The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-12
CHAPTER XII

themselves they had agreed that her
purchase Of the plantation was unim-
portant, since If she made the sort of
marriage they meant she should, she
would be in a position to indulge her
sentiment for the old home of her
family and have other more suitable
establishments elsewhere as well.
AS usual, Sniff understood them per-
fectly; but it suited her to be freed
from nagging arguments while she
brought her plans to completion. Doc
tor Blanton's ready acqufescence in
her arrangements came as complete
surprise, however; until, of sudden,
she suspected that he was about to
propose another occupation for her.
In a panic, she hurried her prepare
lions and left for the South without
the formality of good-bys. Once she
was settled, she would write to every
body. Meanwhile she was annoyed
that she heard nothing from Bill-Lee.
lie must realize her eagerness to have
the preliminaries definitely over. She
yGid not know exactly when Stones
tenancy terminated but had vague
plans that might enable her to assume
possession of her property almost at
once. She was sure that Stone at
lease would understand and sympa-
thize 18th her desire to own the home
of Dor fathers however disappointing
it oos to him personally. But what
could Bill-Lee be doing to prevent his
acknowledging her letter?
So far, she had told Stone nothing,
although her plans were more or less
elaborate, including first his reconcilia-
ing him a desirable plantation near
enough to Lovelylea to permit of his
continued use of the track and other
improvements he had installed on its
acres. Before she saw him, she pro-
posed to clear up the entire situation
as regards the Hoxton Hunt club.
With this in mind, she went directly
to Culthorpe, the home of her cousin,
Christopher Culpeper. Both he and
his wife were delighted that Sniff had
elected to stay with them out of the
large numbNy of relations she had to
choose from.
"Who was it told us Sniff was not
in the least good-looking?" Cousin
Kit asked his wife as they stood side
by side at window and watched her
shepherding along the drive toward
the house their son Jeff's twins, fugi-
tiyes with their grandparents from
whooping- cough among their brothers
and sisters.
"Cally Peters Oldest girl, the one
who came from New York with her
cheeks painted white and her mouth
painted purple, and vowed that make
up was all the rage in the North"
Cousin Nab replied. II never believed
her. All the Lovelys were handsome"
'sSmif's a picture" her husband
roared so loudly that she heard her
name, looked up and waved her hand
to them. "Why some man hasn't
snapped her up before this beats me.
In my day she'd not have been single
this long"
LSmif soon decided that she was
: Asiently established in the favor Of
|amily to advance the cause she
at heart. She came in and sank
a chaig laughing.
Rlame anS sir" she said with
ar buckle, "yApr grandchildren are
ado e but exhausting. have re-
turl Them to Nanny unchanged, al
tho was touch and go. They al
mos WINGED me that the two colts
N ear pasture were their prop
erty and ought to be exercised"
'Ihe little DEVILS" said their grand
father pridefully.
"Haye you looked through the cards
Of the people who called yesterday
while we were at your Aunt Fanny
Maqison's? Cousin Nab asked
SAif accepted this as her chance.
"Yes," she said, "and that reminds
me: Don't you think 1t strange that
Stone Nesbit hasn't called? After all,
he Is occupying Lovelylea and want
to Zee the old place again."
he had looked for an explosion from
Co@sin KIT. None came.
Instead he scratched his forehead
COZ templatively.
CORY, Smif," he muttered a trifie
alphabetically, "rm mighty sorry to dis
appoint you-all I'm afraid that can't
be managed. You see, Mr.. Nesbit long
ago made up his mind that he would
have nothing to do with any Of u.s."
snow what do you mean by that?"
Smif demanded, instantly on the alert
at this placing of the blame on Stones
shoulders.
WELL" Cousin Nab cut in briskly.
1T boils down to this: The young
man came here from God knows where,
and brought pack Of hounds"
$50 the members of the Hoxton
Hunt got sore" Cousin Kit interrupt
ed, "and ever since then their wives
and daughters have been throwing 1t
up to them that they made mess Of q
very simple business"
'sAnd so you did," Cousin Nab de-
clared without animus. II grant you