The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-01-15


ak was mostly about Fran.
wishes up to this time"
For a few seconds the words did
not seem to make sense to Cherry;
their shocking import reached her,
in all its deadly simplicity and she
felt her throat thicken and her hands
grow cold.
''Or has he done so?" demanded
Mrs. Marshbanks.
"He-he-No," was all Cherry
could feebly stammer.
II thought he hadn't. thought
even the least sensitive person would
hardly come here after any sugges-
ton from him. / am no longer the
mistress of this house," said the old
lady, in a sort of cold passion, "but
am not a cipher yet! l am asking
you civilly not to make it a habit
to come here"
Cherry sat staring at her in a
fascinated horror of silence.
"You know your own history"
said the inflexible voice. "You know
why your presence here is an-an
insult to decency and to me. bit
terly regret observation-disclosures that
have given you what you seem to
consider a right to regard yourself
as daughter of the housed"
81 am daughter of the housed"
Cherry answered, her own words
surprising her as much as they could
possibly have surprised her compan-
ion.
How dare you say that!" Mrs.
Marshbanks said sharply. "You
have absolutely no claim. You have
been well established in life; you
are being cared for now. Be care
full that you don't lose even what
you havel"
81 am not afraid of losing it, and
am not afraid of you!" said Cher
ry, at white heat. Il will come to
this house as long as Amy and Fran
and the judge want me! l wish you
would 60 out of my room! l am
sorry that any blood of yours runs
in my veins!" ga
"And you think you can go on
with your college work, be asked
about in good society, once your
history is known" the older woman
demanded, rising. "You think that
Amy will continue to think you the
most charming friend in the world
once she knows that you are her
half sister, that you are the living
reminder of her fathers weakness
and immortality. / think you won't
risk that. ! think you'll realize that
only you can keep your own people
from being disgraced in the eyes of
the world. Your own father and your
mother too, you know"
"Your own son!" cried Cherry.
"What about Fran's own SOM"
Amy asked, coming in from her
room, tired and cold and blown after
her long ride. What's Uncle Jud
done? Why, what's !" She looked
in amazement and concern from one
face to, the other. ''What is it,"
she asked. what were you saying
about Uncle JUDI"
There was silence while the
three looked at one another. It
seemed to Cherry to last for long,
long time.
"There we stood like statues
Cherry said, telling Kelly about it
few weeks later, until I thought we
must all be frozen! Amy knew some
thing was horribly wrong, and she
kept asking What is it? What is it?'
and old Mrs. Marshbanks was sort
of painting, and she wouldn't say
anything, and couldn't. And final
ly Amy said: I know it's about UNI
Gle. because ! heard Cherry say
SOL f"
"You hadn't said so?" Kelly was
lying face down in the fresh, deep
grass now, biting blade thought
fully; he looked up at her. The sun
was sinking. Below the hill where
Cherry and Kelly were sitting were
the lake and the college buildings
and beyond them the roofs of Palo
Alto.
''No, I hadn't said a word about
the judge, but / had said your
SON and Amy heard thatl" Cherry
answered. ''That's the whole trou-
blel That old fiend-that old inquisi-
tioner-had told me that if ] didn't
break off my friendship with Amy,
she'd tell everyone who was-who
am, and ! said that would mean
her son was in it too!'
"You meant that wouldn't help
her family reputation much?" Kelly
asked with faint smile.
RIO BE CONTINUED