The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-03-30

1eCIty flBnC, TOO. Sn6 ueeUb ~ ANU
you don't. You've too much money and
she hasn't enough. You held It out to
her and she grabbed It. don't blame
heri What started you on such wild
chase as thls7 What on earth put It
into your head that was counting
her? Surely she didn't claim wasT'
Her accepting the bride was an
admission of i'll II you'd marry girl
that would take bribe-"
sYou thrust II on her-she needed
1t desperately"
"Do you deny being IN love with
herr"
81 wasn't sure until Just now! But
a girl with pluck enough to cheek you,
Father, and grab while the grabbing
was good--oh, WE'LL" Marvin drew a
long breath and turned away. his face
suddenly gloomy and sullen. you
needn't worry! wouldn't marry an
actress, they're too temporary; I'd
prefer permanent arrangement in
marriage. Let me ont, please"
"Marvin ~ His fathers tone was
suddenly gentle. .Give mp this fool
job Of yours and come homel Your
mother is unhappy. having you away.
And--of course want you back, too,
Marvin hesitated. Fl can't turn
down this job until my term Of office
is over. And II my living at home
means I've got to sell my manhood
to you, Father
sTll not interfere with you"
aEven II decide to marry county
teacherT'
"We can deal with that contingency
when it comes up"
can right, then"
The two men left the schoolhouse
together.
Mr.. Creighton took st. Croix to task
for his misleading description Of the
school teacher.
.'How You ever got the idea that
she was illiterate, common"
"But she is!'
eve can't possibly be talking Of the
same person |"
'sThe person I'm talking OF is Miss
Schwenckton. the teacher Of William
Penn school, the niece Of the farmer,
Sam Schwenckton. had doughnuts
and coffee with her and Sam
Schwenckton and his wife In their
very own kitchen the night my watch
was taken from met"
II don't understand it at all!" COM
planned his father. Barring the fact
that the girl accepted a bride from
me, I'd call her thoroughbred"
The puzzle seemed insolvable.
Meantime, Marvin was feeling by no
means so lenient toward Miss
Schwenckton's accepting that money
from his father as he had pretended.
In spite, however. of the sick recofl
he felt from her for departing with
that five thousand dollars, the sight
Of her schoolhouse when he drove past
it, now occupied by her efficient, In
formed and uninteresting successor.
gave him pang that every day grew
sharper; a restless longing that was
in danger of increasing to an insa-
table hunger.
st. Croix, meantime. had just about
reached stage where he was on the
point of defying prudence and trying
to see Nicely once more; and Marvin
was contemplating the probable folly
and futility of his asking his board for
a, leave OF absence to 60 to Hollywood,
when cablegram which their mother
received just at this time from Eng
land diverted them somewhat from
their absorption In their own misery.
The cablegram was from Mrs.
Creighton's cousin, Sir John st. Croix.
announcing that his daughter. Baron
ess Sylvia st. Croix, would sail for
America on the Berengaria on Janu-
airy 2 for short visit to her American
cousins. She could be identified at
the boat by a handkerchief tied on
her left wrist.
This news threw the family into
some excitement. st. Croix volun-
teered to go to New York to meet the