The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1922-05-12

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NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE Hapgood twins were born in the
L great square house that set back
from the road just on the outskirts of
Fairtown. Their baby eyes had opened
upon a world Of faded portraits and
somber haircloth furniture,
From babyhood to girlhood the
charm Of the old place grew upon
them, so much so that the thought of
leaving it for homes of their own be-
came distasteful to them, and they
looked with scant favor upon the &C.
casional village youths who sauntered
up the path presumably on courtship
bent.
Rev. John Hapgood-a man who
ruled himself and all about him with
q rod Of rigid old-school orthodoxy
died when the twins were twenty and
the frail little woman who, as his wife,
had for thirty years lived and moved
solely because he expected breath and
motion Of her, followed soon In his
footsteps. And then the twins were
left alone in the great square house
on the hill.
Miss Tabitha and Miss Rachel were
not the only children of the family.
There had been a son-the first born,
and four years their senior. The
headstrong boy and the iron rule had
clashed, and the boy, when sixteen
years old, had fled, leaving no trace
behind him.
II Rev. John Hapgood grieved for
his hayward son the members of his
household knew 1t not, save as they
might place their own constructions
on the added sternness to his eyes
and the deepening lines about his
mouth. "Paul" when it designated
the graceless runaway, was a forbid
den word in the family,
Years had since passed-years Of
peaceful mornings and placid after
Moons, and Paul had never appeared.
On the 10th Of June, their thirty
fifth birthday, the place never had
looked so lovely. A small table laid
with spotless linen and cleaning sill
yer stood beneath the largest apple
tree,
Rachel came out of the house and
shifted the air joyfully.
delicious! !" she murmured. "SOme-
how, the 10th of June is specially fine
every year"
In careful, uplifted hands she bore
q round frosted cake, always the chief
treasure of the birthday feast. The
cake was covered with the tiny col
ored candies so dear to the heart of
q child. Miss Rachel always bought
those candies at the village store, with
the apology:
81 want them for Tabitha's birthday
cake, you know. She thinks so much
of pretty things"
Tabitha invariably made the cake
and iced 1t, and as she dropped the
bits of colored sugar into place she
would explain to Hubby, who occasion
ally "helped" in the kitchen:
81 wouldn't miss the candy for the
world-my sister thinks so much of
it,"
So each deceived herself with this
pleasant bit of fiction, and yet had
what she herself most wanted.
Rachel carefully placed the cake in
the center Of the table, Toasted her
eyes on it's toothsome loneliness, then
turned and hurried back to the house.
The door had scarcely shut behind her
when small, ragged urchin darted in
at the street gate, snatched the cake,
and, at a sudden sound from the
house, dashed out Of sight behind a
shrub close by.
The sound that had frightened the
boy was the tapping of the heels of
Miss Tabitha's shoes along the back
porch. The lady descended the steps,
crossed the lawn and placed saucer
of pickles and plate of dainty sand
witches on the table.
"Why, thought Rachel brought the
cake" she said aloud. "It must be in
the house; there's other things to get,
anyway. I'll go back"
Again the click of the door brought
the small boy close to the table. Fill
ing both hands with sandwiches, he
slipped behind the shrub just as the
ladies came out Of the house together.
Rachel carried small tray laden with
sauce and tarts; Tabitha, one with
water and steaming tea. AS they
neared the table each almost dropped
her burden.
"Why, where's my cake?"
"And my sandwiches"
"It's burglars-robbers!" Rachel
looked furtively over her shoulder.
"And all your lovely cake!" almost
sobbed Tabitha.
"It-it was yours, too," said the
other with catch in her voice. ooh,
deari What can have happened to it?''
The sisters had long ago set their
trays upon the ground and were now
wringing their hands helplessly. Sud-
denly small figure appeared before
them holding out four sadly crushed
sandwiches and half of a crumbled
cake.
"rm sorry-awful sorry! / didn't
think-I was so hungry. I'm afraid
there amt very much left" he added,
with rueful eyes On the sandwiches.
mo, l should say mott" vouchsafed
Rachel, her voice firm now that the
size Ct the burglar" was declared
Tabitha only gasped.
The small boy placed the food upon
the empty plates, and Rachel's lips
twitched as she saw that he clumsily