The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-12-25
The BEGINNER
E-

"All right" Edith told her blankly,
Il guess I will"
Somehow, she didn't want to go.
Eds being there made her feel queer
about it. And why hadn't Agatha told
her he was there in the first place,
instead Of waiting until she had to do
sol Probably they didn't want her
to come and had been surprised when
she said she would. If she could only
think of a good excuse, she'd call up
now and say she'd changed her mind.
Only, without better excuse than
she could think of, she'd only look
cross and sulky and ridiculous. Shed
have to go, but she'd come home right
after lunch, and leave the pair to
themselves.
The austerity Of her carefully pre-.
pared attitude didn't last long after
she reached the Wizards house. Ed
pretty we'll destroyed It with the first
thing he said. "You were so sound
asleep when I looked in at you about
nine o'clock. that thought you
wouldn't wake up before noon"
I He hadn't forgotten her, then, after
ALL
And then they began talking about
how splendid she'd been In the play.
Ed contributed something that gave
her a thrill. Roger Morgan told me-"
he said very casually, that he thought
you were perfectly corking."
/ She felt herself going pink at that.
She wondered If Mr.. Morgan had said
anything else. She wanted him quoted
word for word, with descriptive de-
tails, but her brother didn't seem dis
posed to go further into the matter
and she couldn't press him without
looking silly. Probably Roger had just
been being polite, anyhow. All the
same, she was glad he had been
there.
But then, just as she was beginning
to feel warm and happy, and ready to
begin talking a little herself-about
how frightened she'd been and how,
miraculously, she'd got over it, and
what Miss Bennett had said about
John Barrymore. and wondering about
how it would feel to be a real actress
Agatha and Ed seemed to think the
topic disposed Of and began talking
about other things. Then Ed got up,
said he had another date, made his
farewells-almost bruskly-to Agatha,
and was gone, with "See you later,
Eide" flung over his shoulder to her.
Agatha didn't seem especially sur
prised. Now" she said. 1--WE can, have
a real visit. We haven't had one since
Buttermilk Brook, last summer. Doesn't
that seem forever?"
It was fun, and for while it really
seemed like old times. There was a
difference, though. You'd think of
something to say and then you'd real
lie it would take SO much explaining
that it hardly seemed worth the
trouble. BY and by Edith found her
self wondering whether Agatha had
something else to do She said, tenta-
lively, II suppose I'd better be rum
ming along"
Agatha demonstrated, "Oh. don't go
yet? We haven't even begun" But
somehow the words hadn't rung quite
right. There were little gaps when
neither of them could think Of any
thing to say.
They heard the telephone ring, and
Agatha sprang up, rather quickly. to
answer it. 1t was for her. all right,
and it was sort of funny CONVERSE
ton. Edith couldn't help hearing, be-
cause it was right in the next room.
Agatha said, NO." and then, after
listening a minute, II don't know"
The other person said quite lot then,
but all Agatha answered was, "Well.
I can't help that" She didn't give him
time to say much after that for she
cut in, with the clear effect Of an in
terruption, mo, Of course I won't.
Don't be silly! Good-by," and hung
M without another word.
She looked little flushed when she
came back into the room. but not
quite SO cross as her voice had sound
ed. She said, without giving Edith
time to say word, "You haven't any
thing else to do, have you? Let's go
ND to my room. I haven't half I'M
packed and I've got lots of new things
to show you"