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

the DOX OF the Culpeper VlctOrla.
Stone was amazed and somewhat
distrustful on receipt of Mrs. Gull
papers message, yet to his mind he
had no alternative. He must accept
an invitation coming from an elderly
lady. The more he dwelt on the
thought the more distasteful it be-
came to him but go he must.
He need have had no apprehension
Of stiffness or social strain. Mabel
Culpeper was born a Todhunter of
Charleston. and the graceful manage
ment of men was part of her heritage.
She met him as If he were an old
friend and shortly they felt entirely
at home together.
Tea was brought and with 1t came the
twins, hand In hand on their best be-
havior, at least until the cakes were
consumed.
"This is a party!" Patsy announced.
Il always know it is party when
see those little black cakes"
Certainly it's party" her grand
mother agreed "It's your Cousin
OIOuc COulIS OuL party.
Stone started and made no attempt
to conceal it, looking to her for an
explanation.
i "That is the only complaint have
to make of you, Stone" she said easily.
''Down here blood is still thicker than
water. You must have known that
Lorraine Lovely and my mothers
mother were cousins"
"But-but l didn't" Stone STAN
mered, bewildered. II had no idea Of
such thing"
"Then I forgive you" Mrs. Gull
pepper was benignity itself as she fired
her next shot. "Of course you will
have to make your peace with your
Cousin Kit when you see him. He had
set his heart on your joining the Hox-
ton Hunt when they invited you"
invited mel" Stone cried. "That's
the very first ever heard Of it!'
"Well, dear boy" Mabel Culpeper
had disarming smile, "you will own
that letters can't be expected to talk,
and If you send them back unopened"
She looked at him and saw that it was
unnecessary to say more.
$50 that was the letter returned.
What little fool 1 must have seemed"
"Not a fool-only a spirited boy.
assure you that was proud to claim
you when recently learned that you
were my cousin"
"My DEAR" Mrs Culpeper told Smif
later. II really liked our new cousin
If were younger, would dispute his
possession with that fat Miss Mer-
cedes, who has given every one in the
neighborhood to understand that she
has him in her pocket"
Sniff replied, "Of course Miss Mer-
cedes means to marry him and, frank
ly, think he'd be happier married
He badly needs companionship."
"Not the companionship of that
county fair exhibit" Cousin Nab stated
with firmness that defied contradic-
tion. "She is shrewd but totally unin-
teresting, and I suspect comes Of vul-
gar people of the Middle West There's
burr in her speech that can't other
| wise be accounted for. It Is the most
persistent of our provincial accents,
and although she seems to fancy so,
calling you honey every other minute
doesn't make one southerner, does
it, honey? Frankly. I don't like the
young woman, although she gives the
most delicious dinners in the state"
$50 I've heard. :. Well, sooner
or later she'll be back among us, ten
years younger and many times more
beautiful. Then well see If Stone can
resist her."
"Do you approve Of the match?'
| Cousin Nab was watching her keenly
and Sniff bent for a light for her
| cigarette.
IT do and 1 DON'T" she owned with
entire candor, waving away with one
hand the smoke that partly yelled her
| face. II confess I'm not crazy about
Miss Mercedes, but do think it's hard
| lines to be denied love affair simply
because ones fat. In spite of that,
when / once fancied for few mo-
ments that they were actually en-
gagged, can't say that / was pleased,
even while I saw plainly what a nice
solution it would be Of all my worries"
"And what are your worries?"
Cousin Nab inquired, lifting quizzical
eyebrows.
"They're principally connected with
Stone at present. ought to have told
him long ago that I had planned all
my life to buy Lovelylea. Now, it is
going to look as If I had hurried to
| do it behind his back. And Stone and
I have been friends. I'd hate to lose
that friendship almost as much as I'd
hate to lose Loyelylea. Not quite, l
| suppose; because if the scales tipped
that way, could say: Here it is.
I'VE bought it; but if you love 1t too
much to lose 1t, I'll give it up to
YOU I'm not that unselfish,
Cousin Nab. I'd love him to have the
use of it. I'd be glad to let him use
| the track and the new stables and the
other improvements he has built.-But