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

where are you going?" she demand
ed. "Come here!" He must have
obeyed her, for when June reached
the door, he was just sitting down
in the hall chair again. Aunt Evie
told her: ''I'll bring the milk right
away, June. From Grandma Bow
don's."
She hurried away, and June start
ed to go upstairs, to be with her
mother. Sometimes Kitty Leaford
wanted her help in preparing for
the night; for there was consid-
cradle ritual involved in this pro-
cedure. But Rab Taine called her.
"June," he urged cheerfully,
"come back here. It's not bedtime
yet. Stay awhile"
She stood uncertainty in the door
way, a tall, dark-haired girl, slen-
der and strong, but clad in shape
less and unbecoming gown.
''You know" Rab told her smil-
ingly, crossing to speak to her in
lower tone, s'you need to learn to
play, June. This tomb is no place
for you. It's time you were meeting
some young fellows"
June nodded.
'I'm not going to stay here al
ways" she told him. "I'm going
away some day. Mother has prom
ised me-" -
'Any time you want to step out"
Rab invited, chuckling, "I'n give
you a hand. I like you, June. And
I can show you around"
Asa passed them on his way to
the kitchen. "Glass of water" he
said, by way of explanation. June
heard Aunt EVE come in to the
kitchen, from out of doors, heard
them talking together there.
The girl went along the hall to
join them, to see if she could be OF
help. Aunt Evie had poured a little
milk out of bottle into stew-pan
and set it on the gas-stove. The
bottle was empty. Asa was stand
ing by the stove, glass of water IN
his hand, while Aunt EVE looked for
matches. But she did not readily
find any; and June confessed:
81 think they're all gone. We
meant to order some."
"I'll get some from Justus," Aunt
Evie decided. She went into the hall
to rouse Uncle Justus, and June
picked UP the pan of milk.
mother has a gas-plate in her
bathroom" she told Asa. 81 can
warm it there"
He nodded without speaking. Asa
was always dour, silent man. He
went ahead of her through the hall
and back to the sitting-room, and
June followed him as far as the
hall. Uncle Justus was awake, fun-
bling in his pockets for the matches
Aunt Evie demanded; and June set
the milk down on the table beside
him.
"I'll warm it upstairs" she told
Aunt Evie, and went into the sitting
room to say good night to Grandpa
and Grandma Hurder. Rab came
out with her, when this duty was
done, and picked up the milk.
'I'll carry this upstairs" Rab
told June, smiling. II want to say
SCUQ IaSuI W 1ACiIit AAAtCy. 0Co1ACS,
it's too much of load for you'll"
His eyes were twinkling.
June was not particularly atten-
tive; yet later, under Inspector
TOPICS gentle inquiries, she would
remember and relate every detail
of this evening. That stew-pan with
little milk in the bottom was to
assume dark and dreadful signifi-
canoe in her eyes.
But just now, she followed Rab
upstairs. He knocked on her moth
er's door, and June was at his ell
bow. ''It's Rab," he called. "June
and have come to tuck you i'm
Kitty babe them enter. She was
in her dressing-gown, brushing her
hair. Her hair was fiaxen yellow.
June thought it looked younger than
her mothers face looked: but she
knew why this was so. These two.
mother and daughter, were close in
many ways.
ifIO BE CONTINUEDl