The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-03-02
Sylvia of the Minute

other thing i wanted to ask you--do
you know, I'm beginning to think,
Marvin. that there's more to this at
fair with our English cousins than
meets the eyer"
"Aha! You arer Well, so am I!
Go on--what's yours?'
"YOu know that for months st.
Croix has been planning to go to Eng
land to see Lady Sylvia--and, Mar
vim, they keep holding him of Their
latest letter says Lady Sylvia has gone
abroad. Now, Of course they've no
money to let her travel about the con-
tinent. so I'm sure she must have
taken position as travelling compan-
ion or governess. I'm beginning to
suspect, dear, that she's as much
averse to this rather ridiculous mar
riage scheme as you are yourself!"
81 should think she would be Prob
ably she prefers earning her own liv-
mgr
'But she can't earn enough to save
the estate!"
''It's possible she may think more
of her self-respect than Of the estate"
swell, her parents don't admit any
thing like that-they probably hope to
persuade her-to bring her round"
"vain hope, If she's q girl that's
worth anything"
"Yes-only you must remember that
the English don't regard such mar
riages as we do, they're so used to
them"
"If she marries st. Croix, she's no
better than any other courtesan that
sells herself!"
"What are your suspicious, Mar
VIM"
''My 'suspicions'?"
'You said you agreed with me that
there seemed more to this affair than
meets the eye"
Exactly. But let's not go so fast.
About the girls being abroad now
perhaps It's here, to America, that
she has come to earn her living!"
Mrs. Creighton looked startled.
"What makes you think that? Do you
know that she has?"
Marvin regarded his mother uncer-
tainly-a wild possibility flashing upon
his mind. His mother was always per-
fectly open with him, but she was con-
scientiously loyal to his father and If
his father had asked her to keep GER
tain secret she would certainly try to
do 1t.
Mother" he asked, his quiet tone
concealing his strong feeling, do you
know that she's here?"-for perhaps
he was being worked; perhaps the
girl had been brought over here and
placed where she was bound to cross
his path, his father hoping that when
his son met her without knowing who
she was, he might "fall for herr; and
all this talk about st. Croix marrying
her was perhaps a bluff to throw him
(Marvin) off the scent! Could this be
possible?
Was the girl conniving with his
father to trap him, that her family
and her home might enjoy the Creigh-
ton millions? And was his mother
playing a silent hand? But girl that
could lend herself to such plot! He
felt revulsion Of feeling against hec
at the bare thought Of 1t and his heart
sank like lead in his breast.
He would demand the truth from
his mother; she would not deny 1t.
He put down his coffee cup and took
both her hands in his. "You know. of
course, Mother, why asked to see
that photograph" he hazarded.
"Why, no, Marvin, DON'T. she an
swered. very puzzled. "Why did you?
And what on earth makes you think
she may be here?"
Mother, what do you know about
this idiotic business? Let me have the
TRUTH"
II don't know a thing about 1t, dear,
that you don't know. or not as much,
evidently. What do you mean?"
"You don't know whether Lady
Sylvia st. Croix is in American"
"Of course I don't. Why?"
The possibility still remained that
his father and Lady Sylvia might be
working without his mothers knowl-
edge.
Here was an acid test Of his suspi-
cion. "Are you sure st. Croix means
to go over to England and try for
herr"
"Why of course! Why should
doubt it? He's crazy about it! You
know that, dear. And so is your
father. What is in your mind. dear?"
Marvin dropped her hands, leaned
back in the deep couch and folded
his arms. 81 suppose I'm fool, but
l had suspicion for a moment that
Father had got the girl over here and