The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-02-10
Lady Blanche Farm

to snake up" she felt she could af-
ford to laugh at himl Well, he, wasn't
to be trif1ed with like that! He'd
show her. Angrily he brushed away
two big tears of resentment and hurt
pride that were trickling down his
flushed cheeks.
In the seclusion Of his bedroom he
brushed his rumpled hair and changed
his collar. then sat down to cool off
and think things over. He'd show
Mary IA. He dwelt for few min
utes on this agreeable thought. But
show her what? What was there to
show her? And supposing he could
think up something. would she consent
to be shown? His recent interview
with her, the mere thought of which
caused him to grow hot again. did
not furnish material for much hope of
exhibition. Mary, after all, held all
the high cards. His only chance, SO
to speak. was to lead through weak
ness up to strength. His pride, If
nothing else, told him that it would be
better than leaving the game unfin-
ished, even If he lost. His common
sense told him that. If he did not
finish it, he would have smaller hope
than ever of another game with Mary.
And he wanted to play with her. !.
Having reached this conclusion, of
which there was no possible doubt.
neither comfortably nor rapidly, he
decided to act upon it at once. He
fairly rushed to the orchard. Mary
was still reading.
"Look here. Mary" he burst out.
"Tm-I'm sorry FL acted as did
the night of Blanche's wedding. In
fact. Tm-I'm just as ashamed of it
as can be. I'd give anything if you'd
overlook it."
overlook It'll" famed Mary.
"That was the wrong word" floun-
dered Paul. II meant, of course.
want to ask you to-forgive me. To-
to be friends with me, if you won't be
anything else"
Anything elsel'
"Oh, of course, knew you wouldn't
be anything again after-after that |!
But l can't seem to say what I'm try
ing to. You know what / mean.
though. Please, Mary" and he held
out his hand.
The girl closed her book. rose, and
came toward him, looking at him with
that clear and direct gaze that was
so hard to meet. But, though he
flinched, he looked at her squarely.
Please" he said again. ~ never
would have done it if hadn't been
drunk"
She drew back little. you speak
as if that were an excuse" she said
evenly.
"Why of course it's an excused"
"Of course it isn't. 1t was-dis-
graceful, to do what you did, but it
was even more disgraceful to get into
a condition that would allow you to
do it."
Paul had honestly not considered
the matter in this light before.
well, l guess it was" he said,
flushing. 'I'll try not to get-into
such condition again. !, am sorry.
Honestly. l am. Won't you shake
hands with me and forgive me?"
II wouldn't touch you with ten
foot pole. certainly won't forgive
you. / believe you're sorry now, be-
cause you're having a horrid time.
But if I forgave you and you began to
have good time again, you would
forget all about being sorry and do
the same thing right over again."
Il wouldn't swear I wouldn't"
you're not going to have the chance.
must go in now and get supper"
"Well-won't you at least speak to
me when you see me and-and so on
as long as do behave%
eyes," said Mary over her shoulder.
"Pll do that, if you just happen to see
me. won't if you try to like this.
again."
And with this small concession.
Paul was obliged to be satisfied Or
rather, he strove to be satisfied and
was not. Mary was amazingly pretty,
prettier than Blanche, far and away
prettier than Rosalie King or any of
the girls who worked in the mill at
White Water. Why hadn't he noticed
that before? And she had pep
oceans of it! How could he possibly
have thought that she was tame? He
had not only acted like a fool, but like
a blackguard. He deserved his fate.
That was the last conclusion that
Paul reached and the effect that
it had upon him was more
SOLDERING than anything that had
happened to him in all his life.
He bowed under it, hurt and cowed
and little frightened. Then he pulled
himself together, still wincing. and
began to try to build together again.
a stone at time, the foundation for
that happiness which he had de-
stroyed.