The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-12-18

i Snc was some UIUCMS away AUM
utable car drew up close to her ON
ised with great confidence that she
would remove the little creature the
minute he became troublesome.
From that moment the cat was Wis
IDLY the absorbing consideration OF
| Emma's life.
"Did you go first to the Marsh
banks as a nurse, Emma?" Cherry
asked idly one night. Emma looked
at her quickly, hesitated before
speaking. -
eyes" she answered then. "Id
taken the boys, Fred and Judson,
through tonsil operations, and then
through scarlet fever, at the hos
pital when I was in training. The
old lady took a liking to me, and
when they'd come back from abroad
few years later and I'd been wild
owed, the old madame-as we used
| to call Mrs. Marshbanks, though !
don't suppose she was more than
fifty then-sent for me to take care
of the colonel. He'd been struck
down with sleeping sickness; he was
on a couch for years. Then Miss
Louise-she was the only daughter
| and had married an engineer from
| Springfeld-came home to have the
baby. The old lady was so pleased
| about it-they both talked so much
about the grandchild. And then to
have both die-yes, that was a bad
time.
81 stayed on as a nurse and house
keeper; I had my sister to support,
and it was comfortable place. l
wasn't twenty when I graduated and
came to Them" q
How'd you know my mother,
Emma? Did you meet her at the
Marshbanks'
Emma looked thoughtfully at her
/ companion.
"No; knew her before that" she
finally said. And then, after an
other pause: "Your mother was my
sister Charlotte.
Cherry stared at her. The words
did not seem to make sense.
"My mother" she began in a
whisper, and stopped.
eyes. Your mother was my sis
ter. You were named for her.
"But Emma" Cherry said breath
lessly, confusedly conscious OF
shock and reluctance, 'you never
told mel a n a
"Well, you don't always tell chill
dren everything" Emma said aft
er a moment. "You weren't but a
little thing when your mother died"
81 could have known that!" Cher
ry exclaimed. A thousand bright
dreams vanished with the revela-
ton, and she felt hurt and wronged.
But amazement still had first place
in her thoughts. s.s,
"Maybe I never told you because
didn't think you'd be especially
pleased" Emma said dryly. The
girls color came up warmly.
"It's. not that! Of course Pm
I'm glad,'' she stammered. 1--WE
never had any family, and-and of
course I'm glad!"
And, Immediately, to her own
amazement, she burst into tears.
She had often imagined what her
connections might be; she had new
er dreamed this. Emma-so con-
tanned and cold and distant-her
own aunt! Cherry pushed the table
away blindly and went to the win
dow, and stood looking out at the
dark night, and the far city lights
| that shot arrows and flashes through
her tears.
'Mother-mother never told mel"
she stammered. 81 wish she had!"
Cherry looked down at her cards
with blinded eyes, and made her.
self move them here and there as
if she were playing. She finished
her game, and said with shaking
voice that she was tired and thought
she would go to bed. Emma still
making no comment, Cherry put
away the table and asked Emma if
there was anything more she could
do.
''No," Emma said, nothing
The girl came to the bedside,
looked down.
Good night them" she added in
a light, level tone, with resolute
smile. would you'll would if you
liked = shall I call you Aunt
Emma?v she added hesitatingly.
Emma eyed her steadily for q
few long seconds.
"No," / don't know that I'd make
any change" she said then, in the
same emotionless voice that Cherry
had used.
Need more ice?"
''No; I'm going to listen to the
| radio and then I'm going to sleep.
Good night" Cherry said. with