The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-26

| vanished. If he was ever to win this
sapphire-eyed girl he must fight for
every step Of the ground he won.
He accepted the challenge doggedly.
Only his mother could have told Gym
thia the fiery ambition combined with
stern determination which lay behind
that acceptance.
Christmas Day-Geoff's first Christ
mas In the Cary house-passed off
merrily. They were having breakfast,
Marguerite's fluffy biscuits and tiny
brown sausages were neglected while
the piles Of daintily wrapped packages
at each plate were opened.
Cynthia's present to Geoff was the
book he had coveted in the Odds and
Ends along with companion volume
which he had long sought. Both were
now out of print and Geoff was de-
lighted with them quite apart from
his pleasure in Cynthia's thoughtful-
ness toward his needs.
He had selected his own gift for her
with much care, deciding at last on
necklace of carved coral, trusting that
she would not realize the costliness Of
its exquisite work. That she did
realize it. her first glance of protest
attested; but she thanked him prettily
and that evening he had the joy of
seeing it around her throat in COM
bination with the simple white dress
she wore to a Christmas party.
Miss Mona as usual was deluged
with gifts. Over one Of them Cary
raised derisive brows. Doctor Big
ham had sent her wicker basket
filled with blooming begonias, their
honest pink somewhat resembling the
color in his own cheeks.
saba! We have romance brew
ing" said the graceless Cary. II
thought Doc was making good many
calls while Cynthia was sick. and that
it was odd he always timed them to
coincide with your visits at the hos
pitalw
"Hush. you bad boy." Miss Mona
was unperturbed, The doctors flow
ers were amply supplemented by
roses, poinsettias and scarlet carna-
lions from other friends.
To Tenny the day was something
out of fairy tale. From that first
waking moment when she reached for
the stocking Cynthia had filled and
hung on her bedpost, to the other mo-
ment, when exhausted with sheer
felicity she fell asleep in Geoff's arms
and was carried upstairs and I'M
dressed by Cynthia without waking,
she existed in a delirium of JOY that
Geoff found infinitely touching. 1t
spoke so loudly of other Christmases
spent in the forced cheer Of deserted
schools or in bare hotels with puz-
zled and anxious father. The child
seemed to carry about with her the
realization Of what had threatened
the gladness of this day. Once she
paused with her arms full of the gifts
she was hugging to her heart and said
to Cynthia: "If you'd sent me back
to boarding school. Cynthia. I'd be
crying now instead of laughing. Did
you know that?"
"But / never thought Of sending you
away, dear"
"And if you did send me-" the child
insisted, "Geoff would have come and
got me, wouldn't you. Geoff?"
"You know I would" he replied
with significant emphasis, and reas-
sured, she went back to her play.
At dinner Flossie and Cary made an
announcement.
''Look here, folks" Cary began abb
ruptly. "This wife of mine insists
that we've honeymooned here long
enough. She thinks it's high time we
set up housekeeping for ourselves"
''Leave here?" Miss Mona exclaimed
in dismay. Gary, you can't-you SIM
ply mustn't"
Cynthia laid her hand over her
mothers. swat, dear. and hear what
Flossie says about it."
Flossie's cheeks flushed brightly.
"We've figured it all out. Cary and l.
We can get One-room and Kitchen
cite for thirty-five dollars. 1t isn't
in such grand neighborhood but that
won't matter. It's near to Cary's
work. And after we pay our first
wife's alimony, we'll still have enough
to live on If we're careful. We've
loved staying here. Miss Mona, but
after all we're married and we ought
to keep house for ourselves" she
finished reasonably.
Geoff was chuckllng over the refer
ence to "our first wife," From the
very beginning Flossie had accepted
that almost mythical person with COM
posture. Her common-sense attitude
toward life in general delighted Geoff.
Carys sensitiveness received no en-
enlargement from Flossie. The grace
full avoidance Of money discussion
which was the rule in the household
simply didn't exist for her.
Miss Mona and the Captain never
ceased to be shocked by her direct
speech, but Cynthia had recognized 1t
for the fine thing it was and upheld
her sister-in-law at all times.
She approved now of her plan.
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