The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-07-02

because of an irregular blotch of pink
paint on the front. But it held the
attention on account of the two young
people on the veranda.
To the passerby they presented the
picture of felicity.
The veranda-cool, wide and shady
looked out on the prettiest street
of the overgrown country town-a
street of broad lawns, of houses that
were homes, of big trees, generous of
shade, the girl was young and attrac-
tive, bit too thoughtful perhaps, but
as charmingly gowned and as pretty
as the most frivolous; the man was
handsome, on slightly sterner lines
than those prescribed by popular
magazine covers, but nevertheless dis
tinctly handsome.
The passerby, might envy, but
close observer could see that this was
not scene of unadulterated happi-
ness.
The girl, Ruth Everton, who was
visiting her sister, Mrs. Hillock, sat
in the swing and stared just beyond
the man, not at him, while one an
noyed little foot kept tapping on the
veranda floor. The man, Frank Ora
ham, was distinctly gloomy, and his
( jaw was set grimly, as for battle.
"Of course, said Ruth bitterly, eff
you don't care anything about children
IF you aren't interested in what is
best"
He interrupted her a bit indig-
nantly.
"But it is exactly because do care.
Can't you see that it isn't fair to your
little nephew to let him grow up an
undisciplined individual, meddling
with their affairs"
She in turn interrupted.
'Why aren't you willing to get at the
bottom of this? Now, you'll surely
agree that half of the machinery of
cur civilization is just for those two
purposes; to develop mans reason and
to make him social-minded.
"Isn't that true? Schools and col
1eges and libraries and churches and
everything? All right. Now here
comes along child with those two
characteristics already remarkably
developed, and what do you want to
do?
''You want to destroy them utterly
turn him into an obedient little
automation, just so he'll be less trouble
for the present, and then expect him
to acquire them all over again when
he grows up Oh, it drives me wild
simply Wild"
s'In other words" dryly commented
Graham, che should be encouraged to
daub pink paint on the front of his
house, and so put the family to con-
siderable expense and trouble to have
it done over-to say nothing of MAX
ing the place, look ridiculous until it
is done. That's the sort of impulse,
suppose that you want to conserve"
81 think the generous impulse back
of it," she retorted, "the desire to
give pleasure is the most precious
thing in the world and certainly ought
to be conserved"
Frank Graham smiled sardonic
smile to himself and said nothing.
Ruth Everton stared coldly beyond
him.
Presently from the house came Mrs.
Hillcock, mother of little Everton, the
terrible young cause of this contro-
versy between Ruth Everton and the
man she was going to marry.
Mrs. Hillcock sank YEARLY into a
wicker chair.
"Oh deary me-" she sighed. She
was an extremely pretty woman, but
always had the air of being, though
sweetly good-natured about it all,
completely done up and winded by the.
strenuous complexities of her life.
well, certainly wish knew what
ought to do" she declared.
Ruth leaned forward encouragingly.
Something about Everton?' she in
quired.
Eyes, really think ought to keep
him home from little Fife Whites
birthday party this afternoon, to pun
ish him for that paint, but how can
] when he's been looking forward to
it all week?"
1t seemed to Graham as if the girl
fairly gloated over her advantage over
him. OF course, he couldn't interfere
in this strictly family affair while
she, as the child's aunt, could.
"But you must remember" Ruth
was saying, ''that his motive was the
kindeSt He Wanted tn Daint the whole