The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
ALL in
RECINA'S
ABSENCE
NT'FE,xHF'2S'F'SF'NS''N'z'sE'%SS'S
10 by D. ]. Walsh,

YTALL came of Regina Gould's be-
ing sent to California as delegate
i for the Woman's club.
'There's just one way can go
Ellen" she told Ellen Nugent. IF
you'll come and look after mother. |
can't leave her alone, you know, even
with Mary Sweet. AS matter of
fact. Mary Sweet needs quite as much
managing as does mother. and you will
be equal to every occasion"
Ellen Nugent smiled family. Moth.
Ing so nearly like blessing had ever
come to her before. but Of course, she
was not going to tell that to Regina
or anyone. She had come home tired
and discouraged and so nearly Ill that
the doctor had recommended complete
rest for her. Added to that she had
lost her job-the job that she had re-
lied upon for the past seven years.
ever since her fathers death made II
necessary for her to earn her own liv-
but tender memory and a parcel OF
debts which Ellen hal somehow paid.
Thus today she found herself without
job. without savings, without the
necessary strength for getting another
job and very lonely and sad in the
cheapest room of Mrs. Hof's boarding
house. And now of sudden came op-
portunity, change, diversion and all be-
cause for some unaccountable reason
Regina Gould. rich, fortunate and beau
tiful, should feel that she was the one
dependable person to whom she could
look for favor
'Tll come, of course. Regina" she
said, trying to keep her voice steady.
sBut shan't be you. And your moth
er and Mary Sweet won't be per-
suaded that ! am. Still. I'll do my
level best"
A week later Regina was on her
way to California and Ellen. accompa-
MED by a shabby suitcase, was occupy
ing Regina's pink-andcream bedroom
in the splendid Gould house.
She sighed as she hung her two
wearable gowns on the nickel rod be
side Regina's superfluity of frOcks.
And she sighed again when she went
down to lunch and found herself
alone, served by Mary Sweet efficient
maid, who eyed her with scOrn as
she sat there in Regina's chair. Mrs.
Gould seldom left her room. She was
a tiny, wispy old woman, with chronic
ill-health and an obsession for undis-
turbed quiet. whose chief entertain
ment consisted of reading certain
curative form of literature and listen
ing to her canary chip seeds.
After lunch Ellie .stended to few
duties prescribed by Regina and then
| went 10 the library to read Choosing
an armfuI 81 tempting books she cnrled
| up on the davenport. tucked q pillow
behind her and gave herself up TO an
| afternoon of real enjoyment. It had
begun to snow in the thick. cotty
March way and this made her sense
of security doubly delightful.
She mad lost herself in her book
when Mary Sweet ushered a visitor in
upon her unannounced. She would
not have done such thing with Re-
gina, but she did it with Ellen.
II beg your pardon !" the man said
wonderingly. "You are not Reg-Miss
Could"
"Not in the least" Ellen uncurled
and arose. He was tall, she was short,
and she had to look up at him. Up
lifted Ellen's eyes we're singularly
lovely with their blue depths and their
black pencilings. For the rest she
was just an ordinary little tired per-
son, most unlike the golden and ra-
diant Regina. you wished to see
Miss Gould? I'm very sorry. She
Just started for California this morn
ing"
"And L." said the man with smile
that Ellen loved instantly, "have jus:
come from California to see her.
arrived late last night. My name is
Gordon David Gordon"
"Oh!" Ellen caught her breath. So
he was David Gordon. whom Regina
had waited so long for. He had gone
away long time ago and Regina ex-
DGclGu llin w SOIlC DdNh anu hhiSh
his interrupted love-making. He had
been too proud it seemed to actually
propose to an heiress. And now here
he was and there Regina was How
unfortunate! Ellen wished she could
comfort him. He must be so terribly
disappointed. And poor Regina
won't you sit down?" she asked
him.
He sat down. He was still sitting
there when the room became so dim
that Ellen had to pull on the light
behind her. Then he arose to go. She
hated to have him so. She liked him
so; he was so big, so honest, so inter-
esting. What would Regina do in her
place? What would Regina expect
her to do? She asked him to stay
to dinner.
Mrs. Gould came down and kept
them company. She was very glad to
see David, but she did not say much.
She fed the cat and let Ellen and
the guest do the talking.
The next day David sent flowers. 1t