The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-12-02
CHAPTER II-Continued

-
Mr.. Schwenckton looked sternly
disappearing. "You hadn't ought to
heist windahs where persons layin'
sick!" he reaffirmed, and Aunt Rosy
added her Mortified prophecy: Eyes.
soon you'll have another wife dead on
you, Mister, with such goings-on as
soon as my back is turned around be-
hind me oncet"
"Susie would be up and about in a
week If you kept her room aired and
Clean" Nicely -imperturbably affirmed,
sand the baby, too, would pick up.
There's nothing the matter with the
baby except that it's not properly
taken care of, Mr.. Schwenckton."
"Yes, well. but when body's sick,
or for babies" Mr.. Schwenckton re-
peated, 1--WE don't hold to openin' win
dahs on EN-"
'Susie's bed was plenty clean as 1t
was !" declared Rosy. ut didn't need
changin' till another week yet. 1t
makes me too much work. such be-
haviors does! And Susie's too sick
fur Nicely to take and wash her! Of
all-thingsl Washin' person when
they're sick yetl'
Meely's reception Of this criticism
Twas as impersonal as though 1t were
eing directed toward anyone but her.
ef. Her whole attitude to this fam
:, her very presence here, seemed
tentative, experimental. When she
was not regarding them with wide
Aeyed wonder and curiosity, her face
Ryas expressing suppressed amusement,
br pity. or impatience; sometimes be-
wilderment; sometimes the interested
4 suspense one might feel at "movie"
or play.
Their attitude to her, however, was
entirely matter-0f-fact.r Evidently they
took her quite for granted, as she GER
tainly did not take them.
Just now her alert observation took
In the fact that Mr.. Schwenckton's
anxious glance was resting with afrec.
tionate concern on Lizzie's red eyes
that he was aware Of her desperate
effort to repress the little gasping
catching Of her breath which betrayed
her recent violent crying; that he saw
she was not eating any supper.
Reaching across the table, he took
her plate, piled it with food and hand
ed it back to her. "Eat your supper,
Lizzie" he ordered in a tone that for
n ~ hou
more sick folks here"
"Ye-yes, SIR" Though the food
strangled her, she would have to obey
and eat it to the last crumb when her
father so ordered.
Aunt Rosy never missed chance
to disparage Nicely in Sam Schwenck-
toms eyes; for she felt that If she could
get rid of this Objectionable girl, as
she had gotten rid of Nettie and Jakey,
the two older children Of the family,
she would hold the situation in hand,
here in her young sisters home, with
much more confidence.
$50 you took another of them long
walks Of yourn again today. Nicely.
ain't?" she just now remarked in
sinuatingly. Seems so funny walkin'
just fur the sake of walkin'! Amt.
Sam? I guess" Aunt Rosy nodded
knowingly, "she goes to meet her
fellahI'
This bait ELECTED no reply from
Nicely, though 1t manifestly touched
Mr.. Schwenckton's curiosity bit and
even Lizzie's sickly interest.
"But why" continued Aunt Rosy,
"are you so secret about It If you're
got a fellah7 You're welcome, I'm
sure, to keep comply here in the
front room. Amt, Sam? You're got
no need to meet him secret that way.
It don't look nice. Looks like as If
you had somepin to hide yet! Amt,
Sam?"
~ can't think" responded Mr..
Schwenckton reflectively, "of any fell
lab round here that wouldn't be too
common for Nicely"
"Ach, don't know. She amt so
much, so far forth as can see," Aunt
Rosy frankly stated, "even if she is
high-educated that way"
"The only educated young men
round here is the two Crelghtons, and
to be sure" said Mr.. Schwenckton,
"they only run with swells."