The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-03
CHAPTER X-Continued
wNU Services
Copyright by Frances Parkinson Reyes
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boys, seeing ii at his age for the hrSt
time. Nothing thrilled him at all. The
vivid memory of the touch of Mary's
lips, the thrill of that frosty kiss, still
Obliterated every other emotion. He
finally went to the department store
where he knew Rosalie King worked.
and sought her out. She was not very
cordial to him. Girls, Paul reflected.
had inconveniently long memories for
fellows shortcomings. But when
he gave voice to his lonesomeness and
depression. she warmed to him at
once. Paul was by no means the only
person whom Sylvia had sized up cor
rectly.
Business was little dull that morn
ing. Paul leaned over the counter
and told his story, with the conspicu-
GUS omission of some of the most
important parts. He told enough. how
ever, for Rosalie to guess good deal
more and what she guessed moved her
not a little. When he finished, she
needed to repowder her nose.
"Why don't you pick out something
swell to take home to herr" she asked.
''She likes blue, don't she? ! got
bracelet here, with sapphires in it.
that's classy down to the ground"
Paul bought the bracelet, but he
reflected. The houses at Lady
Blanche farm, like most of those in
Hamstead during the last decade, had
been equipped with bathrooms and
furnaces and when at the time of
Blanche's wedding, Violet had put cleo
trio lights in hers, Seth and Jane had
done the same. But they had no set
tubs, no electrical labor-saving de-
vices, no elaborate shortcuts to COM
fort and leisure. Paul began to won
der If he would not have done better
to buy an electric washing machine
and vacuum cleaner than sapphire
bracelet. He asked Rosalie what she
thought.
Couldn't you get her both?"
"I'm afraid not, just now" he said
regretfully.
The next day Austin sailed. and
Paul was free to go home again.
It was late in the evening when,
after long, cold journey, he reached
the Hamstead station. Seth was wait
ing for him in the sleigh, and they
were soon jingling along through
heavy snow down the road to Lady
Blanche farm.
How still it was, how cold and
white! How clean and open and
friendly! Paul wondered that he had
ever, for one single instant, imagined
that he would prefer to live in city.
in that dreadful strangeness, that
hurry and dirt and noise! Not that
seeing New York hadn't been a won
derful experience, of course. But 1t
was much more wonderful getting
home after 1t, and it was going to be
most wonderful of all telling Mary
what he had seen, what he had felt.
what he had Misunderstanding the
light in the steady gray eyes, the ex-
preston on the changing mouth. And
perhaps now-Of course 1t wouldn't do
to force the issue, even now, but per-
haps-
as it too late to see Mary tonight?"
ne asked suddenly, feeling in his
pocket to see If the sapphire bracelet
was surely safe.
"Geddap. King" said Seth, address
ing the wholly unregal creature that
was taking them on their way. "What
ails you. Paul;~ain't you ben listenin'
to what ben sayin' to you these last
five minutes?"
mo" said Paul breathlessly. IL
was thinking. She-she isn't sick, is
she?"
WELL" said Seth slowly, II guess
she's ben sick-ailin'. anyway-for
some time. longer'n we realized. She's
worked real hard ever since her moth
er died. Mary amt one to shirk, of
course. and not bein experienced 1t
made 1t harder for her. Then she was
considerable upset over that trouble
you and she had in the summer. And
she took Sylvia's death good deal to
heart. Mary don't say much, and
never saw her cry or git nervous like
Your ma. But you remember she
tainted dead away one time just after
Algy begun to get better-sorter
dropped in her tracks? She seemed
to perk up again round Christmas, but
DANCED If she didn't keel right over
again the day after you left for Moo
York. Now she's gone"
"Gone!" echoed Paul. an icy terror
clutching at his heart. 'You mean
she's dead?"
mo. she amt dead! Land, Paul,
you must be gettin' nervous yourself.
Geddap. King. She's gone to Boston.
10 visit that friend of hers. Hannah
Adams. that's been teasin' her to come
for SO long. Moses and Algy and l
hev moved over to James to stay until
she gets hack. kinder think that's
what we oughter hev done In the first
place, after Laura died, until Mary
had finished her schoolin' and got her
growth and strength. Jane says she
don't see how Mary ever done so much