Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-09-09
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 that
little First church mission in Pottery
Flat, and poppa wanted to help. But
we arc 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, d~iscrediting. for the first
time in his life, the intuition OF his
home womankind.
Nov that is very thoughtful and
kind OF you, Miss Margery." he said,
wiping his glasses and looking a Sec
ond time at the generous figure Of the
piece of money paper. q appreciate
It the more because / know you must
have a great many other calls upon
your charity. We've been wanting to
put a trained worker in charge Of that
mission for I don't know how long,
and this gift Of yours makes 1t 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 II
I 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-iaw 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 50 glad to welcome
them" purred Miss Margery. land |
do hope they will come before l leave.
I'm going to Palm Beach next week,
you know"
I'm tell them" volunteered the doc.
Cor. They'll find time to run in, I'm
sure
But for some reason the vicarious
promise was not kept; and the Ray
c he'd aloof; and the Oswalds and
the Barrs 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 Th~orwalden'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 a snap Of the white teeth. "They
need a lesson. and they're going to get
1t before l 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 It Miss Margery broke of
abruptly to say. "Mr. Raymer, please
tell me what / have done to offend
mother and sister"
II 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! 1 don't know
is-er-really. you must be mis-
taken, I'm sure!"
II am not mistaken, and I'd like to
she persisted. looking him
in the eyes. 1T must be some
thing ! have been doing. and II ! can
find out what 1t 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 q large and placid
of the immoyable type, and
her smile emphasized her opinion OF
Miss Grierson.
The mere fact Of her saying such