The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-11-03

ing tone. Il think she's pretty and
don't think she's pretty. 1 like her
and / don't like her."
For the first time in his life Ernest
admitted to himself that Phoebe was
girl to the core.
What do you think of her. mo-
ther?"
She's very entertaining" Mrs. Mar
tin said without enthusiasm. How
old did you say she was. Phoebe?"
For the first time in his life the
conviction came to Ernest that his
mother was only a woman after all.
What did you think of her. IA
ther?"
Il tink she's a mighty pretty girl"
Mr.. Martin said warmly.
For the first time in his life Ernest
realized that he and his father be-
longed to the same sex.
Ernest went to his room early that
night.
When Mrs. Martin was busting his
books the next day a paper covered
with Ernest's round-lettered scrawl
fell into her hands. He must have
been copying poetry. But at one side
| OF the paper n column OF rhyme
words presented evidence ruinous TO
that theory. She glanced at il.
Curls running low on her temples. curls
running high on her brow,
Curls running
Mrs. Martin closed the book with
a snap.
At the next night Ernest started
as usual for the Rosedale station with
the WarburtOn automobile. A little
way out of haywood the road ran
through -four miles of lonely country.
Ernest. safe from police surveillance
was going at top speed. This progress
brought him, in a minute or two
level with a girl walking toward Rose
dale. Ernest looked once-lookeo
twice. Little could he believe his
eyes. Less could be believed his luck
1t looked like-it must bet was
Fay. He curved over to the sidewalk
stopped.
Are you going far mean would
you like a ride?" he faltered, hi:
heart fiuttering in his throat.
Miss Faxon jumped. She turned
and bowed and smiled, but it seemed
> an age before she said anything.
I'm going as far as the Rosedal'
station, Ernest added in desperate
corollary. do you come this wa!
often? It's queer 1 haven't seen yol
before. 1 come by her every night.
Miss FaXon's gaze left Ernest's fac
and roamed absently over the fields
l Ernest had a curious feeling that SIN
, was thinking of something quite diff
ferent from his offer of a lift. Flo
r the first time he looked his fill at her
I seemed to be sunk in the huge, black
heart-shaped frame of her hat. TIL
wind had shattered her curls int
tendrills, had blown them against tn
] velvet brim-they chung there like
! fine embroidery.
5 Thank you," she said at last. ''Di
you say you came by here every night
] Mr.. Martini"
Q 1t was the first time! in his life tina
Ernest had ever been called Mr.. Mar
\ tin. He flushed. Every night" h
Y said. I'm doing it for Tug War
e burton. He has other things he like
2 better to do, and love to run a car.
r Again Miss FaXon paused befor
r she spoke. But she stared at him 8
D hard and her gaze grew so piercin
J., that Ernest's eyes dropped under il
s He looked away, conscious of tina
= maddening sensation of not being abb
to hold his lips firm. Suddenly he
I abstraction broke. and she smiled. Sh
Nlifted to her chin the great, snow
= Swad of her muff and stood sparklin
at him over it.
, s"Mr. Martin" he said, I'm going t
TEN you something that 1 haven't eve
toioS anybody else. I'm going to tie
! you because i trust you and becaus
you capn help me. But you must prom
! Use newer TO tell anybody until 1 Civ
sSs Permission Can you keep Sc
~ secret between theml Erne:
. thEilled. He looked at her straigI
nPw. His lips trembled no longe
pvt indignation roughened his voic
' YOf course won't tell,'' he said.
Y Fay laughed blithely. "Of cours
~ really knew that 1 could trust yol
s That's why i choose you 10 help m
Il I'm going over to the Rosedale WOOD
e to meet my brother. He is the bIac
/, sheep of my family, and my parent
h will let me have nothing to do wit
e him. But I love him and trust hi
% and will see him"
e Fay's eyes flashed. Her lips DIRE.
8 together until they narrowed to twi
l. lines of coral red.
& IT want to see him every night {
r. long as he stays in this part OF IL
II country. But / don't want Aunt Ell
1T to know. for she would put a stop
h. it at once. II / tell her I'm goir
i. lautoing with you she will suspe
he nothing. Do you mind taking n
along every night7"
q Mindl A new. wonderful VOL