The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-05-17
CHAPTER vII-Continued

CHAPTER vII-Continued
"Worm!' Gay exclaimed. 81 hate
you. Aren't you up rather early
YOURSELF"
81 didn't heed the ads" he said
mock-tragically. II failed to do my
Christmas shopping early"
"Poor Roberto Gay smiled.
Though to her fathers family it was
a mystery, she understood very well
why her mother had married Rob-
ert. He had, as her mother had, an
ingenious zest for living. He was
no longer the handsome figure of a
man-about-town he had been when
he became her step-father. He was
getting stout and somewhat ford
and his blond hair was receding at
the temples, but his spirit was buoy
ant, his nature restfully uncompli-
Gated and his enjoyment of good
food, good sport and gay company
remained undiminished. He was
kind, and fond of her. His express
sion, now, as he looked at her across
lace and silver and crystal flowers
which splintered the light into gilt
tering sparkles, was admiring and
interested.
$50 to it, kid" he said. s'I'an all
for romance myself. If you need
moral support you can count on I'm
Gle Robert"
He was dear or maybe in her
blissful state she felt tender to-
ward all the world. She blew him
kiss and went on along the hall.
In the drawing-room Suki was
hanging wreaths made of silvered
leaves and punches of blue glass
berries. She knew it was Suki be-
cause Togo's province was the kitch-
en-. It occurred to her that it was a
little incongruous that small heather
Suki with his fiat lemon colored face
and black bead eyes should be dec
Grating the apartment for Chris
tan festival.
What would John make of it all, of
Suki and Togo who had been with
Robert for years, Of Mathilde whom
her mother had brought back from
France, of her mother, of Robert,
of Christmas Eve at the apartment?
What would he make of the Vic
torian elegance of Dunedin" when
they went tomorrow? Could he, as
she did, ignore Aunt Flora's disap-
prevail, the curious but premeditat-
ed GOODNESS of the relatives who
would be there? Panic seized her
again. Her spirits sank with the
descent of the elevator. She regret
ted, for an instant, that John was
coming. Now, at this moment, while
their meeting was still in the fu-
ture, the feeling they had for each
other was secure. Now
But that was absurd. She shook
off frightening fancies. Her spirits
lifted when the Negro doorman
opened the door for her.
Merry Christmas, William"
''White Christmas, Miss Graham"
cts nice, isn't it?"
''Luck TO- certain" The Negroes
face was slit by an ivory grin. Good
times comm pretty soon."
The train from Boston, unless it
was late, was already in. Gay made
her way through the concourse of
the station toward the gate where
John would be waiting. Expectancy
gave wings to her feet. She hur-
ried on, iostling and being jostled,
needless Of admiring glances cast
at her, impatient of any delay. Then
through people passing, she saw him
and reluctance checked her eager
ness. Her flying pace slackened.
She advanced slowly, caught in pam
ic again, walking mechanically, all
feeling suspended.
He did not see her. He stood be-
side the gate, his eyes searching
through the groups that eddied past
him. But was that John? She hadn't
remembered-It was the overcoat
he wore which made him look SO
tall. She'd never seen him in the
winter before. The new hat he wore
was not becoming. She didn't know
him. 1t wasn't that tall young man,
obviously i'll at ease, whom she had
come to meet. She couldn't move
or speak to him: She felt paralyzed,
frozen inside. 'e-' $500
He saw her and smiled. She start