The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-06-05
CHAPTER I-Continued

?
To be happy, man required a girl;
indeed, men declared this and sought
a mate more openly, more frankly.
Mems voices, at such seeklngs, be-
trayed them. as Rodney Braddon's just
had done.
"The Deep Sea-" her father had
dubbed him in contrast to his brother
The Devil with women) and the Deep
Sea! Well, the Deep Sea had phoned
from his brothers., the DEVILS Office.
and was on his way to her.
Agnes never thought Of making spe-
cial preparation for him; and he
wouldn't have liked it. She kept on
the cornfower blue knitted dress which
became her slenderness and which
deepened. by its lighter shade. the blue
Of her eyes, and which went" with
her straw-colored hair The cold wind
of the morning had whipped pink
glow into her clear smooth skin.
She procured her own little coupe
and drove alone through the snow to
the station to meet Rodney.
He, If he could. would have turned
back. He sat by himself in the train,
going over and over what he had done
and what he had set out further to
do, and his purpose appeared to him
not only hopeless but fantastic. Yet
he had spoken the words to her that
told he was coming and which I'm
piled more He had no retreat.
Did Jud honestly believe that he
had a chance? Or had Jud goaded him
to this in the belief that, by speaking
to Agnes, however hopelessly, he
would be the better for 1.-THE better
for putting an end to his impossible
dreams?
Standing on the car steps as the
train slowed, he passed her. He swung
down "ecklessly, slipping in the snow.
When he Strengthened. she was beside
him.
Little Agnes!" he said, the sylla-
bles escaping him. If she caught his
exclamation. what difference? He had
come to say to her much more.
She felt 1t.
She asked him after he was settled
beside her and she was driving him
home: "You haven't had lunch, Rod?"
II never thought Of It," he admit.
ted.
The snow had begun to blow so
blindingly that 1t became almost an
adventure to follow the familiar road
to the house. 1t shut in Rodney Brad
don and Agnes Gleneith together.
away from contact or sight froU all
others, increasing the tension of their
intimacy. though during the drive.
Rodney said scarcely word. and he
did not touch her.
In the house he made no attempt to
touch her. They went into the pleas
ant, easy "east ROOM" which on or
binary days overlooked the lake. Now
the snow swirllng at the wide windows
shut them in. as 1t had when they
were In the car.
Rodney appreciated this. and he
turned to her. gratefully.
you'll let me tell you what
shouldn't"
'If you want to, Rod"
love you. You sit there, will
you? And I'll stand here. I'll not
annoy you more than I must.
I've said I love you. I've had medi-
cal training. I know what love is, or
Is supposed to be. But it's not that
with me when I think of you.
I suppose every hopeless fool denies
1t. He tries to make himself out bet
ter than he is"
"You couldn't, Rod, she said gently.
She was seated where he asked her
to be, and watching him. looking up
at him. so tall and troubled before
her; and little ungainly. as always.
In his brown ready-made clothes.
He was more carelessly nodded than
Jeb, except in his brow. his chin and
his hands. Perhaps especially In his
hands, so lean and strong and capa-
BILE. Her eyes came to rest on his
hands, restrained close beside him as
his brothers never would have been
at such a moment
How this man fought the appeal of
physical sensationI And why did he
down 1t so?
Because he was capable Of feelIn,
beyond his brothers.; far beyond any
other man she knew.
Agnes recognized this now, At not
with her mind with her stirred In
stincts. which aroused their needing
excitements through her.
"Money means nothing to you.
Know. Agnes" be said. "The fact