The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-04-06

The last timel she thought as she
walked down the wide polished stairs.
She worked up feeling Of sentiment
for the old brick house. She sue
eeeded very well. There were tears
on her lashes when she closed the
front door.
The last timel She broke leaf
from one of the mulberry trees and
crushed 1t In her hand. 1t made a
stain on her pale gray gloves. She
dropped 1t Indignantly.
Great-uncle Charlie was standing be-
side the ticket window In the station.
'sLittle trip, Celia?' he asked, sweep
ing Off with a gallant gesture his
dilapidated felt hat.
I'm going to town." She wished
that he wouldn't make her so con-
spicuous. People were smiling. Uncle
Charlie was dreadful old man. She
opened her bag. The flap from the
gray envelope fluttered down to the
floor. She did not notice 1t. She
asked for ticket to Philadelphia.
The train was rumbling into the
station.
Great-uncle Charlie saw the flap Of
the gray envelope. He picked 1t up.
Because it matched Celia's costume,
he thought that she might have
dropped it. It didn't look important.
He slipped 1t into his pocket and
thought nothing more about it.
Celia walked confidently through
the Washington station. People
turned to look after her. It gave her
a feeling Of power.
| "What beautiful grip she heard
voice exclaim.
SIS it Marilyn Millerr a younger
voice asked in thrilling whisper.
The pleased dreamy expression
crept into Celia's eyes. She smiled
family. Her manner was detached.
Inside she was slmmering with ex-
element. If you were beautiful, you
could take what you wanted from life.
She discovered that the flap from
Carriers gray envelope was not In
her bag. 1t didn't matter very much.
She consulted the telephone directory.
There was his name. Carter Valentine
Shelby Mrs. Carter Shelby.
The Charleston Shelbys, of course.
Lovely little thing Her fingers
trembled as she dropped nickel into
the telephone slot. The moment of
waiting seemed very long. A voice
at last. Carriers voice, low and thrill
ing. His South Carolina accent.
-'This is Celia, Carter" She steadied
her voice with an effort.
"Who?"
Cecilia" She was annoyed. He
should have recognized her voice.
'Oh :" Only that. A moment
Of hesitation. Celia felt that her
knees were growing weak.
Il just thought I'd call you," she
said. II happened to be in town. Can
you meet me somewhereW
"Im leaving at midnight" Another
hesitation. "But wait I'll meet
you." He named a hotel. Celia's
knees were steady again. He would
meet her in half an hour.
1t was a rather shabby hotel in an
undistinguished street. When she had
paid the taxi-driver, there was very
little money left in her dainty suede
bag. She sat in chair In the lobby
and was annoyed with Carter. Surely,
she thought, he might have suggested
a more glamorous meeting place. For
the first time a devil Of doubt scam
pered through her mind. A man
across the lobby was staring at her adj
miringly. The devil of doubt scam
pered away. She was confident again.
The moments dragged by. She
glanced up expectantly with every
whirl of the revolving door. At last
she saw him, tall and graceful and
dark, hurrying to meet her, making all
the other men in the lobby look thick
and dull and uninteresting.
"Celial" He was smiling down at
ncr, uOtutuS UOtu VI uCA Aduu0s WAS
there a hint Of apprehension in his
eyes? She preferred to think there
was not.
"It's lovely to see you, Carter"
The silver harp strings were singing.
"When did you arrived"
eat seven"
"Have you had dinner?"
mo" She was hungry. She hadn't
thought Of it before.
The dining room was dingy. Carter
gave an order. Celia removed her
gloves, rested her elbows on the table,
her chin on her folded hands. She
smiled at Carter through pink blur
Of light. He was looking at her hands.
"You haven't" He paused. She
knew that he mad missed her engage
ment ring.
'I've been very unhappy" she said
plaintively. II found had made
mistake"