, man, divide! l know It's hard
to choose, but you must give me pas
senger."
81 have to mind the preacher, don't /
Mrs. Hicks" Billy asked over his
shoulder, making way for her and
checking his horse as he spoke. He OF
course could not choose, but she must
understand that she was In the way
But Mrs. Hicks sat tight, gigglinp
and saying airlly: Indeed you do
Mist Batson! Cut the wheels the least
mite more, then Amelia can step across
no need In the world of your gettin
out to help her-and Brother Gillian
can meet us at the Mathewses. Their
yard is such good place to see the
parade"
There must have been fate In It, else
Amelia would have refused. But some
power beyond herself compelled her to
obedience. In a wink almost she was
whirling forward beside the man she
hated. Billy glared after them and sci
his teeth. He made no pretense of civil
talk to the woman beside him. His
heart was SO sore, his mind 30 angry
It was almost a miracle that he did moi
drive into or over somebody. But by
good hap he got safe to his Journeys
end and found himself little later
with Mrs. Hicks at his elbow, wedged
into the throng which lined the street
on either side.
Amelia and the minister were just
across the way. Neither couple had
had time to reach the Mathews haven
The parade was already moving when
they came to town. so they had made
what shift and haste they might.
1t was piteous parade. something
tawdry throughout. and In spots dusty
and th.ea1bare. But the lady riders
had superb horses and sat them won
derfully, especially Sandra. queen OF
amazons, who In green and gold lace
blew kisses right and left from her
finger tips. the while making her milk
white Arab keep time with tho band
blarlng ahead.
Sandra was slight and round, with
everywhere about her the suggestion
of supple strength. She carried a crop
to flourish what time she was not
throwing kisses. Every man along the
line uncovered to her, and here or there
she got hand clapping and cheers.
As she drew near Amelia's stand
Brother Gillian said uneasily: "You
won't mind If leave you, the others
are so near1 And 1t has Just occurred
to me that ought not to be here
Not that there Ii any harm In 1t, but
we must avoid the very appearance Of
evil"
go, II you cam Amelia said DULY.
She was too angry to feel relief in his
absence.
BilIy's face had told her things
she had been fearing Since he was
lost to her beyond question, she had a
mad wish that the world might end.
Gillian made II pace away, found the
human wall Impenetrable, then turned
irresolutely again toward her.
Thus he drew to himself Sandra's
keen gaze. Those watching saw her
jaw set, her eyes sparkle. her cheeks
whlten underneath their rouge-saw
her ride straight at the tall, black clad
figure and lash 1t furlously, crying high
and shrill:
"You thief! You robber- villainl
You murderer! You are "A murderer
the money you stole from me might
have snved-Our little child"