The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-10-11
CHAPTER V-Continued


from some distant pilgrimage of his
own, almost knocking her down in his
eagerness for breakfast.
She glanced far up the shore and
saw, serenely rocking with the tide,
"My Unknown Lady,"
AS she whispered the name, she was
conscious of hot blood rushing to her
cheeks.
How ridiculous! Stanley Heath was
simply a stranger of a night, he was
nothing to her.
Well indeed was it, too, that he was
noti
During her hours of sleeplessness
the ardor of her faith in him had, to
a degree, cooled. True, she still main
tanned her belief in his innocence !;
but that belief, she now realized, was
only blind unfounded intuition. Both
the circumstances and sober second
thought failed to back it up. The mans
Impotence to be gone, his complete
silence with regard to the Jewels, al
though perfectly justifiable, did not
strengthen it.
Marcia conceded he had every right
to keep his affairs to himself. Had he
started to confide his secret to her,
she would have held up her hand to
stay him.
1t was the fact that through the
dim hours of the night, while she sat
at his elbow trying to make the dis
comforts he suffered more bearable,
he talked Of almost everything else
but the thing uppermost in both their
minds. That was what hurt She did
not want to know. She wanted to be
trusted; to help; to feel his depend
ence upon her. Instead he held her
at arms length.
He spoke with appreciation of the
crew who had dragged his boat off the
sand-bar, appearing to consider them
tremendously kind-as undoubtedly
they were Still, they had not begun
to come into the close contact with
him that she had.
Marcia caught herself up with a
round turn. Here she was being sensi-
tive, womanish. How detestable! Why
should Stanley Heath pour out his soul
to her? She had never laid eyes on
him until yesterday. In a day or two
he would be gone never again to come
into her life. She was glad of it. 1t
was better so.
This decision reached, she drew in
her chin, lifted her head wee bit and
began to get the breakfast.
Even Doctor Stetson's arrival and
his subsequent verdict that the patient
had bronchitis and would take his life
in his hands should he leave his bed,
afforded her only scant satisfaction.
SO she was to keep Stanley Heath
under her roof after all-but against
his will. 1t was not a very f1attering
situation.
She sent Sylvia up with his coffee
and toast, and began her usual round
of morning duties.
And then just as they were finished
and the clock was striking eleven, he
called.
She went up, cheerful but with her
head still held high, and paused on
the threshold.
CHANGING at her he smiled.
''You look like bird about to take
flight. Won't you sit DOWN."
She went nearer. Nevertheless she
did not take the chair he indicated.
II see you are busy" he said. II
thought perhaps your housework might
be done by this time and you might
have a moment to spare. Well,
mustn't interrupt. Forgive me for
calling"
81 haven't thing in the world to
do" Marcia burst out.
"Good Then you can stay little
while" he coaxed. Now answer this
question truthfully, please. You heard
what Doctor Stetson said about my
returning to New York today. don't
want to be pig headed and take risk
If 1t is imprudent; that is neither fair
to others nor to myself. Still, 1t is
important that / go and I am anxious
to. What is your advice?"
II think you are too ILL.,"
frown of annoyance wrinkled his
forehead.
Perhaps you're right. Yet for all
that / am disappointed. want very
much to 50. It Il necessary"