The Washington times., 1935-11-06

Last night. getting tipped over
in the lake with Jamie.
No wonder she hadn't wanted
to wake up, no wonder she'd
slept through the maids bring
ing in the tray. For today was
the day of reckoning.
She got up, walked over to the
tray. Perhaps a cup Of coffee.
1t was stone cold.
She turned away from the cold
coffee, CONCEALED buttered toast.
She didn't even want the fruit.
A cold shower helped a little.
At least it woke her up.
She dressed slowly, carefully.
Since she was this late there was
no need to hurry. perhaps DR..
Crawford would be late, toe, after
the party.
Her mind went back to last
night. to the boat. and JAMES
kisses and the long swim and,
oh, the result of finding him, still
clinging to the boat.
He'd made an awful fuss. The
water wasn't that cold. He
wouldn't get pneumonia from
half an hour in cold water on
a warm summers night.
The way his mother had car.
ried on over him! Well, perhaps
it was just as well. They'd all
been so impressed by the act he
put on that nobody had had any
time for her, and she'd been
smart enough to go right to the
cabin and bed before they could
ask questions.
Shed made up her mind to say
no more than necessary. Maybe
they wouldn't ask very much.
After all, it isn't such a terrible
thing to go for a boat ride. and
then have a little accident. . 1t
might happen to anyone.
BY l o'clock she was starved.
She was beginning to feel more
at ease, too, because DR.. Craw-
ford hadn't appeared at all. She
beamed at the maid who brought
the luncheon tray.
Thank a lot, Gertie! I'm
starved, because I didn't have any
breakfast. You know, I didn't
even hear you when you came
in this morning !"
"I didn't call you, because I
thought you might be i'll, miss. I
heard you had quite an adventure.
They was up with Mr.. Jamie all
the night, but he's better now.
He's gone out on the veranda in
his bathrobe now, and he's having
his lunch on a tray, yes. miss.
1t must have been quite an ad-
venture. oh, forgot. Miss
Crawford-I mean Dr. Crawford
said you was to have your atten-
ton called to this note"
Thanks, Gertie."
Mary looked at it, wrinkled her
nose. It was sure to contain bad
news.
She lifted the cover on two sill
yer dishes, SweetbreadS and mush-
rooms, and asparagus with hollan.
daise sauce. She grinned as she
helped herself generously, and
took a taste of the nodded Gu.
cumber salad. Whatever else was
to be said about the place, the
board was good! She poured fra
grant tea into a rose-wreathed
cup: ITO your health. madame"
she said to DR.. Crawford's sealed
envelope.
And when she had finished the
third cup of tea and the last
crumb of sponge cake, she opened
the note:
MY dear Miss Shannon:
eft occurs to me that after last
nights most shameful escapade
you will have no more desire to
face Mr.. Todd's family than they
have to see you again. There
fore this note, rather than final
interview.
"I need not say that I am most
cruelty disappointed in you. Not
only because of the great incon-
venience to me in changing sec
retarieS at this time, but because
of the sorrow and anguish you
have caused my dear sister and
her loved one.
I'm view of the above, I will
appreciate if you will spare me
the additional pain of excuses.
"I understand all too we'll.
Kindly leave all papers per-
tanning to my work on the desk.
I trust you will not embarTasS me
by asking for recommendations.
'"The car will be ready to take
you into Victoria at 2:30. The
chauffeur will purchase your
transportation to the States. It
will not be necessary for you to
reply.
yours very sincerely,
Emile Parkman Crawford"
With shaking fingers Mary tore
the two white sheets into smaller
and smaller pieces. they settled
on the luncheon tray, fluttered to
the floor, like stage snow.
Shuddering, sick with anger, she
stood staring with frightened eyes
at the little white pieces that sur
rounded her.
1t didn't seem possible it
didn't seem possible that anyone
could be so unjust. that such a
thing could happen to her.
How could DR.. Crawford think