The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-07


Geoff to patronize them lavishly. 1t
is an unrecorded but nevertheless re-
markable fact pertaining to the human
race that bachelors, having no homes
of their own, are regarded by those
whose nefariOus business it is to offer
for sale so-called adornments and or
naments designed for the civilized DOM
icile as their legitimate and most prof
table customers. And now it appeared
Cynthia, about whose name was be-
ginning to cluster adjectives which did
not express a passionate desire on
Geoff's part to meet the daughter Of
his mothers friend, herself engaged
in this fashionable form of piracy.
"And I'll bet she spells it with two
p's and an e." he told himself gloomily.
He resolved not only to refuse Mrs.
Aylesbury's invitation to make his
home with them but to select board
ing house as far away from the Cary
house as possible.
But he reckoned without his hostess.
Miss Mona took it for granted that
Geoff was to stay with them. She
waved away his protests; she made
light of his vague murmurs about I'M
certain hours; she told him that he
must stay on to dinner, now that he
was here, and afterward Cary would
drive him down to his hotel to pack
his bags and have his luggage sent out.
"You should have come directly to
u.s." she reproached him. 'Eunice's
son in hotel! It's utterly out of the
question. We have oceans of room.
That's one reason we were able to take
Tenny in with us. Poor mite, she was
in a boarding school and she hated
it"
Il know" Geoff said involuntarily.
'You know what they're like? And
of course it's worse for little girl
than for a boy. Anyway'-she smiled
-"Tenny's father was an old beau of
mine and when his wife died wrote
and asked him to let us have Tenny-"
"That was good of you'll"
"For our own pleasure" she finished.
Her father tried the boarding school
first, then yielded and let her come to
us. And you," she said with trace Of
coquetry, might as we'll yield in the
beginning, for I don't mean to take no
for an answer"
He looked embarrassed. Nothing
would please me more, Mrs. Aylesbury,
if-if you would let me make some
financial arrangement? l couldn't visit
here indefinitely, you know"
"Why not?" 1t was the Captain who
spoke. He had entered from the hall
in time to hear Geoff's protest. 1--WE
had your mother for-how many years
was it, Nona?-and there was no fool
ish talk about financial arrangements
in connection with her visits. Also
Mona went to New York and spent a
winter with the Hamptons and don't
remember that l offered to pay her
board Come upstairs with me, young
man, and pick out your room.
thought-the hunting room?" he asked
his daughter.
Geoff, helpless in these determined
hands, followed meekly. The "hunt-
ing room" opened on one of the foolish
little balconies in the front and from
it Geoff had a superb view of the
mountain range.
Cary Aylesbury had arrived when
the two came downstairs again. He
sprang up to meet Geoff, cordial hand
outstretched, handsome young face
alight with welcome.
''Miss Mona tells me she's persuaded
you to cast your lot in with u.s." he
began; then as Geoff looked puzzled at
the boys designation of his mother, he
laughed and slung an arm around her
shoulders. Il ask you: does she look