The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-01-01
But her defense didn't have the re.

she turned from him TO motner.
There were tears in mothers eyes,
Edith pushed back her chair, gripping
the edge of the table with both hands.
II can't stand it," she said. Il just
can't stand It'll l know something
perfectly horrible's going to happen
that don't know about. I want it to
happen and get it over. It's just rot
ten, like this. I'm sorry, mother.
don't want any more dinner"
She managed to hold back the sob
that was coming until she had got out
into the hall. She fled upstairs to her
room where she could cry as much
as she liked and where, by virtue OF
that fact, it was much easier not to.
She turned on the light, looked at
herself dispassionately in the mirror
and wiping away the two incipient
tears proceeded to pull herself to-
gether. She'd made a good start. at
this when, at the sound Of mothers
step on the stair, her heart turned to
lead.
Mother hadn't finished dinner, either.
She'd never have left dad to come to
her unless-unless that random shot
about something horrible that was
about to happen had hit the mark.
There was something. There really
was. She cried, as her mother APP
peared in the doorway, "You've come
up to tell me what it is!''
Mother nodded, but before she said
anything she came across the room
and sat down on the edge Of the bed.
"It isn't life-or-death matter" she
said. cit isn't anything that need make
any real difference, except :" But
it seemed, she couldn't go on with
that.
IT suppose dads business has failed"
Edith said duly. "Is that it?'
This seemed to help mother out.
"No, it isn't that at all. It isn't nearly
as bad as that. In some ways the
business looks better than it did. Only
1t does need more money to get 1t
started than your father thought 1t
would. He thinks he could get some
one else, Agatha's father, perhaps, to
put money in, as an investment. But
that would mean giving him share
in the business. Just as Mr.. Mariner
had to give dad share. So instead
of doing that, he's decided to borrow
the money himself, and put 1t in. And,
besides, that will give him the con-
troll, instead Of Mr.. Mariner. But bor-
rowing the money, as he'll have to
do it, means that we must help him
by saving every penny that we pos
sibly can"
At thought we were doing that, al
ready" Edith said.
"We can save several hundred dol
lars" mother said, in scared sort of
voice, .by changing your school; send
ing you to high school for the last
half-year, where there isn't any tuition
to pay. Your tuition is paid for the
first half-year-up to February first,
If you were going on. so you see we
must decide now. AS far as education
goes, the high school is as good as
the other. You know we sent Ed there
for the whole four years. It's only. :.
Oh, know, 1t will be hard! Dad
knows, too. He didn't see it at first,
but since the play and all. 1t
makes him almost sick to ask it of
you. He wouldn't do it now, if it
weren't that insisted. But the three
hundred dollars will make such diff
ference to him, just at this time-to
-. MI WON 20 M doxxv,,
and tell him, that it isn't going to
make you unhappy. win you do that,
dear? Tonight
Mother was holding out her arms,
inviting her to come to them and be
comforted, but the girl ignored the
gesture and went and sat down, stolid-
ly. in a chair where her face would be
turned away. Just now she felt per-
fectly numb and she wanted to keep
on feeling that way as long as she
could. The one thing she couldn't bear
would be to have mother go on talking
to her in that encouraging be-a-good-
girl voice. Shed have to say some
thing, herself.
"Oh, it's all right Of course" She
didn't mean her voice to sound as
hateful as that, but she couldn't help
it. II don't mind not going back to
school so much. You can tell him
that. suppose could stay around
home and help you, more. Or perhaps
could ge' job. Mother, don't have
to go tCM1artha's party, tonight, do
L? just-couldn't. You can tell
Ed, when he comes home, that I've
gone to bed with headache. He
won't mind going without me, that's
cinch. And I'll really go to bed. /
guess I'll go now"
For a minute she was afraid that
mother would try to treason" with
her; try to talk about unselfshness
and sacrifice and things like that, but
If that had been what she meant to
do, she changed her mind, for she got
up and walked to the door. From there,
she said, "All right, I'll tell Ed"
A squirt of unprecedented anger
made the girl say, II suppose that
three hundred dollars will mean lot
20 him uo oon on IN 1iviDU Of hiQ