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

CuSe WHICH COulu De construed as SUI
ficiently reasonable to give him few
words with her.
She held the door half-open without
inviting him to enter as he made his
request, and the corners other mouth
twitched. He had the uncomfortable
feeling that she saw through him per-
fectly.
would you like the Autobiography
of Charles Francis AdamsY" she
asked.
He looked at her miserably. "You
know / couldn't make head nor tail
of it," he said. in the voice of pris-
oner at the bar who pleads for justice
though he knows he deserves no
mercy. "I'm not clever like you"
you're thorough. when you take the
trouble to be. Thoroughness helps In
reading"
"All right, give it to me-"
Mary vanished. leaving him on the
doorstep, closing the door behind her.
When she reappeared, she had an un-
formidable looking volume in her
hand.
"This is Rex Beach's Heart of the
Sunset" she said demurely. 1T took
me a little while to find it, but think
you may like it better If you decide
you want Charles Francis after all,
come back and get it,"
"Well. your cordial invitation is a
bride worth considering" retorted
Paul. Then. rather frightened at his
daring, he blushed scarlet. Neverthe-
less he looked straight at her, smiled,
and lifted his cap. Thanks very
much for this" he said. Good night"
Inevitably. few evenings later, he
brought the book back. having, to his
intense surprise, thoroughly enjoyed
it. Seth had gone to prayer meeting,
and Mary was putting the children TO
bed upstairs and did not hear his
knock. After hesitating minute, he
went into the living room. put the
volume down on the table, and began
to look at the others that were lying
upon it. He CHANGED on novel of
Zane Grey's. glanced down the first
two or three pages, and then. genu-
inely interested. sat down and began
to read. entirely forgetting his awk-
ward position as an unwelcome guest.
When Mary entered. half an hour
later, carrying huge mending basket
piled high with sewing, he started
guiltily to his feet and stammered his
excuses.
That's all right" said Mary. tram
gully. why don't you read aloud to
me while l sew"
do you honestly mean that?"
IF you would honestly like to-. You
might poke up the fire little before
you start in.'
1t was not until the tall clock in
the corner struck eleven that Mary
spoke or stirred Then she rose. gath
ering up her piles of neatly folded and
mended clothes
You must go home" she said. "It's
getting late. That's q good story.
isn't it?"
Zine! Could-could we have some
more tomorrow nlSht!
i've promised to go to White Wa
ter with the Taylors. There's going to
be concert"
"Well. the next night. then"
"That's Sunday. / generally go to
church Sunday evenings. now. Father
listens for the boys"
1.-THE service is over early"
"Yes, but Thomas walks home with
me and comes in for a little while.
You can come, too. of course, it you'd
enjoy it. but we couldn't read"
This did not sound especially at
tractive to Paul. Nevertheless. with
his newborn caution, and in his graft
tude for the unexpected favor he had
just received. he decided not to say so.
swell. perhaps will. And thanks
awfully for letting me stay tonight.
I've had fine time May l take the
book home with me?'
"Certainly-would you like a glass
of milk and a doughnut before you
go? made fresh ones today"
"Um-m-m! Would n"
They went into the kitchen, sat
down beside the table with the red
cloth on it, and talked over the story
as they ate. They did not agree as to
the probable outcome. A friendly ar
gument ensued. When Paul finally
got up and pushed back his chair, they
were both laughing. and Mary, with a
sudden gesture, snatched the book
from him.
"You shan't find out which of us is
right before l do" she exclaimed.
you had better come over Monday
night and read aloud some more.
promise not to look into it myself be-
fore then. Good night"
"Good night" said Paul, briefly and
happily. And held out his hand.
1t was not until Mary had put her
hand in his that she remembered her
statement of few weeks earlier about
ten-foot pole, though Paul had by no
means forgotten it, And when, grow
ing crimson. she tried to pull her
hand away. she found she could not.
Good night" he said again. pleas
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