The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-29
CHAPTER n-Continued

We IllOW1lS IllC ldWA.
Jim presumed that to be the stu
alton. A hand mower lay beside
the reclining figure under the cop
per beach.
So this was Tommy! Jim under
stood, now, the secret amusement
glinting in Dolly's eyes when she
had mentioned him. He felt a throb
of sympathy for the boy. Puppy
love could be devastating. He hadn't
been much older than Tommy was
now when he'd fallen in love with
Lenore. He felt that it would be
an objectionable act of intrusion to
break in upon Tommy's dreams.
There was an intrusion, however.
At that moment a voice called,
Tommy"
Jim glanced in the direction of the
house. A woman was walking
across the fagstone terrace and
down a flight of steps to the lawn.
Tommy" she called again.
Tommy was far beyond the linn
tied reach of human voices. He
wandered, no doubt, in some far
Elysium picking roses for his love.
The woman walked down across
the lawn. She was slender and not
unattractive in an indefinite fashion.
She was scarcely the mistress of the
estate. Her manner lacked authori-
ty. She seemed uncertain, ill at
ease.
"Thomas!" she called in tones in
tended to be severe. "You aren't
moving the lawn. What will your
father Think"
Tommy stopped whistling but did
not turn his head.
saw, go fry a fish," he said.
At the same moment, Susan
pulled Jinn's arm.
"That's only Miss Parker" she
said in a scornful whisper. 'We
don't mind her, she never does any,
thing but talk"
They were appalling children.
Jim's sympathy left Tommy and
conferred on the woman crossing the
lawn. Poor soul, martyr in the
arena surrounded by lion cubs. No
wonder she looked furried and dis
tressed.
''Good-afternoon," he said.
She glanced at him vaguely,
squirting her eyes. She was near
sighted, Jim surnised and sensitive
about glasses. He removed his hat
and smiled.
She looked at him more intently.
"How do you do she said. Gee
lily isn't here. At least l think she
isn't. She took her horse out about
an hour ago. told her she'd have
sunstroke." There were plaintive
notes in the precise lady-like voice.
81 told her it was too hot to think
of riding"
''He doesn't know Cecily!" Susan
chanted. "He came to see the Mac
Phersons. He doesn't know Cecily
at ALL"
"Oh! I beg your pardon. /
thought" Miss Parker did not
complete the sentence. Her atten-
ton shifted from Jim to Susan.
"You're drenched to the skim" she
exclaimed. go upstairs and
change your clothes!"
Susan's expression became mutt
nous.
II won't!" she said with empha-
sis.
"Susan!" Miss Parker's flush
deepened. The pink tide crept I'D
to the edge of her hair and down
to the brooch which fastened her
neat collar of hand made lace. "Su-
san! Do as I say!"
The mutiny in the small plain
face threatened protracted rebel
lion.
''You'd BETTER" Jim said. "I
would if / were you"
She looked up at him question
ingly. Jim's expression held a
threat. She lowered her eyes,
flushed, looked steadily at her toes.
"All right" she said.
Miss Parker gave Jim a grateful
glance. She seemed, noticeably, to
increase in height and authority.
"Come along" she said briskly,
her hand on Susan's shoulder, 'You
need bath. I've never in all my
life seen such dirty little girl"
Susan wrenched free from the re-
straining hand. Miss Parker forti-
fed by unexpected support, adj
vanced again upon Tommy. Susan
returned to Jim.
''The MacPhersons live in the
house in the orchard" she said
without looking at him directly.
''Thank you," Jim said. 'I'm
sure I can find it."
She fingered. There was, appar-
emily, something more that she
wanted to say. Presently it came.
''There aren't any fish in that
brook-ever. I was just making be-
lieve."