The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-09
wNU Service

room the lamps glowed softly. She
had telephoned mamma that she was
in town for lunch and would come out
with will at FIVE. Beyond Lillian,
Ernestine could see Loring's square
shoulders.
They ran up the steps, hand in hand,
and at the door Will gave her a re-
assuring hug and kissed her cheek.
'Let me do the talking" he whis-
pered, and they went on into the hail
and ran into the drawing and living
room. Ernestine was aware at once
that the swift kiss Will had imprinted
on her cheek had been seen, for papa
was f1ustered and hostile, and mamma
looked at her in pale reproach.
Mamma" said Ernestine, "do you
remember Will Todd?'
Mamma gave Will her hand, and ne
moved awkwardly forward, looking
shabby and ill at ease beside the mag
nificence and self-possession Of papa
and Loring. .s
"We've just been talking about you"
mamma said to Will. II didn't know
until yesterday that you were sucn
friends with my little girl. I'm sorry
you haven't been here sooner"
Will murmured something, ana
Ernestine introduced him to her grand
mother, who looked at him severely
and gave slight snort of recognition,
and then Lillian came and offered MIN
her hand and said she remembered
him. The two men straddling the
hearth acknowledged the introduction
with silent handshakes. Mamma asked
Will to sit down and rang for tea.
Ernestine, full of guilt, sat down close
beside him and turned to speak to
mamma.
The conversation moved haltingly as
they waited for tea. Papa, somewhat
maliciously, asked Will about his
father.
"He's WE'LL" Will answered in a
calm natural voice. "But my mother
has been almost an invalid for year
now. We feel very anxious about
her"
1--WE are sorry to learn that" said
mamma, and then went on quickly:
what have you two children been
doing all day?"
There was dramatic pause, but
Ernestine took it up quickly.
Mamma, you forget that 1 am
twenty now"
They laughed politely. The tea
wagon came, mamma poured tea for
them all, and they talked of things
about which Will knew nothing.
Ernestine could see how they were
making him feel like an outsider. Sit
ting in the deep chair, his long legs
drawn up before him, Will was not so
disturbing. Her heart was full Of
tender loyalty.
"You have changed great DEAL"
mamma said to viii. you used to be
q shy little boy"
81 don't feel very shy today" he
told her, and smiled at Ernestine.
His bright black eyes. like shiny
bits of anthracite, under his white,
domelike forehead, were beautiful, but
Ernestine knew that the others could
see nothing but his queer clothes.
"Tell them, WILL" she said at last,
putting down her cup and taking his
from him.
They all stopped, and turned startled
faces toward the two. Will squared
himself and turned first to mamma.
"We'ye gone and done it," he said,
smiling.
Gone and done what?" asked
mamma sharply, and her pallor startled
them all.
"We've gone and got married-to-
day"
Married! Who?"
It was papa's voice, harsh, protest.
ing.
"Ernestine and l." answered Win
steadily, and Loring said, Married."
in a hoarse, incredulous tone, and
Ernestine, looking up. saw his face, as
pale as mammals, and as startled, with
deep chagrin and CONSERVATION writ
ten on it. But none of the others nv.
ticed him.
"You see," said Ernestine gently,
"we were engaged anyhow, and when
mamma invited Will to tea, today.
thought we might just as we'll make t
an announcement party"
You thought !"
Certainly. papa. 1t was my idea"
(TO BE CONTINUED)