The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-02-16

hot flush creeping into her cheeks.
"Of course not" Mother closed the
lid of her sewing basket and gathered
up scraps of lilac tulle. But he may
feel that he has to. be polite. / just
wouldn't do it." she finished as though
that settled the matter.
But it didn't settle the matter. For
long time after Mother had gone
| into the house jamie lay on the grass,
her arms folded under her head, her
eyes gazing up through the catalpa
leaves into the blue of the summer
sky. Did Hugh think she had been
tagging? she wondered miserably. He
hadn't seemed to mind She thought
| he rather enjoyed the things they had
done together Not as much as she
had, of course. That wasn't to be
expected. But at least, he had seemed
amused. Was he only being polite?
| She recalled the Saturday night
dances at the club. She hadn't
tagged" then. She had introduced
him to Kay Leland and Dolly Bruce
and all the Manor street girls. She
had urged him to dance with them :.
He hadn't seemed to think she was
tagging" when they went out to have
tea at "Sportsman's Hall" with Aunt
Lucy and Muriel and Murlers Wash
ington guests. 1t was he who had sug-
gested that they slip away up into the
woods behind the gardens and the
| stables $50 much elegant conversa-
| ton makes my head ache"
| They're your kind of girls"
| My kind?"
They've all been abroad and had
coming out parties and"
SIT hasn't done them much good
| What is it smells so grand"
"Sassafras. You dig up the roots
and"
"Come on, Brownie, let's dig"
There were other things to remem-
Der; having supper with Uncle Charlie
under the tree in his weedy side yard,
suppers that were fun because of
Jeff's soft crabs and Uncle Charles
| remarks; sitting sometimes in the eve
ming beside the fountain in the Square
with the hurdy-gurdy playing and the
| locust blossoms smelling so sweet 1t
made you want to cry; taking half
dozen youngsters to the circus buying
them pop corn and ice cream cones
4 and lovely scarlet balloons -.
But maybe Mother knew. Perhaps
he was only being polite. Tagging"
jamie felt hot with shame from her
head to the tips of her toes. She
Topped over on the grass and buried
her face in her arms.
After that she avoided him.
"Let's go to the movies tonight"
mo thank you, Hugh" Very primly.
Il have another engagement"
Or
"I'm driving out to the Hollis farm.
Want to go, young fellow?"
I'm busy" Swallowing hard to
Danish lump in her throat. I'm
going upstairs to write"
But she didn't write. She sat on the
sill Of the dormer window with the
locust branches brushing against the
screen, lonely and miserable, growing
up inside. =. 1t was silly to care
about things. But you couldn't help
1t if that was the way you were
made
Hugh wondered what had hap
| pened.
/ "See here, small person." he said
finding her picking mint leaves in the
garden one afternoon. II want to talk
to you"
"Td better 60 dress for supper"
jamie clutched at straw.
mo you DON'T" He barred with his
outstretched arms the only path to es-
cape you've been lodging me for a
week. I've got you now" He lifted
her to the top Of the wall. "You can't
get away. Tell me, JAMIE" He wasn't
smiling. His eyes looked worried and,
somehow, hurt. "What stupid thing
have done?"
Nothing"
"Pve missed you, little fellow"
"Pve been right here" A lump In
her throat. Tears on her lashes. A
desperate resolve not to let them spill
down on her cheeks. you've seen me
every day."
"Not you," he said gently. "Just
linen frock and pair Of sunburned
legs Please tell me. If I've done
anything, I'm sorry"
Il thought" She made an effort to
be casual. II was afraid you'd think
l was" She paused, swallowed hard,
spoke the humiliating word. II was
afraid you would think was tagging"
"Tagging!"
He hadn't thought so st all. She
could tell by his look Of surprise. A
weight lifted from her heart. She felt
like fluff of thistledown all ready to
blow awsy. 1t was easy, now. to ex-
plain.
"Well, living right here with u.s."
The words were tumbling all over each
other. "You might have thought you
had to take me places and do every