The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-10-05

vited down to Windles for the day,
Mr.. Bennett had fallen In love with the
place and had begged her to name her
had pursued her with his pleadings by
means of the wireless telegraph while
she was on the ocean, and had not
given up the struggle even when she
reached New York. He had egged on
a friend Of his, Mr.. Mortimer, to
continue the persecution In that city.
No wonder, then, that Sans allusion
to the affair had caused the authoress
Of "The Spreading Light" momentarily
to lose her customary calm.
Nothing will induce me ever to let
Windles," she said with finality, and
rose significantly. Sam, perceiving
that the audience was at an end-and
glad of it-also got up.
swell, think I'll be going down and
seeing about that stateroom," he said.
Certainly. l am little busy just
now, preparing notes for my next lee
ture.'
"Of course, yes. Mustn't interrupt
you. suppose you're having great
time, gassing away mean-well,
good-by"
"Good-by!"
Mrs. Hignett, frowning, for the in
terview had rufiled her and disturbed
that equable frame of mind which is
so vital to the preparation of lectures
on theosophy, sat down at the writing
table and began to go through the
notes which she had made overnight.
She had hardly succeeded in concen-
trating herself when the door opened
to admit the daughter Of Erin once
more.
"Ma'am, there was gentleman"
''This is intolerable!' cried Mrs.
Hignett. did you tell him that I
was busy?"
81 did not. l ioosed him into the
dining-room."
rs he d reporter from one of the
Newspapers
He is not. He has spats and
tall-shaped hat. His name is Bream
Mortimer
Dream Mortimer"
eyes, ma'am. He handed me bit
OF a kyard, but I dropped it, being
slippy from the dishes"
Mrs. Hignett strodetto the door with
forbidding expression. This, as she
had justly remarked, was intolerable.
She remembered Bream Mortimer. He
was the son Of the Mr.. Mortimer who
was the friend of the Mr.. Bennett who
wanted Windles. This visit could only
have to do with the subject Of Windles,
and she went into the dining-room in
a state of cold fury, determined to
squash the Mortimer family once and
for all.
Dream Mortimer was tall and thin.
He had small, bright eyes and sharp
ly curving nose. He looked much
more like a parrot than most parrots
do. 1t gave strangers a Momentary
shock of surprise when they saw
Bream Mortimer in restaurants eating
roast beef. They had the feeling that
he would have preferred suntlower
seeds.
Morning, Mrs. Hignett."
please sit down"
Bream Mortimer sat down. He
looked as though he would rather have
hoped onto perch, but he sat down.
He glanced about the room with
cleaning, excited eyes.
Mrs. Hignett, / must have woHd
with you alone"
"You are having word with me
alone"
Il hardly know how to begin"
"Then let me help you. 1t is quite
impossible. / will never consent"
Bream Mortimer started.
"Then you have heard!"
II have heard about nothing else
since I met Mr.. Bennett in London.
Mr.. Bennett talked about nothing else.
Your father talked about nothing else.
And now" cried Mrs. Hignett fiercely,
.'yeu come and try to reopen the sub
ject. Once and for all, nothing will
alter my decision. No money will in
duce me to let my house."
but didn't come about that"
"Yeu did not come about WindlesT'
'Good Lord, mol"
"Then will you kindly tell me why
you have conner