The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-02-17
CHAPTER 1X-continued

CHAPTER 1A-COntlnued
10
Violet, having fixed a date for her
visit with Blanche, decided to go to
New York for a few days shopping
first. She had no intention, she said,
with a slight tlutter of nerves." when
Paul, who had been giving some pain
full attention to the subject, pointed
out to her that the state of their
finances was still low after his sis
ter's wedding and that such trips and
shopping we're expensive, of looking
.sscountrified" when she first went to
stay at her new son-in-law's home, and
to meet her daughters new friends.
IF you had shown any consideration
of me at all, we wouldn't have been
so straitened" she sobbed.
.'Why. never urged you to spend
all that money"
Don't argue with me! You know
1t always prostrates me to have ivul-
gar quarrels going on. AS If this
wretched affair with Mary hadn't end
ed every hope of our having her
money! And then you try to put the
blame on me and accuse me Of"
"Well. I've played Mary, so many
dirty. mean tricks that suppose it's
natural you should think I'd use her
money to pay our silly debts. prob
ably would have-the way things were
going. But haven't accused you of
anything. ! only said"
"Oh, know what you said, but it
makes all the difference how a thing
is said. and the meaning back of the
saying counts still more! suppose
you'll refuse to drive me to the mid
night train. next"
Paul did not. of course refuse to do
anything of the sort To tell the truth,
he was almost glad to see his mother
go. Her Incidence, her extravaganza,
her selfishness, seemed so appalling
to him just then, that he found them
increasingly difficult to live with, and
none the less so because he thought
he saw all these qualities reflected
and magnified in his own character.
1t was also becoming clear to him that
he must either earn more-or rather
earn something-or spend less, if they
were to get out of debt. and that he
could put considerable time to ad-
vantage in figuring out how he was to
do this. He began his reflections in
this direction on his way home after
taking her to the station. An un-
usually heavy snow storm had obliged
him to drive the old family horse, in
stead of using the new motor, and 1t
was two o'clock in the morning when
he reached home. There was, he hap
pened to notice, light in Mary's
room. When he had put the horse up
and was going from the barn to the
house, he saw that it was still burn
ing, and heard her voice at the tele-
phone through an open window. Seth
and Jane were both away. he knew,
attending a Sunday school convention.
Mary was therefore alone with the
two little boys. and something was
&C ,tainly wrong. He went up close
to the house and called.
MARY! Mary! Is anything the mat
ter? Can I help?"
He was more frightened than before
at the agonized voice that answered
him.
"yes- YES-Oh, thank God you've
comet"
He pushed open the front door and
bounded up the stairs. Mary was
bending over the bed. And on the
bed lay Algy, gasping and writhing,
and then lying deathly still.
.He's got commissions" Mary man.
aged to say in a stifled voice. II
can't leave him a second. He might
choke to death IL did"
"What am to do first?"
"Start the kitchen fire. Wen get
him into hot bath"
Paul vanished without another word.
in an incredibly short time, he was
back again
"What next?"
"See if you can get hold Of doc
tor. tried, but Central was so slow
in answering l didn't dare Oh
Oh" for the livid child was choking
again.
There was no resident physician at
the little cottage hospital. Doctor