The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-01-01

less. 'Did-did you Go ttP' she Stam-
mered.
ut seemed the least I could do
after having ruined your other break
fast by coming to make a call in the
middle Of the morning."
Unexpectedly the girl laughed. She
didn't know why, unless because there
was something so deliciously matter
of-fact about his voice.
Il might have known you'd spot
that extra cup first thing he said.
He had put on another cup, meaning
to have coffee with her. He thought
that was why she had laughed.
She was conscious Of passing Won
der whether he really was like that
or whether he was just pretending.
Didn't he know that she had cried
and run away? Hadn't he noticed
that she had changed her dress? He
had lighted cigarette and sat down
to the cup of coffee she had poured
for him as if he had been dropping
in for breakfast with her every morn
ing for week.
Luckily there was something she
could begin talking about The party
last night. She'd been awfully sorry
not to go. 1t must have been awfully
| jolly.
Eyes. it was nice party, guess.
I didn't stay very long. Marthas my
cousin, you know. so l checked in and
danced with her; smoked cigarette
with Ed when he happened not to be
dancing, and did quiet fade-out"
She thrilled at that. If he'd said he
left early because she wasn't there,
she wouldn't have believed it. The
mere fact that he didn't say it made
| it possible He was talking with only
half his mind, anyway, thinking about
| something else.
"You know" he said at last, cts
awfully good Of you to let me get
| by with this. You're Eds sister and
| I'm his Oldest friend, and that creates
a sort of presumption that I know
you we'll enough to drop in on you in
| the morning and invite myself to
breakfast. But it's perfectly phony.
| really don't know you bit. When
you came out Of the house on the way
| to the play the other night-the night
| brought Ed home I didn't even
know who you were for minute; not
till Ed Rugged you and called you
Edith. I'd always thought of you as
his little sister,"
IT must have looked awfully silly"
she said, dressed up like that, when
you didn't know what it was for"
He. frowned at her in a puzzled
sort of way, which she found COM
| pletely adorable. She loved people
who didn't smile all the time.
Dressed up?" he echoed. "You
mean you were in costume for the
play? / didn't notice it. There was
a sort of romantic look about you in
your big cloak and all. but guess
was too surprised to take in details"
Ibid you like the play?" she asked.
ED told me you were there"
Again he frowned. "Was that all
he told your"
81 guess he said you liked it," she
| admitted.
"Well, there's case of wasted elo-
quence for you'll" he said. ~ talked
my head off to him for half an hour,
about how good you were. 1t was
probably just as well he didn't try to
pass it on, though"
II was scared sick!" she told him.
swell, them" he pronounced, after
stare of surprise, ''you must be
real actress. that's all I've got to
say"
There was nothing she could say to
that, so she buttered her second slice
of toast. He got up and began roam
ing up and down the room.
"Even so, don't understand it," he
went on. II don't understand your
being one of them-Martha. and Jane
Cole, and Isabel Norris and the rest
of the bunch. Don't they seem like
kids to you? / should think that any
body-well, anybody who could play
that screen scene, for instance, the
way you played it-would find the
rest of them awfully-young."
"Oh, don't know" she said. Real
~, she didn't. She hadn't the least
idea what he meant about the screen
scene. But the next moment she
heard herself saying, "Anyhow, I'm
going to stop school. I'm not going
back next term"
He nodded as If it didn't surprise
him very much, but he didn't inter-
rupt with any comment, and somehow
she had to go on. She just couldn't
stop herself. ~ haven't made up my
mind what to do exactly. Take job,
l guess"
At the sound of the words she was
seized with a panic. What would he
say? What would he do? What would
he think of her for hurting out a
thing like that?
Really, it's what I'd have expected
you to do if I'd thought Of 1t. It's
sporting proposition. you see, and any
one could tell you were a good sport
from the way you played that part"
He took another turn across the room.