The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-05-04
CHAPTER IX-Continued

il
"What are your plans, darling?"
she asked. "Where are you going to
liver"
"Tom hasn't told me-" Celia an
swered, twisting the stem Of the COB
let. "He says it's a surprise"
Tom calmly threw a bomb into the
family circle.
''Mr. Grove has sold me the Gov
ernar's House," he said.
Celia lifted startled eyes.
you're going to live in the Square"
Mothers voice was incredulous.
"Of course" Tom leaned back in
his chair. "These are the people who
will support me when 1 break into pol
atics. This Is. where l shall live"
'That's a good idea." Father smiled
his approval He liked Tom. He
thought that he would succeed. wen
keep one Of them here, Helen" he
added, reaching down the table to pat
Celia's hand. Il consider it a great
Idea"
Uncle Charlie chuckled. Mother
looked distressed. Celia said nothing
ut all
Besides" Tom continued, "that
house, for years, has been my favorite
dream. The Governors House"
you'll probably make the title au-
thentic," Father said. you'll probably
get there, Tom"
Thank you, sir" Tom expected to
make the title authentic. There was
. confidence about him. Mother bright
eaed. Cena's lashes lifted. Great
uncle Charlie made gallant amends.
'To the Governors LadyI" The old
man lifted his goblet and smiled his
Naggish smile.
They made ceremony Of drinking
the toast. Celia was very gay. JAMIE
wondered what she was thinking.
She knew, after dinner, when she
heard Mother and Celia talking up
stairs in Celia's room. Celia was weep
ing. Mother was attempting to soothe
her. JAMIE, who had meant to enter
the room, paused outside the door.
tits a fine old house." Mother said,
"and very attractive inside"
But this Square, Mother"
II know, dear" Mother sighed.
There's no use coaxing Tom" Celia
said plaintively. HE does exactly as
4 he pleases."
HE isn't unkind to you, darling?
Mother asked quickly.
mot exactly" Celia admitted. "'But
he's as stubborn as mule. It's very
hard to BEAR"
"Why did you do 1t, Cellar" Mother,
by wire, by mail and in person had
asked that question hundred times.
do you think / would stand in
JAMES wayr Celia murmured re-
proachfully.
''Of course not, dear" Mother said
proudly. You are always generous
and kind. Aunt Rose wrote me that
it was brave but very foolish of you
to make such sacrifice. She's going
to give you a complete set of fat
silver"
SIS she?" Celia, JAMIE thought, was
forgetting to be plaintive. II want the
same pattern as Muriers. Do you
think she will get it, Mother?"
Sim sure she WILL" Mother an
swered. Aunt Rose understands"
II wanted to do what was best"
The silver harp strings were muted
"Janie's happiness means a great deal
to me-"
''I've always said" Mother muir
INJURED tearfully, shat you have a
sweet disposition"
JAMES left eyebrow cooked itself
whimsically. She couldn't feel angry
at Celia. There was no room for re-
sentiment in her happy heart. She
curled herself up In the window seat
and fell to dreaming.
"Janie wouldn't have minded stay
Ing" Celia said presently. TITS strange
that she should be the one to co."
II don't understand it, Celia" Moth
er never understood anything that she
didn't want to believe. II don't under
stand 1t at all"
jamie didn't understand It either.
1t was amazing that Hugh should love
her. She fell into wideawake dreams
which. miraculously, were true. 1t had
been an eventful year. But the hard
times were over now. Mother was at
home. Father was taking nap in his
own room down the hall. At any mo-
ment, Hugh might be calling her to
ride with him out into the country. It
seemed like beautiful dream.
She wanted Celia to be happy. She
sounded happier now. She and Moth
er were making plans to go to Wash
ington for Murieps wedding.
poor Muriel!" jamie heard Celia
say with note of complacency in her
voice. "She has always loved Tom"
''And Carter Shelby really wasn't"
Mother hesitated
I'D rather not talk about it, please"
jamie knew that Mother would al
ways believe that Carter Shelby had
been rejected because he had failed
To measure nm IN Calia's hiph ideals