The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-04-15
MnHHIN2\Ivi0

don't send him any money. His al
lowance is ample; and it isn't good
for a boy of his age to have too
much"
Corinne smiled pleasantly; nod
ded good-by; and said to herself as
the front door closed: well, ]
didn't promise, and it won't do a
bit of harm to slip in something. A
boy likes to make a good impress
sion on his schoolmates; and con-
sidering our position in society Jun
ior's allowance isn't what il should
be. That's Father Lambert's do
ings. He's forever harping on the
notion that too much spending mon
ey spoils boy; yet when it came
to Nora nothing was too much for
her to throw away. I'll write the
letter now, before Ned gets back. "
Ned Lambert reached his fathers
house and, inserting latch key.
opened the door quietly, dropped his
hat onto a chair, and went toward
the living room. Nobody here! Per-
haps his father was in the library.
Ned moved down the hall. A fire
blazed cheerily on the hearth in
this smaller room, but the daven-
port with its gorgeous Bokhara COW
ering on which James sometimes
threw himself for an after-dinner
nap, was now unoccupied.
Dad must be away, thought Ned.
1t was stupid not to have called up
before walking over; but his father
hadn't mentioned an engagement,
and he seldom went out evenings
these days. Perhaps one of the
maids would know. All! here was
Martha. Good old Martha, ever on
the alert for burglars! She'd heard
his prowling and
ooh, it's you, Mr.. Ned! I thought
it might be someone who didn't
belong here"
Ned smiled.
you're a good Waterman, Mar
tina. Is Father out?"
HES upstairs, Mr.. Ned"
upstairs! Isn't he feeling well?"
"He had John light the fire in
Miss Morals room. He's taken to
sitting there quite often"
"He has?"
Ned's eyes looked puzzled, and
with a cautious glance toward the
wide stairway, Martha closed the
door. Corinne~ once said that Mar
tina Berry was as much part Of
James Lanbert's fine old house as
the front door was. She had lived
there for half of her more than fifty
years, keeping his house beautiful
ly, a faithful servant of the old or
der, and friend to all who bore
the name of Lambert. She said,
reading the question in Ned's eyes:
cts this way, Mr.. Ned: The
house is $3.50 still, you see, with
out Miss Nora. It's like a tomb.
Even my cook notices the differ
ence." Ito Martha Berry James
Lambert's servants were her own. }
"She would have given warning
weeks ago if I hadn't scolded her.
I said: Don't be a fool, Sally.
There's no one else can make a
black bean soup that sets well on
Mr.. Lambert's stomach, and he's
very fond of it, so she stayed on.
But she says the stiffness makes
her nervous, Mr.. Ned, and ! think
she's right.
''The coffeewasn't clear this morn
ing. Your father likes old-fashioned
coffee, made with an egg. There's
none better, but it has to be made
with care or the grounds won't set
tie. Sally's as good a cook as
ever had. She knows your fathers
ways, and she's good tempered; but
she misses Miss Nora. Your father
likes her cooking but he doesn't tell
her so. Why should he? But Miss
Nora was always running into the
kitchen. She'd say: oh, Sally, that
cream pie was simply wonderful
or, Don't you ever dare get mar
ried and leave us, Sally. I could
die happy eating your potato puff,
You know her way, Mr.. Ned-not
dignified maybe, but my girls loved
her and it kept them happy. My