The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-02-24

also, that she'd got some interesting
mail from England"
He paused again tentatively. Nicely
held herself rigid that he might not
detect the tremor that went over heE
at his words.
"Good night" he said abruptly-anti
before she quite realized he was going.
he had disappeared In the dimness Of
the road.
st. Croix Creighton and his father.
dining at the Ritz Carlton in Philadel-
phia, were discussing a certain matter
not at all connected with the business
Of the directors meeting which they
had come to the city to attend.
If the infatuated eyes uf Nettle
Schwenckton could have beheld st
Croix just now-his evening clothes
making him look taller, more slender,
more than ever like the young god
of her romantic air castles, she would
indeed have thought her "honor" a
small price to pay for any least no
tice such divine creature might be-
stow upon her. Little did that enam-
ored maiden dream that at that very
moment her name was on the sacred
lips of her demi-god, her image In his
thought.
st. Croix, in his desperation that
afternoon, after Meely's amazing re-
buff, determined, on his way to his
car, that he would pique her into a
regard for him by exciting her jeal-
ousy; she herself had given him the
hint when, she had explained her ST.
lence about the teachers boarding
with them. He would make love to
that school teacher under her very
eyesl Nicely should be made to see
how other girls In her station, or in
any station, for that matter, jumped
at his nod
And then he had seen, as he sup
posed, the school teacher In his brot''
er's company; coming out of J
schoolhouse hours after the closing
time, apparently in relation with
him of the utmost friendliness. This
was the third time in ten days that
he had seen Marvin come out of that
schoolhouse! His official duties GER
tainly did not take him there so often
as that. st. Croix was genuinely wor-
ried over the circumstance, as well as
irritated at being foiled in his plan to
make Nicely jealous of the teacher,
which Of course he could not do II
Marvin were intrigued with her.
Over their cigarettes and coffee st.
Croix was shifting his own apprehen-
sions about his brother on to his IA
theirs broad shoulders.
"The danger is, you know, Father,
that Marvin might take it into his
cracked head to marry one of these
common country teachers! II he hap
pened to fall in love with one of them.
her station or breeding wouldn't stop
him!"
"Her station wouldn't Her breed
ing would. Marvin's fastidious."
"Within limits" st. Croix doubtfully
admitted.
bad breeding would be limit for
him."
II wouldn't trust him! He'd be just
fool enough-to think he could raise
her to his level You know what he
is-all for leveling and equalizing"
81 ought to know what he is! I've
g., eforod nno,, oh froy,, xx,bo% ho ic ~ Na,
Creighton said bitterly. 'Takes after
his mother Never got his crazy radi-
cal slant from mel"
Mothers not radical"
"She's tolerant. Tolerant Of any
thing!"
much too tolerant of Marvin's
freakishness /" st. Croix grumbled.
Eyes, If she'd only stand squarely
with me about the boy" Mr.. Creigh-
ton paused and shook his gray head.
"No-no use. What good has it done,
my taking the extreme stand I have?
even ordering my own son out of
my housed" he exclaimed, a panied
look in his eyes that made st. Croix.
who was fond of his father, curse his
brother in his heart. 81 thought he'd
come back cured in month at most |!
But what does he do? Gets himself
a good job and goes to work! More
confirmed than ever in his wrong
headedness! I'm seriously thinking
Of asking him to come home again.
Might as well. He'll never change.
And it makes your mother so unhappy
his being away!"
"And the id gossip it makes !" st.
Croix frowned.
(ro BE CoNTINUED.)