The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-08-19
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

"Good-morning, doctor" she began
cheerfully, bursting in upon the head
OF the First church board of admins
traitors as a charming embodiment of
youthful enthusiasm, I'm running er
rands for poppa this morning. Mr..
Rodney was telling us about chat
little First church mission in Pottery
Flat, and poppa wanted to help. But
we are not Methodists, you know, and
he was afraid-that is, he didn't quite
know how you might"
1t was an exceedingly clever bit of
acting, and the good doctor capitulat-
ed at once, discrediting, for the first
time in his life, the intuition of his
home womankind.
Now that is very thoughtful and
Kind Of you, Miss Margery," he said,
W1plng his glasses and looking a sec
ond time at the generous figure of the
piece Of money paper. 81 appreciate
1t the more because l know you must
nave great many other calls upon
your charity. We've been wanting to
put trained worker in charge of that
mission for l don't know how long.
and this gift Of yours makes it pos
sible."
The kindness is in allowing us to
help" murmured the small diplomat.
You'll let me know when more is
needed? Promise me that, Doctor
Farnham."
Il shouldn't be a good Methodist if
l didn't" laughed the doctor. Then he
remembered the Mereside reception
and the regrets, and was moved to
make amends. I'm sorry we couldn't
be neighborly last night; but my sis
ter-in-law is very frail, and Charlotte
doesn't go out much They are both
getting ready to go to Pass Christian,
but I'm sure they'll call before they
go south"
Il shall be ever so glad to welcome
them," purred Miss Margery, "and
do hope they will come before l leave.
I'm going to Palm Beach next week,
you know"
"I'll tell them" volunteered the doc
tor. They'll find time to run in, I'm
sure"
But for some reason the vicarious
promise was not kept; and the Ray
mers held aloof; and the Oswalds and
the Bars relinquished the new public
library project when it became noised
about that Jasper Grierson and his
daughter were moving in it.
Miss Margery possessed her soul in
patience up to the final day of her
home staying, and the explosion might
have been indefinitely postponed if, on
that last day, the Raymers, mother
and daughter, had not pointedly taken
pains to avoid her at the lingerie
counter in Thorwalden's. 1t was as
the match to the fuse and when Miss
Grierson left the department store
there were red spots in her cheeks
and the dark eyes were flashing.
They think I'm a jay!" she said,
with snap of the white teeth. "They
need lesson, and they're going to get
1t before I leave. I'm not going to
sing small all the time!"
1t was surely the goddess of discord
who ordained that the blow should be
struck while the iron was hot Five
minutes after the rebuff in Thorwald-
ems, Miss Grierson met Raymer as
he was coming out of the Farmers
and Merchants bank. There was an
exchange of commonplaces, but in the
midst OF 1t Miss Margery broke off
abruptly to say, 'Mr. Raymer, please
tell me what l have done to offend
your mother and sister,"
If she had been in the mood to com.
promise, half of the deferred payment
of triumph might have been dis.
charged on the spot by Raymer's blum
dering attempt at disavowal
why, Miss Margery! l don't know
that is-er-really, you must be mis-
taken, I'm Sure!"
'I am not mistaken, and I'd like to
know" she persisted, looking him
hardly in the eyes. "It must be some.
thing have been doing, and if can
find out what it is, I'll reform"
Raymer got away as soon as he
could; and when the opportunity Of
fered, was besotted enough to repeat
the question to his mother and sister.
Mrs. Raymer was a large and placid
matron of the immovable type, and
her smile emphasized her opinion of
Miss Grierson.
"The mere fact Of her saying such