The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-11-15
CHAPTER IV-Continred

It was she Who announced the early
arrival OF Horace Langley. hopping
his brow. she said he was, and cling
ing like grim death to the arm Of
Eddy jackson. who laughed at him.
Much later. with the final announce
menr that the other bridesmaids were
on hand, she dispatched the twins. in
pastel pink and yellow. to join the
springtime bevy of orange. green
mauve and rose In the primary de-
partment.
Then she led her father down the
stairs 10, the. living room, where be
was to wait for Helen. r, a
"All the who's who are there" she
proclaimed blithely. land all the hood
lums are parked r
She ran up to her sisters ROOM and
gave a last tender touch to the white
veil. "Oh. Helen" she whispered
Helen took her In her arms and the
two girls wept together. After all,
Ginger was Helens baby, had been
Helen's from the moment when. re-
turning from the little cemetery on
the hill where her mother was laid
away In flowers and snow. she ran to
the upstairs room OF that other old
parsonage to answer the pleading wall
of the orphaned baby.
"You--you mustn't" said Ginger
sroutly. winking away her tears.
You'll spoil your looks. Helen--I
JEish fatheE could see zQu. Now. dor.t
Nv. I'm going right down"
she smiled bravely, tearfuliy, at her
lister. unfailing refuge of sixteen
years. now leaving her. and ran down
the stairs.
"Tell him to wait for me just a
minute. am coming at once" Helen
called after her."
Ginger went to her father. "Father,"
she said. 81 must go now. Helen said
for you to wait here for her just a
minute think she's going to pray.
father, she looks just like praying.
Oh, father. she Is beautiful She
looks like a picture of a Madonna
with all kinds of secret happy
thoughts in her heart that nobody
else knows anything about. Just wait.
darling, she is coming.
And Ginger tripped daintily down
the fiagstone path like a floating blue
cloud in her airy gown.
In the living room Mr.. Tolliver,
accustomed to patience by weeks of
blindness, waited quietly But Helen.
in the room she shared with Ginger.
was not praying. Helen was not
sentimental girl. but one OF deep fine
feeling. much of which conferred
around the baby sister whom she had
so long held as her especial charge.
Helen was not going away Druskly to
happy marriage without final tender
word and gesture Tor the child who
would come home lonely in her alb
sence. She had written Ginger let.
ter-written II the night before her
marriage. when girls may well be
excused If their every thought is for
themselves and their lovers and their
hopes. Helens were for her young
est sister. II was for that purpose
that she denied herself to Horace. and
to the girls, shutting herself up for
hours behind locked door. to write
to Ginger Ella telling her how much
she loved her. how much she had en-
jOyed the years of caring for her.
how much she hoped for her future.
Not flowery letter. no literary work
of art. bur one that came from Helen's
heart.
With this letter. she was going to
leave for Ginger precious thing, the
little diamond ring thai had been
their mothers engagement ring. II
had been given to Helen. at her moth.
ers death. had been worn by her In
sacred remembrance for sixteen years.
bur now. with the band of her own
betrothal upon her hand. and soon to
be enforced by the wedding circlet.
she would pass this treasure on to
Ginger. She had intended to leave
her farewell message on the dressing
table of the room they had occupied
together, but now. upon sudden i'm.
pulse. thinking of Ginger, she knew
in fash of revelation what the girl
would do upon her return. She would
fly straight up the wabbly ladder TO
her private sanctuary in the attic.
where. alone with her loneliness. she
would weep. out her heart to exhaus.
ZION. and fall asleep.
Helen smiled to herself with quiv.
ering Ups. 1.-THE darling" she whis.