The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-02-11
CHAPTER I

They sat facing each other, sepa-
rated by thirty-seven years, two ut
terly different temperaments, and
six feet of priceless wine-colored
Bokhara that covered the old daven-
port. James Lambert, who found 1t
difficult to relax when he intended
to be unrelenting, sat stiffiy, arms
folded, at his end of the six feet.
Leonora at hers was curled up in
the manner of a little girl, her head
with its aureole of pale gold hair
resting upon a velvet cushion-one
small, silver-clad foot dangling
against the gorgeous color OF the
old Bokhara like some barbaric
jewel from the Orient.
Though a log blazed cheerily on
the hearth, the atmosphere OF the
room was tense with disapproval-
James Lambert's disapproval. Said
Leonora, resuming a discussion
which dinner had interrupted:
"But that's no reason, Dad. No
reason at ALL"
mo reasoni" James paused, pre-
sumably to clear his throat but in
reality to curb his temper. Past
experience had taught him that it
was futile to rage at this bewilder-
ing foster-daughter. She merely
laughed at you. He wondered, the
old wound aching for moment, If
the Italian baritone who had lured
his wife away from him, possessed
that quality. The girls mother had
been quick to anger; but Leonora
simply wouldn't get mad no matter
what the provocation. She laughed,
and that made a man feel foolish
disarNed his dignity; and dignity,
James sometimes thought with Bit
terness, was all he had, unless one
counted a fat bank balance. His
sense of humor that Nora loved, but
which too often raised its head in
disconcerting moments, he refused
to consider an asset. But dignity
was something one shouldn't trifie
with, so he endeavored to be reason
able.
"Unless a house is founded upon
a rock, my child, it will not sur
vive."
"Nor will one that isn't founded
upon love-" retorted Leonora. "You
can't beat that, Dad"
SIN my case" he replied coldly,
Glove did not prove firm founda-
tion." And added, not wishing to
pursue the subject of his own mari
tai catastrophe: "Be sensible, Nora.
That boy will never in the world
provide for you." He threw an APP
praising glance at the silver slip
pers. "Just face the facts honestly,
my dear. He is twenty-seven. By
his own unabashed confession he
dropped college after few months
merely because it bored him; and
what has he accomplished since
then, in the years that should have
given him a start in life? Nothing.
Absolutely nothing. Can you deny
it,"
A maddening smile curved Leo
nora's adorable mouth.
"That depends on what you con-
slider a start in life, Dad. He's got
some perfectly corking memories"
"Memories!" James was obliged
to clear his throat again; then said
with sarcasm: you'll find, I fear,
that even the most delightful men,
cries won't pay the butcher"
Sand a thousand dollars" added
the girl naively. cts in the Farm
ers and Mechanics Bank down.
town.
The sense of humor popped up
and grinned at James. His mouth
relaxed a little even as he contend
ed: SIS it indeed? An appropriate
place for the savings of "a vaga-
bond!"
This brought a laugh from Leo
nora, a delightful laugh which
frightened the whole room.
Sometimes, Dad" she told him,
"you are simply priceless. It's an
enigma how so bright a man as you
can be so dense. But the truth is,
Don earned some of that thousand
on ranch in California. That's
farming for you. And down at Santa
Fe he worked three months at a
garage, driving tourists. If any,
things mechanical that ought to be;
but you've no idea the amount of
history he picked up along the way.
And in South Africa"
James Lambert's hand went up
in the forbidding gesture popular
with traffic officers.
Don't 60 all over South Africa
again, I beg Of you. ALI this re-
markable young man did there was
to get into diamond rush that net
ted him nothing. That is" he
glanced at her sternly, nothing but
memories. Now look here, Nora.
It's no use quibbling. You're blind
ed just at present by all the fellows
exploits; but you're young and inn
questionable. You can forget him.
I'll send you abroad again if that
will help. I'll even go with you my
self, though I loathe travel. Ned
tells me-"
II see," interrupted Nora, as one
enlightened. $50 Ned has been poi
soning your mind? ! might have