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

"Mother, didn't know MISS RaWl-
ings was here! How do you do? Are
you hungry? What could l offer
your" said George Pringle.
GLOW were you ex-es?" asked the
mother.
"Repulsive," said Rebecca Prin-
gle calmly. Cherry laughed and Re
becca smiled at Cherry and they
immediately liked each other. 1T
was all stuff he'd never dreamed OF
mentioning to us before" said Re-
becca. "But I think hit some OF
it. You've been up to SCHOOL," she
asked the visitor. "You haven't?
Then I'll tell you what we'll do;
we'll take a run up there now, and
I'll show you round"
sob, but you're tired! / wouldn't
think"
'T'd love it." Rebecca, whose
manner was goddesslike in its Sc
renities,l said pleasantly. She and
Cherry went out to battered open
two-seater at the gate and were inn
mediately engulfed in a town full OF
small cars from which students dan
gled hilariously.
The college buildings we're set in
long cloisters and flower-edged
lawns. When they stopped at the
cooperative store, boys swarmed
about the car and Rebecca intro
duced them, land, Cherry could talk
Of classes; she wanted to visit and OF
coaching in "a group that was thor
oughly absorbed in the same inter-
eSts,4st !, .a034ss4 49, - 80,
Altogether when they went back
to the Pringle house and sat on the
steps in real small-town fashion,
Cherry was half intoxicated with
happiness and anticipation, and felt
that of all the changing phases of
her life this one promised her the
most contentment and the most to
which to look forward.
She had telephoned Kelly only
once in her life; she thought she
might telephone him legitimately to-
night, making an appointment to tell
him of her good fortune. Although
she put in the call Immediately
upon reaching home and waited for
it until ten o'clock, the number was
reported as not answering, and
somewhat chilled, she abandoned
the idea. = =
However, two weeks later when
Easter vacations were over and she
was conscientiously visiting classes,
and studying dutifully with coach
who had been recommended, she
had q telegram from him that sent
her spirits to the skies.
.sComing home from Carmel Sum
day morning. Can pick you up
for picnic at Topcoate at about tenn
Love, Kelly" read the message.
Cherry could not answer it but she
was ready and waiting when he
stopped the battered old car at the
gate, and when she settled herself
beside him she would not have
lchanged places with any woman in
the world .na e4Ae1y
y ''Goody!', she said. gD
'Why 'goody?'" .ssa
Because you're alone.
'Who'd you think ! was bringing?"
mo one special. But it's more
fun to be alone"
'sI've been little too much
alone" he said. 81 came down for
the Rasmussen wedding, and then
went on to Carmel and painted cy-
presses and rocks"
when" She felt a prick of sick
premonition. 'sWhen was the Ras-
mussen wedding?" she asked, with a
slight CULVER in her voice.
1.-TWO weeks ago-two weeks ago
Wednesday. Alice Rasmussen is the
closest friend ! have, you know.
She's q peach. It was q small home
affair; no fuss. Her brother must be
fifty and the bride looked about
that, and Stan wanted me for his
best man. So stayed there couple
of days-I was bluer than indigo
anyway-and then went on down to
4 Carmel. ~
"Then you saw Fran" Cherry
stated rather than asked, with the
bright day going dark about her.
\ TFran?" His amazed eyes gave
her side glance. How d'you
mean?*& ~ VI %As@ esvsss