The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-12-09
CHAPTER xII-Continued

Phil watched Barbara, flushed
and happy, moving easily about the
court; and he thought, astonished:
Mother doesn't seem to mindl She
seems glad!
He said guardedly, "You think
so?"
'Of Counsel And Dams fine
young man."
"Well-I like him." Phil agreed.
She smiled a little, wisely.
"You're surprised at my-at the
way I take it, aren't you, Phil?"
"Why, I know what you think of
newspapers and reporters. And-I
know you think marrying the right
people is pretty important.
She nodded. "I've spoken my
mind often enough, Phil" she as
scented. "But I'm not at all sure
my-mind was right. You remem-
Der, Phil, I-discovered something
during your fathers trial" He
looked at her and she said: II real
lied that I loved him."
"Of course, mother"
''Not at all, Phil. There's no of
course about it." She said, half to
herself: 81 didn't love him when we
were married. I lived down on the
Cape, and his father had a cottage
there. He was rather splendid fig
ure. I thought was marrying well,
marrying money and family and
position. But almost at once after
we were married I fell-passionate-
ly in love with him. Brides often
do, you know. If their husbands
are wise.
"And / loved him till seven weeks
before Barbara was born," she said
explicitly. 'And I haven't loved
him since, till" After a moment
she said steadily, "Till I knew they
would convict him and kill him,
Phil"
He could not move or speak. He
had only the vaguest understanding.
He stammered something; and she
said:
cts curious, too, that there's no
desperation in my love for him
now. At first the thought of what
was to happen was terrible. And
then it became unimportant. have
him now, and he has me; and no
one, nothing, can separate U.S.
Phil said automatically, eyes,
mother!"
And she smiled like sun after
rain. $50 now nothing matters ex-
cept that" she said. "But-I think
when he is gone I shall join him
pretty soon."
''Mother!"
$50 I want Barbara to marry
whom she loves" she said. eff it is
Dan, it is DAM" She added, in a
moments weakness, Only I shall
need you both terribly for a little
while"
"Gosh, mother" He said that
and no more; but suddenly he was
afraid, thinking: She's lost weight
lately. She looks-frail. Not tired.
Strong-inside, but frail outside. He
started to speak again, then saw her
smile as the set ended and Dan and
Barbara, laughing together, came
toward them here. They went into
the house, and Linda arrived, and
Mrs. Sentry left the four young peo-
pie alone downstairs. They had
tea; and talked idly for a while,
and Barbara was more and more
silent till Dan spoke to her.
whats on your mind, Barb?
Penny for your thoughts"
81 was thinking about Mac" she
confessed. No one, for a moment,
found anything to say; and she went
on: "And about father. You all
think he's guilty, don't your"
She smiled little, at their quick
protestations. "All right, but don't,
you know" she said; and she con-
fessed: "Oh, at first I did. saw
him come home that night, and I
went into a sort of panic. We all
did, I guess. I mean when he was
arrested, and everything. We all
lost our heads, believed all sorts of
things.
"But don't, now. don't believe
father would kill anybody Not on
purpose, anyway"
Neither do l." Phil assured her.
and she said:
81 don't see how the jury could
think he did. But of course, wasn't
at the trial" And she asked direct
ly: What happened? Tell me about
IT, 81
Dan urged. "You'd better forget
it, Barb"
But Phil said honestly: "Father
admitted he killed her, Barbara. He
said it was an accident, but the jury
didn't believe him." And he urged:
'But-there's no use talking about
it. You'll just-get yourself sick
again"
Barbara half smiled. you're
both awful cowards," she told them.
Like ostriches." And she appealed
to Linda. "Lin, you tell me about
it."
Linda shook her head. II didn't
even read the papers, most of the
time, Barb. just-stayed here with
you, or stood by in case Phil wanted