The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-12-16

all this was not revealed in passing
glimpse. But great deal Of it I'M
folded to her consciousness as, while
she walked, she continued to gaze on
the mental image she had caught, Of a
face so arresting as to make that of
his brother, whom she was going to
meet, seem by comparison insigpifi-
can't.
So absorbed had she been, as she
loitered along, that she forgot all
about st. Croix' annoyance if he were
kept waiting for her. So that, when
turning curve in the path up the
hill, she. suddenly saw him standing
there above her, looking coldly Of
Tended at her hardness, it brought
her up with a sharp start. The ex-
preston of his face made her feel
more like turning tail and going back
than going on to the top.
"Just imagine" she thought as she
toiled up the rest of the slope, being
married to such disposition Ito
man who'd take 1t out of you so when
ever things didn't suit him exactly !"
She smiled inwardly as she thought
that if she were girl whom he want
ed to marry, lie would surely never so
reveal himself to her.
"He'd surely have the sense to hide,
rot Haunt, his selfishness and ego
tism and show me better side of
himself; for of course he must have
better side" Probably with his own
class of people, his own family, he
was quite different; she had surmised
from things he had unconsciously be-
trayed that he adored his mother and
would die before he would hurt her;
that he greatly honored his father;
and that though he almost hated his
elder brother, he respected him.
$50 you're actually here, are you?"
he ironically greeted her as she stood
before him, looking like Magdalene,
the Penitent.
"Oh, but, Mr.. Creighton" she plead
ed, "my stepmom's so bad, she can't
set and she can't lay! This here
wasn't no gay-low day for ME, now
mind Pm tellin' you, with Susie so
poorly and all! ! near broke my neck
gettin' here"
~ suppose you mean gala day!
Dent, my child, use words you're NOT
sure of. Well" he added, grinning
appreciatiyely, "if Susie can't even
caekle, maybe she'll soon be croak-
ing"
She did not laugh this time, tMt
gazed at him blankly. "And 1 was up
so lare last night" she continued her
excuses, that l was near too tired
to come this here three miles this
after"
'You poor child! You mean you
were sitting up with your sick step
nother?"
'No. Widower Holzapple he's set
tin up with me Thursdays"
"What? Holrapple? Who's he?"
Zach. such a old man, as old as
Pop yet, with three full-growed chill
dern. Pops awful pleased, for Hi
Holzapple he's well fixed and owns his
own place clear. But, you see," said
Nicely in an injured tone, her eyes
anxious, che never says straight out
he wants to marry me, he just insin-
yates that way. He'll set for an hour
without passin' remark-just set
and me tryin' to keep awake. And
then all of suddint he'll shoot Off a
remarkably Children says, now Pop1l
never be lonesome no more Or he'll
hitch his chair closer to me and say,
My Children are pleased Or if he
sees my head noddin', I'm that sleepy,
he'll wake me with the remark, Char
| lie will give us a weddin' dinner over
at his place. But, you see. MIR.
Creighton" she complained, ut never
leads up to nOthin'! He never gets
furder'n insin-yations. He never yet
held my hand oncet nor even tol' me
my eyes were pretty"
"But how could you marry an old
man with grown children?" asked ST.
Croix disgustedly, taking his usual
seat on the broad, fiat stone and mo-
tioning her to hers few feet away.
look here, you're not seriously
thinking of marrying that old NAH
what's his name? Holzapple? Are
your" he demanded.
II gotta marry somebody. What
difference is it?-seein' 1 can't marry
the one like!" she mourned.
He FASTENED to divert her from this
dangerous Snag. "Come here to me-"
She obeyed him eagerly.
"See what I've brought you" He
produced two packages from behind
the stone.
With childish acquisitiveness and a
touch of Pennsylvania Dutch aequisi-
tiveness, she opened the box of a
dozen ornate handkerchiefs ESQ ornate
she had to check laugh at sight Of
them; he had evidently judged her
taste from her blue wolfe F1.ock
trimmed with artificial flowers; she