The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-01-20
CHAPTER vI-continued

"For Heavens sake, Philipl Don't
you realize that I want to get away
from Hamstead and stay away? If
we fixed up this place, and put all that
money into it, we'd have to keep conf
Ing back to it! That's the last thing
on earth want to do! / don't want
an oId-fashioned house. full Of old
fashioned furniture, in an old-fash-
toned village! / want to live In big
city don't want quiet existence;
want to give parties all the time
except when am going out to them
little afternoon bridge parties and little
evening theater parties and heaps of
dancing. And simply adore going to
the movies and shopping around for
lacy nightgowns and getting an ice
cream soda in the middle Of the morn
ing, and having lunch at tearoom.
That's what I've done the few times
I've been to town to visit. Why Philip,
thought you were going to help me
to escape from Lady Blanche farml
thought you wanted me to have a
good time and pretty clothes, and
heaps Of new friends =
There was something almost gro.
tesque about her, in spite of her love-
Illness, as she stood before him in her
silvery brocade, clamoring for tawdry
possessions and trffilng pastimes The
sudden dread lest the delicate fabric
of his romance might be rent before
his eyes, filled Philip with fear But
this fear was engulfed in the terror
lied prenonition which his research
had aroused.
Somehow he steadied himself and
managed to speak lightly. II do want
you to have good time and party
clothes and pleasant friends, darling"
he said. "And you shall. We won't
say anything more about this scheme
of mine, since it doesn't appeal TO you.
1t was only a fancy. anyway"
He drew her close to him, drugging
himself, for the moment, with the de-
light Of feeling her in his arms. But
afterwards he sought out Mary.
Everyone always took stories Of
trouble to Mary, sure of help and un-
Outstanding and comfort The fact
that 1t was ironing day, and that he
found her, in the middle of sultry
afternoon, toiling away in a hot
kitchen. and not sitting with folded
hands In some secluded and restful
spot, as comforters are additionally
supposed to be found, made no differ
ence. He could not bring himself to
speak of Blanche's outburst, but he
did speak of the ominous sense Of fore
boding which had been awakened by
his perusal Of Hastings history and
which. had persisted ever since. Mary
listened to his recital In silence, and
without stopping her work. And when
Philip had finished, she went to the
stove for hot iron, tested It with her
hand, and began to press out Seth's
overalls before she answered.
"You don't think we've kept this
from you wilfully. do your" she said,
at length. you know / asked you,
right off. If there were anything that
would make You want Blanche less,
and you said no. And I'm sure that
the reason she didn't tell you the
whole story. that day by the brook,
was simply because, as she said, you
would think she was .awfully con-
celtee and fresh If she inferred that
she thought she was beautiful and
likely to be loved at first sight by a
handsome stranger. She doesn't read
much, and she's probably forgotten
part Of the legend, anyway, even If she
ever read it. You-you wouldn't be
SO cruel as to spoil her lovely happi-
ness by telling her about it now, would
your"
'Good Lord, Mary. you don't think
want to, do you? It would just
about kill me to give her up"
"Then what do you meant"
II thought you might think-I think
myself perhaps ought tom her ac-
count. you know.
ION her accounts" said Mary, stu
pidly.
"If there is any truth in thing
like that. isn't it my duty to?"
"Why?"
"so-she could do something safer,
of course"
Mary folded the overalls carefully.
"There isn't anything safer for girl
to do" she said In low voice, than
to marry the man she loves. Tiff
he loves her. And If her life is the
one that's short, what does that mat
ter. II it's full and perfect, and-com-
plete7"
"I guess you're right" said Philip
huskily. Then, still hesitating-"You
don't suppose l think you're right Just
because want to. do your"
"Did you ever think anything was
right just for that reason?"
Philip searched his conscience.
II don't believe SC" he said at last,
smiling at her.