The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-08-23


was passing and Margaret and
Angelina Carter, who taught In the
school, were longing for something,
anything, to happen so long as 1t
brought change. The first week or
two after school closed the two young
women had been busy in doing be-
lated house cleaning in their small,
white house. When the cleaning was
finally done to their entire satisfac.
tion they turned their attention to
their clothes, and when their ward
robe was in apple-pie order they made
calls and caught up with their read.
ing. And now when they had done
everything they had planned there
seemed nothing further for them to
do but sit with folded hands and wait
for vacation to end and the school
year to begin. Though, dear knows,
the Carter girls were tired to death
of teaching. In fact, they were tired
of home and wee bit tired of each
other, and for the past week they had
discussed the idea of selling or rent
ing their house and boarding for the
coming year.
II think" said Margaret seriously
one day when q morning Of idleness
had irritated her frayed nerves more
than usual, 'that shall go to see
Cora Blaine and see If she will let
me board with her this winter"
swell, of course you can do as you
like" answered Angelina, "but for my
part wouldn't think Of boarding with
Cora Blaine, not with that snip Of
daughter of hers in the house."
The discussion was waxing hot
when the postman brought a special
delivery. Angelina tore open the let
ter and read it.
"It's from Cousin Fanny Pringle,"
she announced as soon as the man had
gone. "She is coming to make us
visit. She is planning a continental
tour and she Is seeking congenial
companion for herself and a comfort
able, safe place where she can leave
Darling while she is gone-Darling-
who do you suppose Darling can be,
Margaret? never heard her mention
her before, did you?"
"Never," said Margaret. "But read
on, Angelina, maybe she will explain"
II shall room at the hotel while i
am in Spencer" Mrs. Pringle wrote.
Slut shall expect to take my meals
with you girls, as the hotel fare
doesn't agree with Darling. I will ar.
rive some time before noon on Tues.
day and wish you to have an extra
fine sirloin steak, well done and
cooked without either salt or pepper.
trust you will select the steak very
carefully, for ia lng is most nraShy
about her food. She is having a twist
with her stomach and that is one rea-
son why am getting her out of the
city for few days, hoping the change
will do her good. In her present con-
.dition of health | am uneasy about
leaving her for my trip abroad and l
shall not go unless l can find an I'M
derstanding person to leave her with"
There was not a great lot more to the
letter and nothing that explained the
mysterious Darling.
Tuesday! Why, there would be only
tomorrow in which to put the house
in order and do the extra baking for
their guests! The Carter girls were
all excitement and with so much to
think about and so many things to
attend to they forgot for time their
differences and were as busy as bees.
Tuesday morning dawned clear and
bright. Margaret and Angelina were
up at five o'clock putting the last
touches to their immaculate house and
planning the final details of the din
ner. Everything must be perfect, for
Cousin Fanny was very wealthy and
fussy, and then of course there was
the mysterious Darling. No one could
guess what she would be like. Prob
ably some one out of the ordinary,
for Cousin Fanny was always getting
infatuated with unusual people. And
then Of course there was the trip
abroad, and it all depended upon
which Of the Carter girls Cousin Fan
ny took a notion to. A trip abroad
with all expenses paid was a prize
worth working and fighting for II
necessary. And Margaret and Ange-
line each secretly meant to do her best
to win her way into the good graces
of Cousin Fanny.
AS the hands of the oli-fashioned
clock in the hall moved slowly toward
the noon hour, excitement ran high.
The table was set for five with all the
best linen and silver, the dinner was
cooking and the extra sirloin steak
was pounded to shred and ready to
be put over the Goals at moments
notice.
The coffee had just begun to perco-
late when Margaret, who had gone
for the dozenth time to the front of
the house, announced in low tone
They've comet" She ran to open
the door.
Angeline, who was in the kitchen,
slipped the steak over the Goals, tore