The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-04-13

at the station. | was talking to Ben
Winters"
Did she tell you where she was 60
ing?" JAMES, fingers were twisting
together.
"She bought a ticket into town."
Great-uncle Charlie said.
Hugh said nothing at all.
might she. have gone somewhere
from there?" JAMES, chin quivered.
Cecilia is SO pretty. Somebody might
have" She could not finish the sem
tence. Uncle Charlie reached for her
hand, drew her to the arm of his
chair.
"There was an address" He
paused, fumbled through his pockets,
| drew out torn off envelope flap.
jamie gave a cry and then was very
still.
"C.V.S." Uncle Charlie read the
initials. He read the Washington ad-
Dress "Who is it?" he asked.
jamie did not answer. She looked
at Hugh.
Uncle Charlie looked at them both
and drew his own conclusions. A mis-
chievous sparkle danced in mis- bright
blue eyes. His voice, however, was
almost judicially grave.
| "Who is 1t, Janie?' he asked again.
'Tt-it's Carter Shelby, think"
"Hmmm :. I see." Great-uncle
Charlie saw great deal. SHELBY,
Ell? The chap Celia met at the shore.
Well, well, WELL" Each "Welr' was
an accusation. jamie felt that and so,
she thought. did Hugh.
"But Celia wouldn't" she faltered.
Cecilia wouldn't" She knew in her
heart that Celia would. She knew
that Celia would do anything to escape
from the Square. She wanted to say
1t. She couldn't, somehow. Hugh,
standing there In the doorway, was
looking at her so strangely.
An uncomfortable silence filled the
room. Presently 1t was broken by the
apologize Jingle Of the old-fashioned
| front door bell. JEFF went to investi-
gate. He returned with a telegram.
$50 Miss JAMIE" he announced.
"Miz CULLEN done open It already.
Johnny say hits fun Miss Celia"
JAMES fingers trembled as she drew
out the yellow sheet. She read the
message and an expression Of relief
| flashed into her eyes.
"Celia is at Aunt Lucy's," she said.
Maggie sent this. That's queer" she
added, as though she were thinking
| aloud.
"What's queer3" Great-uncle Charlie
| asked.
"Tt's queer that Celia would go to
Washington just to see Maggie. She
must have known that Aunt Lucy and
| Muriel were In Ashville. Muriel sent
me-" She paused abruptly. A pink
| flush stained her cheeks. She couldn't
| look up at Hugh. She watched her
fingers pleating the sheet Of yellow
| paper.
"Shes safe enough, anyway" Uncle
| Charlie said comfortably. "And now
that you're here, we might as well
have a party. Get out the card table,
JEFF. Wen have game Of fan-tan."
| II don't think we'd BETTER" jamie
objected, thinking that Hugh would
want to get away.
"Why not?" Hugh asked quickly.
"Mrs. CULLEN knows where to find me
if I'm needed. Come on, young fell
low, feel lucky tonight"
She knew that he didn't feel lucky.
She knew that he felt unhappy and
hurt. But she offered no further OBJ
| lection.
Uncle Charlie exerted himself to be
| especially entertaining. His good
humor was contagious. Hugh ap-
| peared to have not single worry or
care. jamie was soon laughing, too,
excited, interested In the game At
times, stealing quick glances at Hugh,
she saw that the brightness had faded
away from his eyes. Once or twice
she saw his jaw muscles knot into
Jumps and his lips close tight in
resolute line. Then her spirits dropped
and there was hurt in her heart be-
cause he was unhappy.
Great-uncle Charlie, too, watched
Hugh in sly darting glances.
"We shall see what we shall see,"
he said to himself. "The boy isn't en-
tirely fool"
II
Lets walk through the Square,"
Hugh suggested as Uncle Charles
door closed behind them and they
breathed in the fragrance Of the mild
| spring-scented night.
JAMIE gave murmur Of acquies-
cence. Hugh tucked her hand into the
curve Of his arm and held 1t there
with his hand. They walked slowly
| across the street into the Square and
under the leaf1ng locusts.
"Spring has lovely SMELL" JAMIE
| shifted ecstatically.
"Great," Hugh agreed and was
| silent again.