The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-14

"A yCdAg hC ACPllCO OlACuys
Hes going to stay with us. Isn't
that keen" Cary asked eagerly.
Geoff glanced at Miss Mona little
curlously. The happiness had all gone
from her face, the warmth from her
voice. Something like fear looked out
of her soft brown eyes. What brute
of a girl this was, Geoff told himself,
whose mere arrival so changed the at
mosphere of her home. The Captain
had extinguished the fat cigar he had
The maid, summoned by Miss Mona,
murmured something in a low tone to
her mistress who in turn murmured
back, glancing apprehensiyely toward
her daughter. Cary pulled nervously
at his cigarette. Only Tenny seemed
happy in Cynthia's arrival. She kept
her thin little arms about the other
girls waist and when Cynthia said
something about running upstairs to
wash her hands, Tenny went with her.
Geoff tried doggedly but in vain to
restore the former gaiety to the party.
A blight had fallen, Cary could only
smile in sickly fashion, Miss Mona
looked from the table to the door and
back again.
Presently Cynthia returned, still
wearing the dark swiss frock which
was her office dress but with little
curls and ripples testifying to the wet
comb she had run through her hair.
"rm starved" she began as she took
her seat. mo lunch at all today
and"
'No lunch? Oh, Cynthia!"
absolutely no time for lunch-and
1 didn't quarrel with that fact, you
may be sure!" She stopped as the maid
set a plate before her; raised her
eyebrows questioningly.
Miss Mona hurried into speech, sim
so glad you could come home for a
good hot meal, dear. Was it terrible
downtown today?'
"Pretty hot. Even the tourists felt
the heat, and you know they're usually
indefatigable. However, we sold about
a peck of abalone rings, and silver
bracelets with turQuoises in 'em, and
shell chains"
did you sell any more rings like
your jade one?" Tenny's voice asked
interestedly. wasn't it lucky your
godmother sent you that just when the
lady from Detroit wanted one?"
There was an appalled, silence.
Geoff was maliciously pleased to see
the color rise in the girls face until
it flooded her temples and was lost in
the waves of her hair. He asked
blandly:
'The jade dinner ring? Too bad you
didn't like it. I rather fiattered my
self 1t was bit unusual. helped my
mother select it, you know"
sit was a mistake-Tenny, you
shouldn't" Miss Mona began agi-
tatedly.
Cynthia bit viciously into the roll
she had buttered.
1T wasn't mistake at all! 1t hap
pened that I needed other things more
than I did a ring, and as had a spe-
cial customer who wanted it, sold it.
Sorry if your mother will be hurt!"
The implication stung the young
man. II hope you don't think I mean
to tell her!"
She lifted her shoulders in little
shrug. II didn't know. You might
feel it your duty to write her about it"
She pushed her plate away. II don't
seem to be so very hungry, after all.
The heat, guess. Tenny, where's
Hadji? Tell the rascal he's lying down
on the job. He didn't meet me at the
front door tonight"
This time Geoff partook of the feel
ing which kept them all silent. No
matter how much of dislike you had
taken to girl, it. wasn't pleasant to
tell her that her dog was dead; had
been murdered by another dog because
he had been allowed out against her
orders.
He glanced across the table and saw
that Miss Nona's eyes were trimming
with tears and that her chin was Quiv-
ering like that of a terrified child.
The sight gave him back his own COM
posture. A girl who could brighten her
mother like that deserved anything.
Quickly, before Miss Mona could falter
out the news or Tenny blunder into it,
Geoff spoke.
"I'm afraid I've got bad news of
your dog" he said, real sympathy in
his voice. "You see-he got out some
how this afternoon and the dog next
door"
Cynthia sprang to her feet. Miss
Mona! You didn't after all
said after I'd warned you"
She stopped, visibly fighting down the
emotion that shook her. II beg your
pardon, dear! I'm sorryl" She turned
to Geoff. How badly is he hurt?
Where is he? oh, why didn't you tell
me when first came home instead Of
letting me-"
Tenny's arms were around her neck,
Tenny's cheek was laid lovingly against
hers
"Hadjrs dead, Cynthia" she said
with a child's wise directness of