The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-10-18
CHAPTER II-continued

49, t.-1
In ,ner arms were roses, heaps OF
roses, soft-petaled and fragrant. Mar.
jory's face was flushed, her eyes were
twin stars, her red lips tremulOus with
sheer delight. Eddy Jackson bore
trophies of her conquest. a great Low.
ing cup, pieces Of silk and lace. SHIN.
merry silver, golden chains. But In her
own hand Marjory held a small purple
box that bore the prize. fifty dollars
in gold.
REPRESENTATIONS" she STAN
mered, with shy pride.
The two evildoers above, rapt,
speeches. and spellbound, had forgot
ten their mischief as they crept to the
stairs, noiseless, without breathing,
hearing every Notwithstanding every
heartbeat, softly, softly, down the top
step, the next and the next, nearer
and nearer. irresistibly drawn by the
currents of Joy that surged through
the shabby parsonage.
Helen kissed her sister rapturously,
and Horace Langley, flinging peda-
gogical dignity to dhe winds, clasped
her in bOister0us embrace.
"This is my sister Helen-and Pro-
lessor Langley. Helen, this is-every-
body." Marjory introduced, almost in
scoherenfly. "Where are the girls2
zzAge4ss cFleu r4aay JACKSON. gsax-f
ing suddenly up to the curve OF the
circular staircase. "Or are the god
desses coming down from Olympus to
gaze upon. and envy, BeautyY" He
pointed dramatically to tile stairs
where Ginger Ella, with Miriam fast
on her heels, crouched in quivering ex-
element, the wedding gown forgotten.
forgotten, loo, the yelling curtain, the
canvas gloves, the fiappy mules.
"Ginger-run |" cried Miriam, in
sickening realization.
But Ginger. trapped, was not one
to fly before confusion. She proceeded
calmly down the stairs. even strut
ting little. T9oega bf.Efi --f,', g
II didn't hurt 1t bit, Helen" she
treasured her sister. 'It's-oh, just
IA rehearsal" -'-'
"Why, it's little Cinderella-just got
a fall from her pumpkin" chortled
Eddy Jackson, and a ukulele caught
its cue and whined into the wedding
march.
But Ginger turned away from them.
scornfully, bit too scornfully, for one
of the Tapping mules, too large for
her, slid from her slender foot. Gin
ger, as she felt it slipping, in sudden
CONSERVATION, hesitated for the barest
fraction of second. It was too long
Eddy Jackson saw and seized it, and
ran to kneel moekingly at her unslip-
pered foot.
cinderella. the prince returns your
glass slipper"
In the midst Of their merry laugh.
ter, the ukulele's sudden hush silenced
them.
"See here, somebody ought to intro.
duce me-" protested the player, plain
lively. "You forget I'm a stranger
/ wasn't even invited" his eyes wan.
dered to the bottom step of the circu.
lar staircase where Miriam sat just
as she had dropped In that first shock.
ing moment, still, rapt and breathless
"Oh, forgot" apologized Eddy
Jackson. "Everybody's supposed to
know everybody In Red Thrush. This
is our old friend Tub Andrews. He
went to school with US when he was
a kid, but they moved to Detroit, and
now he's come back to help run the
First National bank. Janitor, aren't
you, Tub?" s, ,-..-.,- --.,
Assistant janitor," said Tub An
drews pleasantly. "But next week
they are going to promote me to
stamp-licker. Pleased to meet you"
He dropped down on the step beside
Miriam. "Why didn't you 60 into
the beauty pageant and give your sis,
ter run for her complexion"
Ut" Miriam was shocked with
amazement. "Shel"
"Sure. was one Of the judges.
Your sister had 1t easy, the way it
was. But If you had been against
her-well-me-rm one gentleman
who don't" s VIZ ~ "a
"Dont what?" Miriam followed the
jovial young banker with some diff
Guilty. but with interest,
s tfealY aaa 12ke,
s.si..f zeoescg.s Ia r