The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-08-15
CHAPTER XII-Continued


with burning fever. At least then he
would not be able to go for weeks
without remembering her. He would
think of her. His attention, his desire
would be hers. For an intolerable
moment she yielded to the pain Of this
desire, then rose, wrapped her faded
cotton kimono over her bathing suit
and turned to face Loring. For mo-
ment she was struck with a bright
memory. His composure, his self-as-
surance were broken by the upthrust
of some powerful emotion. She was q
girl again, at her mothers house, rum
ming up the front steps, he stood at
the top in her way, looking at her
eagerly, his face so-alive, disturbing.
They stared at each other, remem-
boring, caught and held together. But
Ernestine thrust this clamoring thought
away from her. This man was Lii
Hams husband. This was Jonathan
Hamilton's son, her fathers son-in-law
and adviser. He was one Of her own
people.
.sYou haven't been kind to viii, any
of you," she stammered, trying to
bring the talk back to commonplace.
HE hasn't accepted our kindness"
Loring answered slowly.
1T isn't only that he's proud" said
Ernestine. "He's vain as well. He's
INHERENT. He's entitled to his vanity"
Sat any cost?" asked Loring in a
low voice. II think there are men
who would consider pride too dear
Cor your happiness"
Ernestine's thoughts were in con-
fusion. Loring's words came back to
her, nothing but poverty and child
bearing and distress. Oh. she had had
more than that from Will. She had
had life! But was there to be for her
=. NO permanent peace and security with
Will? She doubted it. And this doubt
brought another: Has my whole in
stinct concerning Will been false? Is
the family's judgment of him correct
and my own mistaken? They think
him cratic, trivial, unsteady, a fail
ure-O God in Heaven, help me
She turned away from Loring and
took the path up through the shrubs
toward the lawn about the house. She
stumbled along as though to get away
from the weakness, the tears, the fear
full doubts that assailed her.
A motor had been humming along
the lake road as she advanced from
the waters edge, and now abruptly
the car had entered the inlet road
and swung about before the house. At
this instant when she became con-
scious of it and its arrival, the air was
still filed with the grinding of brakes.
while the doors of the car spilled open
and it disgorged three of four men
who were carrying others. One Of the
two men lifted from the car was either
dead or dying, for thin bright stream
ran from him as they laid him on the
grass.
Bright red dripped from the running
board. The other man was being car
ried indoors, while two tied their coats
together to make stretcher for the
first man lifted out. A shout brought
Madame Pastano from the house. The
gardener, the houseman appeared on
the run.
The whole household was instantly
concentrated with skilled, practiced
efficiency, so quiet, so quick that
Ernestine was still gaping while it
was all accomplished. The hose was
running furiously across the lawn.
The rug was brought from the floor
Of the car, and thrown into the lake,
with rocks on top Of it. The gardener
put the hose inside the car and washed
the floor and the running board. An
other came from the garage with a
different car rug, with different
license plate which he changed in a
moment, and the driver of the car
moved it up little, so that the gravel
could be picked up in shovel, and
carried and thrown into the lake, the
fresh spot raked together.
Now old Grandmother Pastano. an
ancient dame who spoke not a word
of English, came from the porch, her
head wrapped in a shawl, and got into
the car and sat by the window, her
thick jeweled hand resting on the edge
of the glass. The car turned about
and, with a different driver, moved
sedately back along the lake road,
whence it had come-as innocent ap-
pearing a vehicle as ever rode the
highway.
No one had noticed her. there at the
end of the lake walk, among the care
fully cut shrubs. Ernestine moved
back and came to the little summer
house and sat down in it. for her
limbsswould carry her no farther.
The dreadful efficiencies Of the Pas
tanos had all this time increased her
wrath with viii. She could not bear
it for him to be in daze, to 60 about
with the air which had exasperated
Lillian the night Elaine was born
helpless, hopeless and confused. She
couldn't stand the thought that he
was failure while these foreigners
were thick with success.
Ruby Pastano had power. He loved