The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-31
CHAPTER XIv-Continued

IL
Eyes, she Is real peculiar. Her
mother was the same. She'd go a
long time without hardly openin' her
head, Laura Mannin' would. and then
she'd up and take the bit in her teeth
like when she named Algy. and sent
Mary off to school. I've always
thought Mary some like her mother.
but the menfolks do seem to like her
they never show much sense in their
selections. Why. never had an offer
till was most thirtyi-Blanche don't
seem to pindle none. does she?"
me. she's actually gained since she's
been nursing the baby. and she said
the other day she'd never be happier
in her life. can't see what ails the
girls in this generation. Rosalie King
has come to visit Mrs. Weston again,
and can't see that she's changed at
all. She doesn't even wear crepe
just plain black-and she says she
should worry. that she's hung on to
her old job and got raise at that
and that although she can't always
buy the very latest to wear. she's
got long way from September
morn'-whatever she means by that!
One of her usual vulgar expressions!
And yet Mrs. Weston says she knows
Rosalie thought the world of that
man she married. She can't have,
that's all-not in the way woman
- ,ool ro6popoapt would hove 90 rod
Why. after Martin died, l refused all
nOurishment-except what was abso-
lutely necessary. of course. to keep up
my strength-and lay in dark room
for weeks and never dreamed of stir
ring out, even after that. except to
go to church and to the cemetery. My
heart was buried in the grave. I'm
afraid Mary has been putting some Of
her queer ideas into Blanche's head.
for when asked her little while ago
II hers wasn't. she said no indeed. 1t
was all with Phillip"
"Land! Where does she think
Philip is?"
"She said in Heaven. And that
Heaven was anywhere, if you could
only see it."
Mrs. Elliott arose, and folded her
work. "Them kind of notions give me
the creeps." she said uneasily. II
must be goin'."
Mary was sitting on top of Countess
hill. her chin resting on her hands.
looking out over the meadows. She
sat very still. watching the chang
ing light. Without understanding
why, and in spite of all her grief and
WEAKNESS. she felt that one of the
great hours of her life had come. The
beauty and peace and promise of the
country suddenly seemed to overcome
her as no inanimate things had ever
overcome her before. She felt. like an
actual presence. the spirit of her puri-
tan forefathers who had turned this
valley from wilderness into gar
den, who had lived their simple faith
as truly as they had professed it, who
had fought and died. when necessary.
for an ideal She turned her head,
half expecting to glimpse some heaven
ly vision, trembling But there was
nothing to be heard, nothing to be
seen, only something wonderful to be
felt. She bowed her head and prayed.
1t was a long time before she lifted
1T again. When she did. Paul. bare
headed. dressed in khaki, was stand
ing beside her.
She sprang to her feet. shaking all
over, entirely unable to speak. He
was taller. thinner. paler. infinitely
older and graver. all the bloom and
softness of his boyish beauty had gone.
For a moment she thought-it must
be- She shut her eyes, swaying and
crying aloud. as she felt herself fall
ing. Then suddenly she was upheld
by strong arm, swung quickly
around her shoulder. firm hand TAX
ing both her trembling ones in warm
and steady grasp.
"There, there" Paul was saying, as
If he had been speaking to a little
child. and patting her arm as he
spoke. Its all right. didn't mean
to brighten you like this. Don't, Mary.
Don't cry so. Why, there is nothing
to cry about! I'm all right. I'm
herel
"Can't we sit down and talk?" he
!. asked, and drew her down beside him
on the big rock. still holding her hand.
Then seeing how utterly impossible 1t
was for her to speak. he went on, 81
got in on the four o'clock and walked
straight up to the farm. didn't let
mother know | was coming. for
thought. if did. she'd have the min
lister, or a delegation from the d. A.
II. or the Wallacetown band or maybe
all three, at the station to meet me-
1t never occurred to me that none of
my letters from the other side telling
her in general way when to expect
me. would have reached her."
"Tell me-" said Mary. finding her
voice at last.
"There isn't much to tell You know
what happened up to the time was
h.