The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-02-05

The tearing edge Of bitterness in his
voice made It hurt to listen.
II think he meant to be kind, Ned"
mother reminded him.
He instantly agreed "He did. From
his point of view he's more or less
justified. It seems that when / first
suggested his going in he had a con-
sultfng engineer make him report on
the choke. The man made number
of tests and pronounced it of no value.
He went no further than that, but
Bert's own chauffeur did. He tried 1t
a week and took it off the car, saying
much what Mariner did in his last
letter."
A grlmace Of pain went over his
face. "Oh, from the first it's probably
been plain enough to Bertrand to
you" he said. II didn't look into
Mariners history. I didn't get dis
interested opinion on the choke. I
went into 1t like a boy clipping with
girl he knows his family won't ap-
prove of. Bert made that comparison
at the time. can't blame him for
trying to stop me before get any
deeper in it-worked for it. put
some life into it--some of my own
1t was a long time before anyone
said anything after that. Finally
mother spoke. IF you do-give it up,
Ned, what viii you do? Afterward. I
mean" ,
If only he wouldn't try to smile!
Edith had to look away when he an
swered.
"Bert's suggestion was that try to
get back my old Job, with the insur-
ance company. I couldn't do 1t, Of
course, but they might give me some
thing. Is that what you'd want me
to do?"
Mother didn't answer at all. She
sat very still for while, thinking.
Then she asked, "Can you go on, with
the other business, without Bert's
help? Have you any choice about
giving 1t up?"
Eyes, there's a choice. can make
one more attempt on Jake German.
1t will be pretty hard to get his atten-
ton, Of course, within day or two Of
his wedding. It's a forlorn hope. If
I succeed :. Well, that's what I
came home for, really. My only re-
source, after that, would be to put
a mortgage on this house. I can't do
that without your consent"
I'D consent, of course" mother said,
ruickIv "Rut
There's no of course about it." he
broke in, savagely. 'I'ye had no right
to drag you in as far as this. I've
put you into a hi Of household
drudgery and unpaid bills, depriva-
lions -. :"
It was her turn to interrupt. 'T've
never been happy, not in years, as I've
been during these last months. I
wouldn't 60 back to the way things
were a year ago, for anything in the
world"
The girl was watching her fathers
face. She saw burning flush come
into it, deeper and deeper. She turned
away.
"That's beside the point, isn't it,"
he said, harshly. "Your present
source Of happiness isn't in question.
The question Is :"
Mothers color didn't come up the
way his had. slow and dark; it famed
suddenly, like bright flag. They'd
forgotten, both Of them, the girl per-
ceived, that she was there.
II didn't mean that" mother said.
II meant I'd been happy because felt
was-helping you. A little. Not as
much as I wanted to, but-but as far
as I went"
Panic fell upon Edith. She couldn't
stay there. She stared rlgidly out the
window, wondering desperately how
she could escape. Some one was COM
ing across the street.
II think Carolyn Seely is coming
here" she said. II guess I'll run out
and head her off,"
Neither of them spoke. They hadn't
heard what she said. She fed down
the hall, snatched her polo coat,
slammed the front door behind her
and struggled into her sleeves as she
ran down the steps.
"Hellow she cried to Carolyn. isn't
1t agesw a