The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-12-23
CHAPTER ! !. II
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Lazy blancne LaFm lay Mlie OT So
south of Hamstead. stretching on one
{ side Of the road back to the foothills
of the Green mountains. and on the
other, in broad sweeping meadows,
straight down to the Connecticut river.
Two big houses, one of brick. with
small, i-detached brick building
the lawyer Noses office--the other Of
wood, white-painted and white-pillared,
with a large flower garden, stood on
1t. Across the road was a smaller
house, brick with wooden ell, less
true to line, and decidedly less pros
porous in appearance.
AS they came in sight of all this
Philip Starr brought his motor to an
abrupt stop, and turned to Blanche,
who had unhesitatingly accepted his
invitation to "help him find the farm"
by riding back with him. !.
''Is that where you live?'
sYes, the big brick house is ours.
The big white one Is Cousin James.
The one across the way is where Mary!
lives"
"Good Lordi"
"What's the matter?"
.Matteri It's the most beautiful
place i ever saw in my life. didn't
tell you, did lin an architect. 1
mean, that's my regular job. But on
the side, can't help dabbling In other
things sketching, modelling, carving
was four years in Europe while
was growing up, and went back to
Paris for course at the Beaux Arts
after got through Harvard. And
I've never" his eyes turned from
the landscape and swept over the face
and figure Of the girl beside him
.'seen the Elysian fields and one of
the nymphs before!"
"It,s pretty, but don't see why you
should think it's so remarkable. And
it's so deadly dull Perhaps we had
better hurry a little, or Mary may be
through supper"
They stopped beside the least pre-
tentious of the three houses, and
walked up the cobblestone path. Here,
on the huge granite slab that formed the
front doorstep, sat small boy, who
was engaged in eating an enormous
piece of lemon pie with his fingers.
"Hello, Noses" said Blanche.
''Where's Mary?"
''She's putting Algernon to bed" re-
piled the small boy.
"Algernonl" exclaimae Philip, in
voluntarily.
eyes," interposed Blanche, triie
impatiently, cousin Laura-his moth
er, you know, that died-said she was
so tired of the same old family names,
that when he came along, she felt
she'd simply got to have a change.
She found that in book called The
Wicked Duke; Algernon was the duke.
It wasn't allowed in the Hamstead
library. but 1t was great story, just
the same. Come In, Mr.. Starr, and
I'll call Mary, Mary-l-M-A-R-Y-"
''Yes,' fioated down voice from the
upper story. Coming, honey. Did
you have good timer"
"Yes, lovely. Hurry up-we've got
company
A door opened and shut quickly,
coming across hall. and girl, with
another golden-haired child-presum-
ably the namesake of the wicked duke
lin her arms, appeared at the head of
the stairs. In flash, Philip remem-
bered and understood the quick re-
sentiment Blanche had shown when he
asked her If her cousin were plain.
For If Blanche were lovely. Mary was
certainly beautiful, with the tall, SUI
perbly formed, quiet beauty of Greek
statue. And yet, 1t was not of
( Greek statue that he almost instantly
thought. The blue cotton dress that
she had on, dulled and faded from
frequent washing. had turned to the
soft color in which the painters of
the Middle ages loved to clothe their
Madonnas; the little boy. apparently
snatched from his bath to answer
Blanche's summons, was cuddled,
pink and plump and sturdy against
her shoulder. MaryI The coincidence
of the name, too, seemed almost
the Indifferent Paul be. he wondered.
The younger girls explanation of his
presence broke In upon his silent
admiration.
"This is Mr.. Philip Starr Of Boston,
Mary. ! met him by the brook. He's
an architect. He's been sick with
typhoid fever. and is on his way to
: Burlington in motor to make visit
while he's getting strong, but he got
: lost. ! told him l was sure you'd
take him in for the night"
'I'm afraid I'm dreadfully .intru-
slve.s interrupted Philip. smiling up
at Mary. but she in turn interrupted
him.