The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-12-01
Nesbit paused and lighted another

Nesbit paused and lighted another
cigarette.
"There," he explained with delibera-
ton, "there was where she tested me
too high. l was too young to UNDER
stand. burst into tears and ran and
threw myself upon her. didn't know
what / had done, you see, that she
should be ashamed Of me. And seeing
what shock she had given me, she
was almost equally moved. Between
u.s.. I'm sure we made a scene which
told my father much that he had never
suspected about our mutual relations.
What he said was:
"T'n be In your debt, Lorraine, II
you'll explain why I'm being treated TO
these theatricalsr
knowing him as she did, that told
her that her most carefully guarded
secret was secret no longer.
Jasper at first her voice was 50
low that even I, standing within the
shelter Of her arm, could scarcely hear
1t, I am to blame equally with you.
But II you had talked to Claude and
Louis you could not fail to acknowl-
edge that we have neglected Stones
education. He must have tutors
II breathed a sigh of relief. It was
not sin that had committed which
had made her ashamed of me. / was
rejoicing too soon. Ny father was yet
to be heard from.
Tn glad that for once we are In
entire accord, Lorraine he said with
an oily sweetness that 1 hated and
dreaded. Knowing how you dote on
Stone (that was a lie; he. had never
suspected it before that hour), I have
hesitated to take any action In this
matter. Now / shall hesitate no
longer. Tomorrow morning shall
take him with me to England and put
him in school there
"For moment my mothers arm
across my shoulder frightened until It
felt like bar Of metal.
sand what about me? I ask you,
what about me? Do I not go with
your
"'My darling, you do not for a mo-
ment suppose that would expose you
to the discomfort of crossing at this
season? No. no. You will await my
return here like the dutiful wife all
know you are. Have no fear. shall
come back to you safe. and sound at
the first possible mement.'
eve two went the next morning.
leaving her behind, and I never saw
my mother again, alive or dead"
Involuntarily Smif reached out and
seized his hand.
"No. no." she cried. '1That would
be too cruel"
I'm trying to tell you things exact
ly as they happened" Nesbit assured
her grimly. "But that's little ahead
of my story. was prisoner in Eng
land with the scantiest Of pocket
money and no holidays. II my educa-
ton had previously been neglected, It
was made up for with a vengeance
once 1t was started. I didn't rebel.
My one idea was to be done with
schooling, since that was what was
keeping me from my mother.
"Maman's letters were my only COM
fort. l wrote regularly, of course, and
she did not suspect me Of neglecting
her; for finally received letter say
ing she had not heard from me In
three weeks; that my father said 1t
was only natural; that she must be
prepared to have me forget her; that
she knew me too well to fear It and,
alas, him too well not to realize that
he found amusement in playing on her
feelings. She suggested therefore that
I continue to write to her at the ap-
partement as usual. but, as often as I
could, should send an additional let
ter for her to the care of her hair
dresser. Naturally was overjoyed
to be able to write without the re-
straint imposed by my fathers CEN
sorship. My letters to the hairdresser's
were frequent and unreserved.
"And then maman's letters stopped.
One month passed. two months, three
months. / wrote to Toison. I even
wrote to my father. was wild with
anxiety and received no word from
anyone.
"Unable to bear the suspense, I
made up my mind to run away from
school, to get to France by hook or by
crook and find out the truth for myself,
and l think l should have succeeded
in my undertaking had not received
two letters that caused me to aban-
don the project.
Zone was from my mothers only
living relative, cousin. had never
seen him, but she had spoken of him
with affection. And. in despair, had
written to him also of my plight.
"His note was short:
"'Shall be with you almost as soon
as you get this. Never heard Of such
d-n sculduggery. Cousin john
"The other letter perceived at once
to be from my father. He said that
the reports from the school were all he
wished to hear Of me. was strange