The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-04-28

abruptly for she had risen and
crossed the room to him, put one hand
on his arm.
"Geoff, you're not to say one word
to them! You've got to promise me
you won't, do you hear? I'm all
right" She slipped her hand down
his arm till she touched his hand,
pressed it urgently. Promise! Prom
Use you'll not speak to Miss Mona"
"But good heavens, child! She's
your mother-she has right to know.
Anyhow, what's the use of being so
foolish-ruining your health by stick
ing to that dinky shop? Suppose you
do little promising" he went on.
promise me you'll take a vacation
yourself"
She sighed. "Out of the question
just now-both of them"
"Then think" he averred, 'I'd bet
ter just see Miss Mona"
Her. blue eyes blazed. "What's my
health to you, Geoff Ensloe? After
diA, yOu nave uO right " AAtCALCAS
with my private affairs"
"Rot," he said inelegantly. II have
the right of friend"
"Friend? You're no friend Of mine !"
'I'll say Pm not" he answered with
grimness. Anything less friendly
than your attitude toward me I've
never encountered. But I'm a friend
Of your family-you're my mothers
goddaughter-"
Swiftly her face underwent an en-
tire transformation. Her smile
Geoff admitted Cynthia had lovely
smile when she uses 1t, which is darn
seldom FLASHED, her eyes softened.
"Then promise for their sakes! You
must have seen that Miss Mona is not
strong. l don't want her worried"
81 suppose she won't worry If You
fall I'LL"
She walked to the window and stood
looking out into the garden.
"Geoff, listen to me-" she said after
while. She spoke seriously, as
though sure of his understanding. I'm
not very WE'LL admit that. I'm go
ing to get Elsie back just as soon as
it's possible. 1 can't sell the shop.
For one thing, there's no one who
would buy it just now. II promise
to spare myself as much as possible
if 1 come home and rest-will you /.
not say anything to Miss Nona?"
He moved uncomfortably. There
had been hint of tears in her voice
just at the end. Why was she so de-
termined to keep her mother in ignor-
ance Of her fatigue? Why did she
hang on like grim death to that id
shop?
"Please, Geoff?"
ats not my business, as you just
pointed out" he said sharply
She shrugged, left the darkened
window, walked out of the room.
For the next few days she made q
special effort to appear cheerful and
rested. She spent her evenings down
in the old parlor with the rest of them
instead of shutting herself upstairs
with her accounts. Geoff alone knew
that she paid for these hours of leisure
by other hours stolen from sleep. He
walked several times and saw crack
of light beneath her door across the
hall.
"Why l don't put her out of my
mind and let her take the consequences
of her own foolishness, or break my
promise to her and call Miss Nona'S
attention to the condition she's in,
don't know" he wrote his mother.
1.-THE girl haunts me, somehow. She is
so plainly worried about something.
Sometimes I think she's got herself
into some kind of trouble in the shop
borrowed money she can't pay, or
something like that. When she's OFF
guard there's a look of misery that
oughtn't to be on any young girls
face. What about writing her to come
and pay you a visit? Perhaps you
could advise her-Lord knows can't!"
To which Mrs. Ensloe replied:
"rm writing Cynthia as you suggest
and inviting her to come on to New
York for the winter. Yes, for the
whole winter! know that surprises
you but all you tell me Of the girl i'm.
presses me rather favorably. Being a
woman, and the sort Of woman / am.
I can easily understand why Cynthia
might not enjoy homelife in the Cary
household.
Don't as you value your own safety,
mention to her that 1t was you who
inspired my invitation. She would re-
sent that beyond everything. Let my
letter speak for ITSELF"
He watched Cynthia with interest
the morning she opened his mothers
letter. Would she read 1t aloud?
Would she express natural girlish
delight? Would she make immediate
plans to leave for New York?
She did none of these things. She,
merely put the folded sheet back in it's
envelope and went on with her break
fast. Neither then nor at later time
did she mention his mothers invita-
ton to Geoff.