The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-02-02
Part One
CHAPTER +

~SAeOA Va thO OAooAOs AA~AA 49, '~~
were rough and heart-shaped and
when it was ripe the purple fruit
dropped Of its own accord into the
grass. The :"
"Janie |"
That was Mother calling from down.
stairs. JAMIE sat very still and al
most held her breath. If she didn't
answer, perhaps Mother would think
she had gone out somewhere. She
smiled, thinking how, at nineteen, the
subterfuges of her childhood still
chung. Silencel No sound but the
wind in the locusts and hand-organ
playing in the Square my
wild Irish rose, The sweetest flower
that grows" No sound from
Mother. JAMIE drew a long deep
breath and dipped her pen in the Ink
well.
"The mulberry trees were very old.
There was legend about them. One
of the early settlers, certain Sir
Godfrey Ballard, from whom our fam
lily is descended
That sounded like Dragging. II 1t
was accepted, Professor Vail might
read it aloud to the class. Every one
would think she was putting on airs.
jamie drew her pen through the clause
and continued.
brought them from his English
garden to grow in the virgin soil OF
New Kingston, then tiny settlement
on the banks of the Delaware"
JAMES eyes, hazel eyes, spaced wide
apart under brows like slender wings,
lifted from the theme" strayed out
through the window and down into
the Square. Little girls were playing
house under the mulberry trees as she
and Celia and Muriel had played there
a very long time ago. jamie and Celia
and Muriel Cleaner than the
little girls who played there now.
Starched white petticoats, sashes.
slippers tied with bows. Muriel's gov
erness watching them from a nearby
bench. Joseph bringing the pony cart.
jamie and Celia and Muriel. Sailing
boats in the fountain :.
"Janie!"
Mother again. Another interval Of
waiting. Another long sigh of relief.
JAMES attention returned to the
"theme."
ut is said" She crossed that out
and substituted-"Sir Godfrey Ballard,
50 runs the legend, grew them from
cuttings taken from mulberry tree
in Shakespeare's garden at Stratford."
There. That should make an impress
sion on Professor Vail. Perhaps 1t
was true.
How fragrant the locust blossoms
were! Like lilies on Easter Sunday.
1t must be dull for Celia at the shore
with Great-aunt Rose. Lovely to
smell the ocean, though and watch the
waves curve up in scallops on the
sand. Lilies made you think of Celia
White and gold. Little Saint Ce-
CELLAR Rats!
"JANIEw
Very loud this time. Coming closer.
Footsteps climbing the third floor
stairs jamie began to scribble with
furious haste "Rats-Rats--
Rats. Three blind mice. See how they
rum !. Shingled brown head bent
over the table. Jaws set Forehead
wrinkled into a frown. Ink on her
nose and her fingertlps. A lady alb
sorbed In literary efforts and lost to
fba world outGide.
Mother opened the door.
"Janie!" she said reproachfully.
~I've called you half dozen times.
What in the world are you doing?"
"Writing q theme. If it's good
enough, / may get into Professor Walls
short-story class next year."
"That's splendid, dear" The re-
proach changed into enthusiasm.
Mother wanted jamie to write. Since
she wasn't pretty like Celia, she had
to do something Of the kind. what
Is the TOPPER" Mother was beaming.
"What are you writing about?'
"The Square"
swell for Heavens sake!" Mother
no longer was beaming. Il should
think you could find more interest
ing subject than that"
Janie's enthusiasm wilted like a
pricked balloon. You couldn't make
Mother understand. She hated the
Square now that everybody who mat
tered at all had moved out to Manor
street and Delaware Heights. Wen.
Father would understand. jamie
frightened little. She would tell
him about 1t tonight -.
..Going somewhere7" she asked, no
'ticing that Mother wore her second
best hat with roses around the brIm.
II want to get the material for
Celia's Dress Mother was drawing
on white silk gloves a little yellowed
from washing. 1.-THE sample was in
her letter. That's why called you
Do you know where it Isl"
s.Here; think" jamie pulled open
the drawer of her writing table, Yes.
there it was. Celia's dainty nandwrit-
ing on a hotel envelope ~ Haddon
Hall That was pretty name