The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-01-25
"Sprained your ankle7 How very
inconvenient! When did you do thatr
0r,hia ynornin1o

This morning"
\ Chow. did it happenr
Eustace hesitated.
II was Jumping"
Jumping! But-ohv" Mrs. Hig-
nett's sentence trailed of into sup
pressed shrek, as the door opened.
Immediately following on Eustace's
accident, Jane Hubbard had consti-
tuted herself his nurse. 1t was she
who had bound up his injured ankle
in manner which the doctor on his
arrival had admitted himself unable
to improve upon. She had sat with
him through the long afternoon. And
now, fearing lest a return Of the pain
might render him sleepless. she had
come to bring him selection Of
books to see him through the night.
Jane Hubbard was girl who by ma
ture and training was well adapted to
bear shocks. She accepted the advent
Of Mrs. Hignett without visible aston
ishment, though inwardly she was
wondering who the visitor might be.
"Good evening"" she said placidly..
Mrs. Hignett, having rallied from
her moment Of weakness, glared at the
new arrival dumbly. She could not
place Jane. She had the air Of q
nurse, and yet she wore no uniform.
"Who are you" she asked stifay.
.Who are your countered Jane.
IT," said Mrs. Hignett portentousiy,
"am the owner Of this house. and /
should be glad to know what you are
doing In 1t. am Mrs. Horace Zig
nett"
A charming smile spread itself over
James finely cut face.
"Tm so glad to meet you" SHE said.
II have heard 10 much about you"
"IndeedY' said Mrs. Hignett. "And
now should like to hear. little about
you"
tive read all your books" said Jane.
II think they're wonderful"
In spite Of herself, In spite Of feel
ing that this young woman was stray
ing from the point, Mrs. Hignett could
not check a slight influx Of amiability.
She was an authoress who received a
good deal Of incense from admirers,
but she could always do with bit
more. Besides, most Of the incense
came by mail. Living quiet and re-
tired life in the country, 1t was rarely
that she got 1t handed to her face to
face. She melted quite perceptibly.
She did not cease to look like basil
lisk, but she began to look like q basil
lisk who has had good lunch.
my favorite," said Jane, who for Q
week had been sitting daily In q chair
in the drawing room adjoining the
table on which the authoress complete
works were assembled. els The Spread
ing Light do like The Spreading
Light'l"
'Tt was written some yearg ago."
said Mrs Hignett with something ap-
preaching cordially. land have since
revised some of the views / state in Il.
but ] still consider 1t quite good text
book"
"Of course, / can see that What
Of the Morrow is more profound"
said Jane. "But read The Spread
ing Light first, and Of course that
makes difference. !,
II can quite see that It would
agreed Mrs. Hignett. "One's first step
across the threshold Of new mind,
ones first glimpse :"
Yes. 1t makes you feel :"
Like some watcher Of the skies"
said Mrs. Hignett. when new planet
swims into his ken. or like :"
Eyes. doesn't it," said Jane.
Eustace, who had been listening to
the conversation with every muscle
tense. in much the same mental atti-
tude as that Of peaceful citizen In 4
Wild West saloon who holds himself
In readiness to dive under a table d.
rectly the shooting begins. began to
relax. What he had shrinkingly antici-
pated would be the biggest thing since
the Dempsey Carpenter fight seemed
to be turning into pleasant social
and literary evening not unlike what
he imagined meeting Of old vassar
dAuAuhdC must Dc. HOE Inc uNSt tAAuc
since his mother had come into the
room he INDUCED in the luxury Of a
deep breath.
"But what are you doing herer
asked Mrs. Hignett, returning almost
reluctantly to the main issue.
Eustace perceived that he had
breathed too soon. In an unobtrusiye
way he subsidized into the bed and
pulled the sheets over his head. fol-
lowing the excellent tactics Of the
great duke of Wellington In his PENN
sular campaign. "When in doubt" the
duke used to say, ''retire and dig your
self in"
"rm nursing dear Eustace." said
Jane.
Mrs. Hignett quivered. and cast an
eye on the hump in the bedclothes
which represented dear Eustace. A
cold fear had come upon her.
"'Dear Eustace'l" she repeated me-
chanlcally.
"We're engaged" said Jane. "We
got engaged this morning. That's how
he sprained his ankle. When / ac.