The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-07-28

she went upstairs 10 ner DaTe, Nigh
ceiled room to wash her hands and
smooth her hair, and when she re-
luctantly came down again, the 9TH
ers were already gathered in the
sitting-room. Uncle Justus sat in
the shabby old chair by the piano
reading his paper. He would go
presently to sleep, his chin on his
chest, his glasses on his nose, his
paper on his knees.
June's mother and young Rab
Tame and Asa were playing three
handed contract bridge at a card
table at one side. Rab had a friend
ly eye, light and amiable tongue.
When June now came to the door
and hesitated for a moment here,
he called to her:
"Come along and play with us to-
night, June. You belong with us
young fry, not with the patriarchsl''
Mr.. and Mrs. Bowdon, Grandma
and Grandpa Hurder, and Aunt
Evie were playing anagrams at an
other table; and a chair waited
there for June. June hesitated, but
Mrs. Bowdon interfered. Mrs. Bow
don-she insisted that June call her
Grandma, although she was in fact
June's great-aunt-was ponderous
white lump of woman, white hair,
white cheeks, small tight lips. June
thought Of her as a crushing weight.
Grandma Bowdon said now to Rab,
in her slow, heavy fashion:
crab, June's place is here with
us. June, here is your chair"
June had no thought of exercising
any choice in the matter. She might
have choice; but if she had, she
kept her wishes to herself. She had
found by experience that nothing
but bruised knuckles could result
from battering a stone wall. She
sat down where she was hidden, and
she began to play with them the
game called anagrams.
Uncle Justus went to sleep in his
chair and began to snore, and Aunt
EVE made him move into the hall,
into the straight, heavily carved
chair by the table there. The sound
of his shores still reached them, but
no longer so disturbingly. That he
should thus move into the hall was
a usual occurrence and June scarce
noticed it at the time. Later she
would be puzzled by the fact that
Inspector Tope attached to it Sc
much importance, as he did to every
movement of the others here this
evening.
Shortly after ten o'clock, mild
argument developed. The discus.
sion went on and on, till Kitty Lea
ford rose with sudden angry move.
ment and said fretfully:
81 must 60 to bed! I've a head.
ache. This heat torments me be.
yond enduring"
Grandma Bowdon protested
"Why, you can't 60 yet, Kitty. It's
not half-past ten. We never stop
till eleven"
81 must" said Kitty Leaford. 81
must get to sleep before the storm. -
Aunt Evie Taine remarked in her
calm, gentle tones:
"Of course, Kitty, you ought to GO
to bed, if you feel tired. I'll bring
some milk up to you. I always say
when I'm tired, a glass of warm
milk makes me feel better than any
thing else. Where is it, in the ice
chest?"
June confessed: "I'm afraid there
isn't any," Uncle Justus had spilled
the last of the days supply.
But Aunt Evie ignored her.
"We've none over at our house, 81
she reflected. Nothing but the tor
milk that I saved for the coffee.
Mother, have you any?" Grandma
Bowdon nodded; and Aunt Evie
said: .I'n run across and gel
some"
"It doesn't matter, really" Kitty
Leaford repeated. "Good night -
She went out into the hall and they
heard her speak, loudly, to Uncle
Justus. He answered her, his voice
sounding from halfway upstairs.
Aunt Evie followed her. "Justus,