The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-19
CHAPTER XII-Continued

ana ma your master, Salu SIlll hD-
ruptly. She wanted to be alone. To
enter her home as If 1t we're already
hers before the world. AS she mount
ed the steps, she asked herself once
again impatiently, why BillLee did
not write.
Pushing aside the screen door, she
entered the hall. Here all was as
1t had been In the old days. inviting
ly open. smelling of-what was that
familiar odor? Beeswax! How she
loved that shetland the parlor would
have bowls of potpourri, she was sure.
It was amazing how little was
changed.
Sunk in deep contentment, she wan
dered from room to room and only
when she met a reflection in a long
mirror was she conscious of sense
of unfamiliarity. The reflection given
back should be of a little girl with
wild bronze curls and scratched sun
burned legs. Well, she was glad II
something had to be changed that 1t
was she rather than the place.
It was in what was evidently Stones
Office or study that she found the por-
trait. 1t was hung on the wall facing
his desk, an old mahogany kidney
shaped affair, the work of good Col
onial cabinet maker, but new to her.
Entirely suited to the house, she was
glad to observe.
She sat down in his chair and looked
critically at the painting.
It really was an extraordinary COM
bination of the two characters, hers
and Lorraine Lovely. One could see
In 1t whichever one was looking for.
And it was rather pathetic that Stone
should have hung 1t as he had. Evil
IDENTIFY he chung to this great-grand-
mother because she was Lovely and
through her he felt some right to be
in possession of the Lovely acres.
A scurrying of little paws brought
her to her feet. Voltaire and Beau
caire were understanding their master.
He must have told them she was there
She went into the corridor to meet
them as Stone entered from the por-
tico.
"Smif" he cried, "this is too good
to be true. When did you come and
where are you staying?"
II reached Culthorpe yesterday
afternoon" she said, devoting more at
tention to the adoring dogs than to
him. "And I'm certainly glad to see
you and the pups"
"And the old place? How do you
think 1t looks? l haven't spoiled 1t,
have ~"
"That's the strange hing.-Not that
you haven't spoiled it but that it looks
so exactly as | remember it. was
afraid that l had an impossible ideal
in my mind-and here it is as had
dreamed"
Stone was pleased. He could have
had no warmer praise than her ex-
pressive face offered him.
at seemed to me too perfect to
change" he said, which tribute salts
fed even Smifs exacting demands for
appreciation of LOvelylea.
"The dogs look WELL" she remarked.
"And at last you are established here
for all time. Tell me, have you heard
from Captain Miles?"
~~AnR that's an amazing thing"
Stone declared, wait till get his let
ter" He went into his study and came
out with the letter in his hand. Sand
now" he said half shyly, ''let's go out
and sit on the steps while we read 1t
together. You've no idea, Sniff, how
I've longed to do simple little things
like that with you. AS If I had really
been your brother William"
Sniff was touched, his words made
SO clear to her his past loneliness.
''You mustn't call him that" She
seated herself while he lounged on the
step below her. "He is Bill-Lee to
every one around here. Hand over
that letter. I'm consumed with curl
osity."
ut amounts to an answer, although
It came so soon that it must have
crossed mine en- route. 1t leaves no
doubt Of what his reply will be-"
Smif flung off her hat and let the
breeze play around her forehead !;
then. her bronze head close to his
dark one, holding the paper so that he
too could see the bold writing, she
read 1t through in silence.
"Don't tell me there's no Prov
idence!' she exclaimed when they had
finished 1t. ''This fits In too beauti-
fully. Isn't 1t wonderful? Have you
begun to search for a place for him?
I'll help you"
"What would you think Of Rock
moss7" Stone drawled. This isn't the
only letter I've had. Mercy writes me
she is becoming beautiful beyond COM
pare. She's bound to marry now, isn't
she?"
He looked at Smif and she looked
back at him, not absolutely certain
she read his expression Alright. A man
who never laughed was so battling.
'Yes," she agreed finally, @I've no
doubt Miss Mercedes viii marry. Like