The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-09-27
CHAPTER I


the disarmament conference.-the Zig
ures, and quotations, and simply tire.
mendous big words" said Ginger Ella
In a discouraged tone. "Oh. here's a
little bit of column about the ELS
May day fete and beauty pageant"
She settled herself to read with o
SNUG little tlounce Of eagerness.
"You may skip that" said her ia.
Their. 1--WE know all about the beauty
pageant"
His daughter sighed resignedly. 81
suppose you want Lloyd George and
the Communists, although 1t does not
look very churchy TO me-"
She read patiently, In a Ow clear
voice. paragraph after parag raph. sit
ting on the couch beside the reading
lamp, little. eager and sIim-with
eyes that just would wander, despite
her best and most daughterly snten-
lions, from the stupid newsprint TO
the simply fascinating goings-on In
the opposite corner Of the wide room'
where Marjory. the pretty twin. love-
Tier than any picture, stood on low
stool, like goddess lifted up. with
her bevy of wOrshipers at her feet.
while down on their knees before her.
were Miriam. the brainy twin. and
Helen. who was quite old and engaged
20 be married. and Miss Jenkins
clipping stray threads here and there.
tucking. patting and pulling. in vain
endeavor to add greater charm to her
girlish beauty.
But although Ginger's eyes would
wander. the memory of her father.
sitting still and limp. so patient. in
the big chair at her side, his kind
eyes closely bandaged. quickly brought
her own straying orbs hack to the
onerous news. By rights. 1t was
Miriams job to read the papers to
her father. But Miriam. being a
twin to Marjory. would naturally wish
to assist in preparing her 10 win the
Elks' club beauty prize.
".And this In spite of the frank
warning of President Coolidge that
the United States will regard any
such move with extreme disfavOr.' "
finished Ginger. with flourish.
"Here's a paragraph on MussOIini and
God. In my opinion II would look a
lot smarter II you took tina: lace off
the shoulders entirely. Oh, excuse
me, father. I'm so sorry. Here's para
graph on Mellon cutting the tax
melon-three hundred billions. no mil
iions-Well, II doesn't interest US
either way. Oh. here's a lovely write
up III the buffet Supper that Is TO be
served at the Elks' Club fete at ten
oSaucR- -boulllofr. CHICKEN sandwiches.
tomato aspic-
Reverend MIR. Toiliyer smiled sindul-
gently. He might nos see. but what
father but could feel the wandering
eyes and the truant thoughts of six.
teen year-old daughter on the eve of
a beauty pageant
"Put the paper up now. Ellen. I'm
full of news. Suppose you play little
bright. eyes for me, instead, and tell
me what is going on over there. with
all that shipping Of scissors. and oh
ing and ah-ing."
"Uh, father!" Ginger doubled her.
self up rapturousiy. enfOldlng both
her slim knees In her arms. ''Oh
father. 1t is glorious Marjory-hon
estly. father. Marjory Is so pretty 1t
doesn't seem possible. Miss Jenkins
Is down on the floor with five pins In
her mouth. and her dress pulled up
over her knees to keep from solling
it"
Miss jenkins, with guilty haste. GOV.
cred the offending members.
"They weren't her best ones-they
had isle tops. But l saw a silk ruff.
fie, just the same. Tcu're really miss.
ing quite lot. you KNOW" continued
Ginger wickedly You'd better take
those five pins out of your mouth
Jenky dear. If you're going to gasp
like that"
Only Ellen dared to call the sedate
spinster "Jenky," ami even she did II
only In her more irrepressible mo
ments, when she was most thoroughly
a Ginger Ella. 1t was sixteen years
ago, at the birth of this same ellen
that Miss jenkins mad first come into
intimate contact with the pars"nage
household. then in another pastOrate
And upon their Inter transference to
other charges. she had arranged her
small matters and followed after them
living her own life. keeping her own
small home, teaching In the primary
schools for livelihood. but keeping
In close and helpful touch with the
Tolliver family. to which. In Its en-
tirety. she had given all the stored-up
love of her lonely heart. With Helen
and with the twins. she remained to
the end firm and unyielding. But
she was from the beginning surpris
ingly pliable in the hands Of the
wheedlesOme Ellen.
We'll" Ginger went on. 'she is
wearing Helen's engagement ring, and
Miss Jenkins old gold chain. Eddy's
mother gave her perfectly spiffy
lace handkerchief, and she has on my