The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-02-23
By INEZ HAYNES GILL MORE
Author Of Poppy Love-" Phoebe and Her Other Self Etc
COPYRIGHT 1910


Mrs. Martin wore her long purpI,
; night But II was evident that she
had not slept.
Ernest" she said. quietly. what
kept you 30 later"
IT stayed until the 10 train. moth
er. Then 1 missed the IL.
came out on the milk train"
Were you elOneg"
Where have you been1"
Mother" Ernest said. desperately,
after a long pause. in which he seemed
| to go round and round the circle that,
always with the same conclusion, his
| mind had travelled so many times that
| evening, I've been out"
Mrs Martin did not speak. She did
not stir. She continued to look at Err
nest and he continued to look at her.
I After an interval she walked past her
/ son down the hall. Her door shut
1 softly. Ernest went into his room.
/ but he did not close his door. For a
| long time he sat and leaned his head
| against the back of his chair, waiting
Finally he went to bed
What time did Ernest get home %
Mr.. Martin asked the next morning.
He lost both trains" Mrs. Martin
| said easily. Just think he had to
come homo on the milk train. Now
Edward, don't want that you should
I
I've scolded him enough You leave
him In my handR"
IAN right. mother" The relief with
which Mr.. Martin slipped parental dis
cipline onto his wife's shoulders was
audible In his long sigh.
Phoebe came TO the dinner-table
! that night bursting with information.
/ Il went over to the Ventry's this after
noon. mother, to find out when Mrs.
Nentry was coming home. and what
he
/ isn't expected back this summer.
She's left Manchester and is staying
1 at the Hotel Hamblen IN New York.
/ They're packing up all her clothes.
| heard-and she never said one word
about IL to anybody. What do you
suppose has happened2"
Nobody supposed anything. But,
/ Il shall miss Mrs. Ventry very much. ."
/ Mrs. Martin said.
For two or three days the atmos-
phere OF the Martin house was
/ strange. Mrs. Martin spoke little
/ she seemed absorbed in unvoiced
| mental problems Mr.. Martin dis
I covered her several times wandering
aimlessly about the house late at
/ night.
rs anything the matter with you.
/ Bertha he asked once. you're not
! finding this summer at home too much
/ for you? Just say the word and Wen
/ so down to the Seasho ore tomorrow.
Mrs. Martins tired eyes went to the
/ lawn. Il wouldn't leave this place for
a farm down East" she said. note Of
/ passionate determine ton in her voice
/ = love il. It's home"
| With this MIR. Martin had to be con
l tent II he had been more careful
observer ne would have noted that
! although his wife spoke TO Ernest
/ when IL was necessary. she never
| otherwise addressed him: that in no
case did she look at him.
| Ernest. during these days, was
| model OF good behavior. He dropped
the feud that he was waging with the
| Irish queen OF the kitchen Just as VIC
/ tory doomed IN sight. His work was
/ accomplished promptly 20 the minute
! He went out OF his way to find things
\ TO do. He even resumed certain house
| hold responsibilities that he had out
grown with his childhood
| Say, what's the matter with YOU
| Ern ," Phoebe asked. You're getting
so easy TO live with that YOU must be
coming down sick"
II Phoebe had been little less self
! centered-to do Phoebe Justice IL
| should be mentioned that she was get
| ting ready TO visit the WarburtOns in
] Marblehead-she would have observed
! that Ernests eyes always followed his
mothers figure. followed II with the
helpless, impioring look Of sick
| puppy.
At the end of the third day Ernest
! suddenly borrowed 50 Of Phoebe. He
| went to the telephone OF the haywood
! House, called New York. the Hotel
Hamblen. Mrs. r. B. Ventry. Then
J he waited.
After long time. cool voice said.
/ Who is thisY''
Ernest Martin" he answered lis
this you. Mrs. Ventry?"
Yes" the voice answered. What
/ is IL. Ernest ?"
u want TO know if YOU will let me
/ tell my mother about the other night 3"
Ernest said. straight to the point You
/ see 1 missed the IL train and
| didn't get home until after L. I
/ never stayed out so late before, and
when she asked me where I'd been
couldn't tell her because I'd promised
{ you that I wouldn't tell anybody.
guess she's most sick worrying about
| II. She thinks-wen. I don't know
/ what she thinks. OF course, I'll keep
my promise If you ask me. But It
would be a great favor If you'll let
me tell her"
For an instant the wire fairly vi
brated with silence. Then the voice
came very soft. Ernest. how old are
your"
Sixteen"
Ernest could almost feel the choke
| of surprise that this statement elected.
i "Oh, you're younger than Phoebe,
/ then" Mrs. Ventry said. thought
you were nineteen or twenty-you're
| so big"
Ernest passed. unnoting. over the
delicious fiattery OF this Can tell
herr" he persisted.
The voice responded Immediately.
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