The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-04-04

| shapelessness and scantiness. She lit
a cigarette and laid her hand upon Sir
Tlmothy's arm.
Come" she said, "must 1 remind
you Of your promise7 You are to
show me the stables at the Walled
House before it is dark"
| "You would see them better In the
morning." he reminded her, rising
with some reluctance to his feet.
Perhaps" she answered, sbut /
have fancy to see them now.y
Sir Timothy looked back at the
| table Y &ss,s \
Margaret" he said, "will you look
after Mr.. Ledsam for little time?
You will excuse us, Ledsam2 We
shall not be gone long"
they moved away together towards
the shrubbery and the door in the wall
behind. Francis resumed his seat.
Are you not also curious to pene-
trate the mysteries behind the wall,
Mr.. Ledsam?' Margaret asked.
mot so curious but that would
much prefer to remain here" he an
swered.
"With me?''
with you"
She knocked the ash from her Gig
arctic. She was looking directly at
him, and he fancied that there was
CLEAN of curiosity in her beautiful
eyes. There was certainly a little
more abandon about her attitude. She
was leaning back in a corner Of her
| high-backed chair, and her gown, al
though it lacked the daring Of Lady,
Cynthias, seemed to rest. about her
like cloud of blue-gray smoke.
What curious meal!" she muir,
INJURED. "Can you solve puzzle for,
me, Mr.. LedsamT'
Il would do anything for you that
I could,' he answered.
Tell me, them why my father asked
you here tonight? / can understand
his bringing you to the opera, that was
just whim Of the moment, but an in-
vitation down here savors of deliberar
ton. .Studiously polite though you are
to one another, one Is conscious all
the time Of the hostility beneath the
surface"
Il think that so far as your father
is concerned, 1t is part Of his peculiar
disposition" Francis replied. "You
remember he once said that he was
tired of entertaining his friends-that
there was more pleasure in having an
enemy at the board"
"Are you an enemy, Mr.. Ledsam?"
she asked, curiously.
He rose little abruptly to his feet,
ignoring her question. There were
servants lowering in the background.
"Will you walk with me in the gar
dens?" he begged "Or may / take
you upon the river?"
She rose to her feet. For a moment
she seemed to hesitate.
"The river, think" she decided.
evil you wait for three minutes while
get wrap. You will find some punts
moored to the landing-stage there in
the stream. I like the very largest and
most comfortable"
Francis strolled to the edge Of the
stream, and made his choice Of punts.
Soon a servant appeared with his arms
full of cushions. and moment or two
later. Margaret herself. wrapped in an
ermine cloak. She smiled a little dep
recatingIy as she picked her way across
the lawn
Don't laugh at me for being such
chilly mortal, please" she enjoined!
"And don't be afraid that l am GO
ing to propose long expedition. I
want to go to little backwater In
the next stream"
She settled herself in the stern and
they glided down the narrow thorough
fare. The rose bushes from the gar
den almost Tapped the water as they
passed. Behind, the long low cottage,
the deserted dinner table, the smooth
lawn with its beds of scarlet gerani-
ums and dropping lilac shrubs in the
background, seemed like scene from
fairyland, to attain perfection of
detail unreal, almost theatrical.
ITO the right when you reach the
river, please" she directed. you will
find there is scarcely any current. We
turn up the next stream"