The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-25

WSChiy W0Sus A1VhtCiiS was
thirty-five, plump, rosy and good
natured. She was known among her
friends as good sport, always ready
for fun or fr0lic. She taught in the
graded school in her home town and
was well beloved by her pupils. Busy
as she was, however, she still found
time to lend a helping hand to her
mother, who was not very strong and
kept r0omers. Before and after school
Hortense did the sweeping and dust
ing and Saturdays she arose with the
sun and did the family washing. This
being Saturday and her regular wash
day she had d0nned her regimen
tals.s as she called them, and got an
early start, and now at ten o'clock
was ready to slip on clean bunga-
low apron, comb her hair and rest
for an hour before starting the mid
day meal. She had jusl gone upstairs
when she heard car stop before the
house, and soon after step was
heard on the porch directly under her
window. She heard her mother go
to the door In answer to a brisk ring.
A brief conversation followed, after
which. she called Hortense to come
down.
Nothing doing, mother" said H0r-
tense positively. "We are not going to
buy another thing Of an agent no mat
ter how well advertised it is. If we
want any more egg-beaters,, brushes
or patent fly traps. wen go to the
store after them. We have enough on
hand now to have a rummage sale"
The window was open and Hortense
In her evaporation spoke In her loud
est voice, and her answers could not
have failed to reach the ears of the
man who stood, hat in hand on the
porch below.
''But. DEAR" said Mrs. Appleby. In a
shocked voice. "this isn't an agent.
but Ben Trask.4 He has come to see
you" F-
"OhiH breathed Hortense, and she
sank weakly down in the chair which
stood before her little dressing table.
She caught sight Of her face. which
was reflected in the glass. and realized
that she was white as a sheet.
@Ben Traskt" she thought. after
all these years. Well. she had done II
now for fact. TO have taken him
for an agent. Well, there was nothing
to do but finish cOmbing her hair and
go down. But could she ever face
him after what he must have just
heard?r
she hastily ran the comb through
her hair. and when L stuck at d snarl
zshe gave il 4 yank TINT brought out
a big lock- She WINGED, but kept on,
her thoughts racing back over the a.
teen years that had passed since she
last saw Ben. Ben and she had been
schoolmates and they had graduated
in the same class. They had been
neighbors and friends and the year
before he went away, sweethearts.
But Ben had been restless and unset.
tied and wanted to go far afield seek
ing adventure. while H0rtense was
quiet and home-loving, and anyway,
she had been needed at home to help
on account of her invalid father Ben
had asked her to go with him when
he went to California, but she had
said no.. He had gone, however. and
had promised to return for her as
soon as his fortune was made. For a
time. he wrote regularly. then occa-
sionally and finally his letters ceased
altogether. And as H0rtense had
truly loved him, she felt hurt at being
dropped. and she never encouraged
the attentions Of any other sutton.
Her mother had needed her after her
fathers death. and as Hortense really
had a fondness for teaching. her life
was soon full Of new interests, and
after while she. almost ceased to
think of Ben.
To have the old pain thus recalled
so abruptly was a very unpleasant
sensation. and 1t was with misgiv.
ings that Hortense went slowly down
stairs to meet her one-time lover.
AS she entered the room Ben arose
and came forward to meet her. He
was big and blond and had the look
of a. prosperous business man. He
smiled as he said:
$50. Hortense, you took me for an
agent. At least know what you
think of agents. Well, | am not an
agent, but sit down and let me tell
you about myself" and he proceeded
to relate his experiences Of the past
few years.
II is fact that man is interested
only in the woman who will sit with
interest in her face and listen while
he talks about the one absorbing sub
ject, which is himself-and that is
what Ben talked about. The noon
whistles blowing recalled him to the
fact that be had talked long, but just
as he was about to take his departure
Mrs. Appleby entered the room and
; invited him to stay to lunch with
them. He gracefully accepted and
during the entire meal continued the
interesting subject. Hortense listened
and only occasionally did she inter-
rupt by asking question or ac-
0uiescing to some remark he made. At