The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-19

In Bill-Lee's unmistakable handwriting.
She picked 1t up with an exclama-
ton Of pleasure-now she could at
last be content. No alien would reign
In her beloved home. Ripping 1t open,
she drew out the contents.
The letter 1t held was short and an
enclosure within 1t futtered to the
floor to lie there disregarded while
she read:
Dear old Smif: On thinking it
over, feel sure it is generosity to me
that has urged you on to buy the old
place. Anyhow, don't approve of
your living there alone, 80 forget 1t as
I have. 1t was silly plan, and 1 was
a fool to encourage it. I've sold Love-
| lylea for good fat figure, so it's over
and done with for both of us. I'll
have enough now to play polo like a
| gentleman. Perhaps some day I'll
come north with Chileno team TO
show New York the game
There was little more but she did
rot read it, sitting for a moment as
if she had turned to bronze. Then
she mechanically accepted the slip Of
| yellow paper that DAILY had picked up
from the floor and presented to her.
1t was check for the amount
which, at his request, she had ad-
vanced Bill-Lee, to be applied on the
| purchase price Of the plantation.
Legally, should she refuse to accept it,
| she might be able to enforce her claim
at the cost of informing the world
that her brother had broken faith.
That she would never do. Her decision
was made on the instant.
With murmur Of letters to write
before the party set out, she rose and
left the room.
Pam was occupied with Paddy
Miles; Susan was watching her daugh-
ter's happy expression with tender I'M
| derstanding. Her Charlie might not
| be romantic figure but she had mar
ried him for love not for money. Most
of the others were trying to follow
| Stones finger as he traced their route
of the day on a map he had spread
| on the table. Only Eve Goodhue saw
SHIFTS face and half rose as If to ac-
company her, then sank back In her
chair, fearful Of intrusion. There was
no doubt in her mind that Smif had
| suffered blow of some sort, and this
impression was confirmed little later
when one of the maids came with a
message that Miss Lovely had head
ache and was lying down. She would
not attempt the long ride with them,
and hoped they would make the neces-
sary apologies and explanations to
Mrs. Gracey.
! "She must be feeling very bad"
Susan said, rising. 'I'll go up"
"Let me, mother" Pam begged,
"pleasel 1 want to see her for just a
minute. I'll find out If she ought to
have Doctor"
1--WE can both go"
II wouldn't" Eve spoke deprecat-
ingly. Headaches get better if one is
very quiet. I had one once, so
| know
There was something in the way
| this was said that caused Susan to
| sink back in her chair. Eve Goodhue
was very definite personality.
''very well, Pam, you CO." she con-
sented, "and don't stay long"
"Only a minute, mother" Pam
| passed out, giving her mother a friend
ly pat as she went by.
Outside Smif's door she knocked
| lightly. Smif had expected this She
knew some one must come to inquire
| IL anything could be done for her, but
she longed passionately for their de-
parture. She wanted to be alone at
Lovelylea to take her farewell Of all
that she had loved through an absence
that would have weakened the tie to
any save faithful heart.
| "Come in!" she called cheerily
enough. She had herself well in hand.
Pam peeped in cautiously as If she
expected some serious manifestation
of an Illness that had laid low so
stout a soul.
SIS your head very bad, Smif dar-
lingo" she inquired
"Not at ALL" Sniff replied promptly
"My head is polite prevarication. It's
something inside me that's dropped a
stitch. / know the Box Hall cook and
| feel that discretion is the better part
| of valor for the present, SO I'm going
to stay-here," she had been about to
say "home.' only stopping herself in
time. Loyelylea was home no longer.
| Not when Miss Mercedes was to be its
mistress. Sniff had jumped at once to
the conclusion that Bill-Lee had sold
to Stone. keep the others away,
Pam. that's a good scout. I do feel
peculiarly rotten. but I'll be all right
| by the time you get back"
Pam halted for an instant on the
way to the door. then returned with a
soft little rush and slipped to her
knees by the side of the couch.
IT don't want to bother you, Sniff
dear, but there's something / want to
fall xvnr, ovnn hnfnrn I foil fa thor and