Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-09

| the afternoon"
His bovine eyes were fixed on her
| inquiringiy, as ii anxious for COM
! mendation of his thoughtfulness,
Lut abe shook her head.
There won't be any funeral cere-
raony here, / understand. Mr. Benk-
ards body is to be removed very
| quietly" She paused. The notoriC,y
Mrs. Cayley has been much an
noyed already by reporters and
curious strangers"
| "One o them there reporter fellers
come snoopin' round out here just
now" remarked Geoff. Didn't git
nothin' out o. me. though, ma am;
faint my business"
Il know Mrs. Cayley will ap-
preciate your not talking to any OF
| them. The local police lieutenant
has been instructed TO keep them off
the place-Oh." Miss Sherwood
, caught herself up with little catch
in her breath and stood staring as
though she could scarcely believe
, her eyes. Geof followed the direc-
/ ton of her gaze and saw a tall
Athletic figuie striding toward them
across the lawn. He appeared TO be
man In the early thirties. and. al
though he was a stranger, there
seemed something familiar in the
smooth shaver. cIean-cut features
and eager. boyish blue eyes which
brought a vague impression to the
stonemason's mind. Ii deepened to Il
certainty as the. newcomer neared
them; and he smiled to himself once
more. then turned and moved off out
OF sight
Adrian" Miss Sherwood ex-
claimed IN low, agitated tone. Il
Il thought you were in Canada"
Il reached home last night. Geor-
gettc told me of-of what had taken
place out here and | found her all
packed up and waiting. This morn
ing we came out and opened up the
old manor house at the Corners.
You've never seen il, but Harper and
| were born and grew up there, you
know, until we went to college.
GeOrgCtte thought there might be
formalities connected with this hor-
rible affair which would make it
necessary for any one who had been
in the house when 1t happened to
remain in the neighborhood for a
few days at least. and she won't
hear OF your saying on here another
hour" His voice was firm. but
there was an, Enthusiastically revealing
note of tenderness in it which told
its own story. I've come to take
you home"
Now? oh. Adrian. l couldn't. AS
the only outsider, the only guest at
the time, it is inevitable that | shall
come in for 4 certain share of ques-
tiOning and notoriety. and ] cannot
drag your sister-in law into it, as
kind as she has been to me"
Real distress made the young wo-
mans rich tones culver. Il must
think OF Mrs. Cayley, too: she has
only her daughter, a mere girl. and
l could not leave her alone in this
terrible hour after accepting her in
vitation to visit her here"'
81 don't see why YOU did, the
man she called Adrian exclaimed
impulSively. You're not an intimate
friend of hers. My dear, I'm not crit
iciZinG your actions or your choice
of associates, but it maddens me to
think of your being connected, how
ever remotely. with the hideous mess
and scandal this case is bound to be
before it is settled
"That is all the more reason why
I would not think of going to Goorg-
cite now. but l fail to see why you
should draw such conclusion,
taken place. certainly but why you
think II hideous scandal must ensue
---?' She spoke in warningly cold
accents, but her companion was too
Vchemently in earnest to heed.
because I know the mans rep
utation, ! know what was whisper
ed about him on the Street, what is
being shouted now from the house
tops Have you seen the papers
this morning? DO You know that
enc dcspicablc yellow sheet had the
audacity TO hint that you-that u
possible engagement might"
Adrian Indignation and sort
of SHOCKED horror rang in her tones.
hut before she could speak again the
cheerful reiteration Of Il whistled re-
frain sounded from the rear and
Geoff marched around the corner of
the garage. lie hesitated in awk-
ward embarra ssment. and his eyes
travelled from the couple standing
before him to his concrete mixing
paraphernalia as If he were uncer-
tain what to do.
Miss Shcrwood's pale face flushed
vividly and she moved as though to
retreat, but her companion stood
staring at the mason.
Haven't | seen YOU before" he
asked. Il mean. aren't YOU n native
horeahout? / used to live near d
good many years ago
Geoff chuckled.
Reckon you've seen me. all right,
Dir. Middleton" he replied. L was
spe akin q your old home only last
nisht at least o the folks NGu
rented II to couple q year back.
fWhen you and your brother was
kids We all used to go swimInn'
down behind the big rock"
And once when | was taken with
It cramp You fished me out and say.
"d my lite" Adrian Middleton adj
ranGcd with outstretcned hand.
You're Ceoffrcy Peters. Good Lord,
after all these years. I'm mighty
Slad to sec you again"
Same here. Mr.. Middleton" Cecil
wiped his plaster -smeared hand ca
his ovcralls and Clasped the one cy-
tended to him. Il heard tell that
YOUR brother had died four or" .tvc
years ago; he was II mite older thar
you or me. but y recollect him 'sif
Il was yest!ddy.
Yes. His widow same down this
morning 10 open the old house Tor
the summer. Miss Sherwood and she
live together in New York. you
know. Just think. Vera, We play ed
With each other when we were Kids"
lie turned to ner and she smllei
warmly.
so I gathered she said. ~
knew that Godfrey was native
ere
You've gone on with your fathers
ole trade, | see" Middleton glanced
cou.prehensively about him and then
| back to Geoff. our place needs liz
ing up and my sister in-law will
Na@t a lot of work done As soon
Gs Your Job here is finished or you
x,ot . lev
the Corners-r"
""rNa sn.t too Car v-he,, Nniir M