The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-21

with poor Miss Mona because she
works out in her beloved garden and
then she'll be as disagreeable as pos
sible because some trifling household
task has been neglected.
"How she ever. strayed into this
charming family is mystery. She
must have been changed in her cradle.
| Miss Mona is too sweet to be true, the
old man is mine of interesting in
formation, Cary, barring little nat
ural foolishness, is one of the incest
young chaps I've ever met Even the
Tenny child is adorable.
"But Cynthia!
"All I can say is that now, nearly
a month after meeting her, l am no
nearer liking her than I was that first
highland that's saying great deal
for me- I'm usually pretty fond of my
fellow humans!'
He found no occasion to change his
opinion of Cynthia in the days that
followed. Rather did his disapproval
and dislike grow. She was a bully,
he told himself; a small, rather at
tractive, youthful bully, but none the
less bully. 1t seemed to Geoff that
she found her sole happiness in life in
discovering what gave her family
pleasure and then frustrating their
pursuit Of it.
If Miss Mona announced she was
going shopping the next day, Cynthia
was sure to persuade her mother to
wait until she herself could accom-
pany her. Geoff more than once
boiled inwardly at the look Of hurt dis
appointment in Miss Nona's face on
these occasions.
The girls cupidity repealed him
strongly. Several times he had heard
her in the kitchen taking Marguerite
to task for some trifling extravaganza.
Geoff began to take quiet pleasure
in setting himself against Cynthia. He
invited the Captain into his room after
dinner where the smoke from his
cigars was lost in that of his own
cigarettes Cynthia could scarcely in
wade the boarder's room with her
edicts and ultimatums, he thought.
When Cary presently lost his job
again, Geoff threw himself heartily
into conspiracy of silence against
Cynthia helped the boy find another
position and smiled with triumph when
Cary made airy announcement Of the
change.
He carried Miss Mona off boldly one
Sunday morning and kept her all day
without telephoning Cynthia. meeting
the white-faced daughter who rushed
frantically out to greet them, with his
mothers favorite lift of eyebrow. sit
never occurred to me that it was neces-
sary for her to announce her plans in
advance" he commented.
Cary was his devoted friend, the
Captain liked him heartily, Miss Mona
made no secret Of her affection for
him, Marguerite showed her back teeth
in vast grin when Geoff tipped her
lavishly. Only Tenny held aloof.
1t surprised Geoff to find how whole
heartedly the child adored Cynthia.
Miss Mona gave her the tenderest care.
Captain Cary was never too busy to
take her on his lap and read to her
Cary played with her almost as though
he were her own age. She accepted
Ge0ff's own overtures with shy pleas
ure. But it was to Cynthia that she
gave all her love.
Cynthia never petted her, seldom
played with her or told her stories.
She held Tenny to strict accounting
of her day. Had she hung up her own
nightgown and aired her bed? Had
she taken her cod liver Oil after each
meal?
Tenny would nod in passionate as
sent to these questions. She hung
about the gate in the evening, strain
ing her eyes in the dusk for the first
sight of Cynthia. When the slender
figure appeared. walking somewhat
YEARLY these autumn nights. the child
would slip hand In the older girls
and stick to her like little burr till
bedtime came. Once or twice Geoff
had seen Cynthia lean her head against
Tenny's little shoulder, and the radi-
ance in the child's face was like
burst of sunshine.
"Come here, Tenny," Geoff said one
evening. holding out his hand to her.
"Your face has looked like little
thundercloud all evening. What's the
matterr
She came. not unwillingly, but with
no Tightening of the gloom which en-
veloped her.
81 don't like Cynthia to work SO
hard" she said. Her head ached this
morning. know it did, And now
she's telephoned she can't get home
before 1 go to bed"
sits shame, darling" Miss Mona
said. 'Tm worrying about Cynthia,
too. She's working far too hard"
"Stuff and nonsense-her running that
shop at ALL" the Captain said testify.
"You should put your foot down,
Mona"
Miss Mona shook her head. "You
know can't do anything with her,
Eofhorf lVo'vo both toll-aH 20 ~.