The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-10
CHAPTER xI-continued

swell, speak to her then!"
'.Td have a fat chance Of saying
anything there now, wouldn't.I?"
swell. don't have one of your
tgrouches' about it"
Philip FASTENED to interrupt the ex-
change of fraternal compliments that
seemed imminent. The following
morning, Immediately after lunch,
Paul left Blanche's apartment and be-
took himself into town. Eventually
he alighted from the street car. to
find himself In front Of a florists win
dow. He hesitated q moment. then
: entered the shop.
II want some flowers" he said. "A
little vaguely. something pretty. For
for lady"
Certainly, sir. Orchids, two dol
lars apiece? American Beauties. If
teen dozen? Or gilt baskets, filled
with white lilacs-just mare very
attractive. Twenty dollars for the
smaller size, thirty for the larger
ones"
Comparative wealth in Hamstead
meant actual poverty in New York,
Paul had discovered. In Boston, 1t
meant, apparently, straitened circum-
stances at best. He fingered the slim
wallet in his pocket nervously.
mot any-nothing like those. I'm
afraid. You haven't anything like
like what grows in a country garden.
have your"
"a few sweet-peas, you mean or
pansies?'
.Yes. and mignonette, and forget
me-nots."
II could make you up an old-fash-
toned nosegay-"
.Yes, that's what want"
When Paul took out his wallet to
i pay for the bouquet, he took out
little box, too, and writing on it in
pencil in his curiously uniformed and
immature hand. "For Mary, with
Paul's love-" he slipped it in among
the flowers which the salesman hand
ed him. Then, thus armed, he turned
toward Beacon street.
His destination proved to be an
enormous corner house of brown stone,
on the water side. IT'S appearance in
stantly suggested age, wealth and
exclusiveness. Paul, uncomfortable
enough already. became decidedly
more SO as he rang the front-door bell.
The appearance Of the man-servant
who answered the ring did not reas-
sure him.
Miss Manning is not at home, sir"
"Or Mrs. Adams? Or Miss Adams?"
"None of the ladies are in, sir"
"Could / wait? want very much
to see Miss Manning"
The butler seemed to hesitate.
"Tm her cousin, Paul Manning, from
Vermont. Pve-Pve come long way"
How silly that he should be pleading
with this wooden-faced automaton!
He half regretted the words before
they were out of his mouth. But, as
usual, he stood his ground. And he
was rewarded.
II think Miss Manning would wish
you to wait, sir. Will you come to
the library? I'll tell her you're here,
directly she gets in, sir-or Miss
Adams. If she comes first. sir"
The library proved to be an enor-
nous bay-windowed room at the rear
of the house, overlooking the Charles
river lined with books to the ceiling
and furnished in Cordova leather.
Paul had never seen, hardly even i'm
agined, such room before. This was
the kind of house-for Mr.. Hamlin's,
he felt sure, would be very like his
sister's-that Mary could live In for
ever If she chosei Mary, whose
chance for advantages" had been no
better than his! Mary. whom he had
called prude and a shrew and a
jailor! The clock on the mantel
chimed and struck half past four. The
butler reappeared and piled fresh
wood on the fire.
Il doubt if Miss Manning will be in
now, before tea-time, sir. Is there
anything | could get you, sir? Some
cigarettes. or whisky and soda?"
"No. thank you"
The fire cracked little with the
new wood, blazed into brilliant colors
and settled to steady flame. The
clock chimed and struck. and struck
and chimed again. II was after five
when he finally heard Mary's voice
Someone waiting to see me? Who
Is 1t, Judkins?"
1.-THE gentleman said he was your
cousin. miss. took him into the
library"
There was short silence.
"Thank you. Judkins"
"Shall j serve tea for you there, now
miss?"
please"
So they were to be alone-what he
had hoped for so muchl He heard
her coming. lightly and quickly. up the
stairs. Then she entered the room.
She was dressed In the dull blue
color that she had always loved. a
soft. flowing gown. a large dropping
hat. These were not the kind, Paul
instinctively knew, that were hurriedly
stitched together after the children
were in bed at night, or painfully
A