The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-02-24


chief showing out of the coat breast
pocket or not, and, lie 1t was right
ought the handkerchief to have col
ored border or to be plain white? But
he had never before brought any such
perplexities to his father, and found
himself too diffident to set them forth.
However, when he left the house
a few minutes later, he boldly showed
an inch of purple border above the
pocket; then, as he saw himself about
to encounter several old lady pedes-
TRANS, he blushed and thrust the hand
kerchief down into deep concealment.
Having gone block farther, he pulled
it up again; and so continued to oper-
ate this badge of fashion, or unfashion,
throughout the morning; and suffered
great deal thereby.
Meantime, his father, rather relieved
that Ramsey had not told his secret,
whatever it was, dismissed the episode
from his mind and joined Mrs. Mil
holland at the front door, ready for
church.
where's RamseyY he asked.
Hes gone ahead" she answered,
buttoning her gloves as they went
along. 81 heard the door quite little
while ago. Perhaps he went over to
walk down with Charlotte and Vance.
Did you notice how neat he looks this
morning?"
"Why, no, 1 didn't; not particularly.
Does he?"
Il never saw anything like it be-
fore" said Mrs. Milholland. HE only
has three neckties, but 1 saw him sew
eral times in each of them. He must
have kept changing and changing. I
wonder" She paused.
"I'm glad he's begun to take a little
care of his appearance at last. I'll
have to take a look at him and give
him word of praise. / suppose he'll
be in the pew when we get there"
But Ramsey wasn't in the pew; and
Charlotte, his sister, and her husband,
who were there said they hadn't seen
anything of him. 1t was not until the
members of his family were on their
way home after the services that they
caught a glimpse of him.
They were passing church little
distance from their own here the con-
gregation was just emerging to the
open, and among the sedate throng
descending the broad stone steps ap-
peared an accompanied Ramsey-and
a red, red Ramsey he was when he
beheld his father and mother and sis
ter and brother-in-law staring up at
him from the pavement below. They
were kind enough not to come to an
absolute halt, but passed slowly on,
so that he was just able to avoid pa
rading up the street in front of them.
In hoarse whispers, Mrs. Milholland
chided her husband for an exclama-
ton he had uttered. "John! On Sun
day! You ought to be ashamed"
II couldn't help it," he exclaimed.
"Who on earth is his clinging vine?
Why, she's got lavender tops on her
shoes and"
sharply. "Dont-'
"Weu, what's he doing at a Baptist
church? What's he fidgeting at his
handkerchief about? Why can't he
walk like people? Does he think it's
obligatory to walk home from church
anchored arm-in-arm like Swedes on
a Sunday Out? Who is this conveyed
fat girl that's got him, anyhow"
Flush! Don't look round again,
John"
"Never fear!" said her husband, hav-
ing disobeyed. They've turned off
they're crossing over to Billiard street.
Who is it?"
81 think her names Rust" Mrs. Mil
holland informed him. Il don't know
what her father does. She's one of
the girls in his class at school. 1t
would be pleasanter If he'd taken a
fancy to someone whose family be-
longs to our own circle"
"Taken fancy! p he echoed, hoOting.
"Why, he's terrible! He looked like
red-gilled goldfish that's Topped it.
self out of the bowl. Why, he"
II say wish if he felt that he had
TO take girls anywhere, Salu MIS-. MIL
holland, with the primmest air of
speaking to the point-"if this sort of
thing must begin, / wish he might have
selected some nice girl among the
daughters of our own friends, like
Dora Yocum, for instance"
Upon the spot she began to undergo
the notifications of mother who
has expected her son, just out Of in
fancy, to look about him with the eye
Of critical matron of forty-five.
Moreover, she was indiscreet enough
to express her views to Ramsey, a
week later, producing thus scene of
useless great fury and no little sound.
II do think it's in very poor taste
to see so much Of any one girl, Ram
sey," she said. and, not needing his
protest that he only walked home from
school with Milla, "about every other
day." and that it didn't seem any
crime to him just to go to church with
her couple O. times, Mrs. Milholland