The midland journal., 1916-07-21
CHAPTER vl-contInued.

They did their best to spoil him; he
was the son of the biggest man in
Sheffield. They wondered at his friend
ship for the demure little bundle girl.
"Who's this Charlie you and Fran
els Willett's always talkin' about,
Mary Alice?" they would query.
whats the matter with him, is he
sick? What, can't walk? Poor little
Teller! Les go out and see him some
Sunday, girls. Could we, Mary Alice"
They did it, too. Martha made ice
cream again, and Charlie had a heaven
ay afternoon. The girls bubbled and
gurgled and exclaimed over his lovely
golden hair and his shining blue eyes.
Mary Alice told me all about you,"
said Charlie. you're Grace, and
you're Sadie. and you're Minnie"
Mary Alice had introduced them as
Miss Corrigan and Miss Tiff and Miss
Sternheim.
How'd you know, dear?" they
chorused.
"Mary Alice, she 'scribed you. She
says you know another friend O. mine,
too. He's Francis Willett."
"You bet we do; he's Mary Alice's
steadyl"
Charlie looked puzzled. Mary Alice
blushed. Y
"Cut it out, Min" warned Grace.
whats he know about steadies?'
Going back to town on the trolley
car, Minnie suddenly turned to Mary
Alice.
who'd Charlie mean by the boss
and Lem? I guess the boss is his ia
ther; but who's Lemw
Mary Alice choked on nothing.
clutched her seat, and opened her
mouth to answer. Just as surely as
she lived. she meant to say: Hes my
father" But it wouldn't come out.
she tried three times; no use. Then
she said: Lem? Oh, Lem. Why
he's Mr.. Thomas hired man.
1t did not salve Mary Alice's con-
science to reflect that she had told the
exact truth. She lay awake that night
trying to square things with herself
Before her, in the dark, hoated the
face Of an indolent, injured angel,
AIdluCU III u UlllOWlAG OOAOCA VI ohAAA
ing, priceless gold, and the eyes were
very sad and surprised and accusing.
Mary Alice hid her face in the pillow
and promised herself and Charlie that
she would tell the girls in the morning
who Lem really was. So she went to
sleep, quite easy in her mind.
But you know you can't, somehow,
- 90 Ix1Sf on
armed fortress, above everybody's
head, and shout down that your father
is a farmers hired man. 1t would be
absurd. Mary Alice postponed the
revelation indefinitely. You must re-
member that Mary Alice was. after all.
only little girl, less than thirteen
years old.
One day the fioorwalxer brought
Mary Alice letter. 1t was addressed
an pencil, and all the "a's'' were very
round, and the loop of the 'l'' rather
liberal The lower part of the "B"
was smaller than the second-story part,
and the punctuation not unoriginal.
Aside from these minor details. 1t was
a good. shipshape letter.
vi, mary Alice y SOl letlSH, Ctlou
the girls. who's it from. honey ?
Francis. bet cooky. You'll let me
read it. won't you, Mary Alice? See
If he says anything about me in it.
Does he send us his loveY'
Mary Alice wouldn't open the letter,
but tucked II in her apron pocket, and
the girls pouted ard said she was a
mean old thing. The forenoon went
haltingly.
Up in the girls rest room. at the
lunch hour. Mary Alice stole Off in a
corner and eagerly slit the envelope
with hairpin. This is what she read;
Saint Michaei's School,
Lake Valley
Dear Mary Alice: Wen here am at
1ast in prep school. II Is a dandy place
and there are most two hundred fellows
here and we are all going 10 the same
college.
Wen I-thought would write you Mary