The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-04-04

JVyCU a NdSuC pun ACcAIh WhANh
asked for little lunches between the
three meals enjoined by normal civil
lization.
Most people in Lenville smiled on
her vagaries with am amused toler-
ance; few accepted her at her own
valuation. These she liked. The toll
Grant she merely talked about
But the librarian at the public IL
brary, Mary Fem, groaned inwardly
when she saw the slow, waddling form
enter. Nothing ever suited Mrs. Au-
relia. Modern fiction she abhorred.
Style for her was not. Sense she
shuddered from; nonsense she failed
to understand.
Then came Leonard Marley. He was
a nice young man with too much tai
ent for happiness in small commu-
nifty, and altogether too much good
looks for a city with many girls. His
aunt, Regina Wiles Zone Of those who
tolerated Aurelia). declared he was
like the young man in Patience" be-
set by twenty lovesick maidens. The
allusion hit Leonard, who knew his
Gilbert and Sullivan, and he merely
replied that If it were but twenty he
could endure it, but it seemed more
like a circus.
Regina told Mary, who was a pet
Of hers, and she sought to amuse
Leonard. Mary protested herself far
too busy finding suitable fiction for
Mrs. Smith, who promised an addi-
tional room to the tiny fiction for Mrs.
Smith, who had promised an addi-.
stional room to the tiny library when
she passed on" If she could find suffi.
Gent novels with happy endings,
some tears and plenty of wholesome
pathos" while she lived. Otherwise
the sum was to be diverted to home
for the Sons and Daughters Of Those
Who Died Young.
Mary in despair, at a Sunday eve
ming supper, suggested that Leonard,
in the interests of the, Lenville public
library, himself write novel with all
the required Improvements on current
and classical fiction.
''By jove WILL" he cried, and dart
ed from his aunt's dining room to start
his masterpiece forthwith.
The twenty (odd) lovesick maid
ems" grew weary Of walking along
Pine avenue. Leonard remained clois-
tered. His aunt considerably gave
out at the corner drug store he was
busy writing a book. She knew her
broadcasting station.
In three months time he had pro-
duced 10000 words of such inane va
pidness that he was hopeful of it's re-
naming with the obsolescent publish
ers to whom 1t was submitted. He
whooped every time the mailman
failed to offer him a bulky package.
He took Mary to nice roadhouses,
where they danced until two o'clock in
the morning. He drove his aunt reck-
less rides (Which she liked, being still
redoubtable tennis player HERSELF
and while Mary grew to like his fun
and pep more each day, still. no hap
less returned with regrets" package
made its temperance.
At length letter came from
Messrs. Bite & Burberry, the publish
ers. The book had been accepted by
their reader, it stated. subject to the
writer's consenting to change the title
("Suburbia Still Sobs'D. which, they
declared, might be considered by
some of their readers to be sar-
casm," and provided few more char
acters might be left alive and whole
at the conclusion.
The sum offered was not large. But
the publishers seemed sure of large
sale-"there Is so little wholesome f1c-
ton published these days." they sighed
Leonard swore he could hear the
sigh-and he whoOped once again,
danced his aunt around the room and
phoned Mary the news.
"You've saved my life," she cried.
"Mrs. Amelia Smith is talking of call
ing her lawyer to alter her will this
very afternoon. and now, well, I'm
afraid you will have to meet her."
"But, of course, / WILL" he said.
do have to arrive in a hearse?"
"You foolish boy, of course not.
Just tell her how frail she looks (she
weighs 200 pounds) and that you think
her hands are like Marie Antoinette's.
And If any Of your relatives ever did
die young you might"
Zone of 'em was hanged at the age
Of twenty for smuggling in Cornwall
in the old country In the Seventeenth
century, and another was a drummer
boy and was shot in the War of Inde-
pendence.'
swell, talk about the caves of Corn
wall and don't mention the smuggling.
can just see the nice. cheerful books
that will go into that new addition aft
er poor Mrs. Aurelia really has"
Done the wisest thing" replied
Leonard. land there is something
else"
''Tell me later; there are ten old
ladies at the desk waiting for books.
and one Of them is she."
1t is only fair to add that Mrs. Au-
relia was charmed with Leonard. He
spoke feelingly of the smuggler's early