The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-12-01
Il-continued.

felt my ears growing red with mortifi-
cation. Too late, remembered that
the newcomer in a community should
guard his tongue among the natives
until he has unraveled the skein Of
their relationships, alliances, feuds
and privare wars-a precept not I'M
like the classic injunction:
Yes, my darling daughter;
Hang your clothes on the hickory limb.
But don'tgo near the water.
However, in my confusion / warmly
regretted my failure to follow 1t, and
resolved not to blunder again.
Mr.. Dowden thanked me for the in
formation for which he had no real
desire, and, the elderly ladies' again
taking up with all too evident rellef)
their various mild debates, he inquired
II played bridge. But / forget" he
added. ''Of course you'll be at the
Despatch Office In the evenings, and
can't be here" After which he inn
mediately began to question me about
my work, making his determination to
give me no opportunity again to men
ton the Honorable David Beasley un-
necessarily conspicuous, as / thought.
I could only conclude that some un-
pleasantness had arisen between him
self and Beasley, probably Of political
origin, since they were both in poll
tics, and of personal (and consequent
ly bitter) development; and that Mr..
Dowden found the mention Of Beas-
ley not only unpleasant to himself but
q possible embarrassment to the ladies
(who, supposed, were aware of the
quarrel) on his account.
After lunch, not having to report at
the Office Immediately, took unto my
self the solace of cigar, which kept
me company during stroll about Mrs.
Apperthwaite's capacious yard. In the
rear found an old-fashioned rose
gsrden-the bushes long since bloom
less and now brown with autumn-and
paced its graveled paths up and
down, at the same time favoring Mr..
Beasley's house with covert study
that would have done credit to a
porch-climber, for the sting of my
blunder at the table was quiescent, or
at least neutralized, under the itch of
curiosity far from satisfied concerning
the interesting premises next door.
The gentleman in the dressing-gown, 7
was sure, could have been no other
than the Honorable David Beasley
himself. He came not in eyeshot now.
neither he nor any other; there was
ne sign of life about the place. That
portion Of his yard which lay behind
the house was not within my vision, it
is true, his property being here sepa-
rated from Mrs. opportunities by q
board fence higher than tall man
could reach; but there was no sound
from the other side of this partition,
save that caused by the quiet move
ment Of rusty leaves in the breeze.
Ny cigar was at half-length when
the green lattice door of Mrs. Apper-
thwaites back porch was opened and
Miss Apperthwaite. bearing saucer
of milk, issued therefrom. followed,
hastily, by very white, fat cat, with
a pink ribbon round its neck, vibrant
nose, and fixed, voracious eyes up
lifted to the saucer. The. lady and her
cat offered to view group as pretty
as popular painting; it was even i'm
proved when, STOPPING, Miss Apper-
thwaite set the saucer upon the
ground, and, continuing in that pos
ture, stroked the cat. To bend so far
is a test of woman's grace. / have
observed.
She turned her face toward me and
smiled. 'I'm almost at the age, you
see."
"what agef" asked, stupidity
enough.
"When we take to CATS" she said,
rising. 'Spinsterhood' we.like to call
1t. .Single-blessedness r"
'That Is your kind heart. You de-
cline to make one Of us happy to the
Aiespair of all the rest"
She laughed at this. though with no
very genuine mirth, marked, and let
1880 attempt at gallantry pass
shout retort.
VIM seemed Interested in the old
h., yonder." She indicated Mr..
BAYS house with a nod