The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-03-12

be over-so be out Of IT. And Kelly
had loved me, Cherry :"
Still acting. Cherry's heart, opened
on q sudden impulse of hope and
confidence, closed again m despair.
What do you think they win 6o?"
Fran breathed the question. not
opening her eyes
Il don't know what they'll do. I
know It viii ruin his hfe," Cherry
answered bitterly.
''Oh. no. no, no. On, my heads"
Fran murmure6. "Any's here. :"
she announced family.
yes. I know" Cherry sat back
on her heels, chilled and weary.
They stopped of here On their way
to Del Monte" she said.
They're not on their way any
where until they find out the mean
ing of that notice from Corstock.
never knew anyone to show his
hand quite as plainly as Gogo did"
You saw him?"
No, but she came IN here few
minutes ago to find you She'd been
crying. And married yesterday"
she wanted me?"
Eyes. 1t seems Gogo couldn't
wait to go down to the Office tomor-
row, and telephoned the lawyer to-
night. Comstock's coming UP at half
past eight. He asked Gogo If he
knew how to get in touch with you.
and Gogo said you were right here. !"
Tonight"
"And Cherry" Fran said, open
ing her tired beautiful eyes, about
this other thing, don't judge me too
hardl ! never would have dragged
Kelly in. They did that-these great
husky beasts of men-asking me
question after question:"
"But why should you say you did
it. Franz" Cherry demanded sim
ply.
Because l did it." Fran persist
ed. ''Or at least I know who didi"
she added half aloud. ''Or at least
I think do"
''But you wouldn't say who did it
to protect Kelly, Franz"
why should I? Nobody's protect
ing me- I'm sick of the whole thing"
Fran tossed on her pillows.
81 think Pm going out Of my
mind" she said in whisper.
''I'm going down to dinner, Cher
ry," she added, 81 can't stay here
and think or I'll go mad!"
At dinner they all talked trivial
ties by fits and starts. When the
lawyers arrived Cherry and Gogo
and Amy took them into the draw
ing room, and sat solennnly facing
them.
George Comstock opened a long
envelope and took from it another
long envelope. He asked which of
the young women was Amelia
Marshbanks, and, upon Amy claim
ing the title, handed it ceremonious-
ly to her.
Amy opened it. The lawyer then
stretched his hand for it, and she
surrendered it obediently enough. He
read it aloud.
my dear daughters, if both of you
survive until the day set for the
reading of this will" it began. Cher
rvs head was rocking.
beg you, my daughters,
who read this, to believe that it
was only the conviction that my
child by my wife could not possibly
survive, and my hope that the SUBJ
stitution of Charlotte's baby in her
place would be an act of charity
to all concerned :"
1t was true. The expressions on
the faces of the others told her;
she was Amelia Marshbanks, Amy
was Charlotte Rawlings. The long
mystery had come to its end
The voices about Cherry seemed
suddenly loud and confusing. She re-
membered saying, "Air!" and then
everything was blackness.
Cherry awoke three days later to
a new world. She had been vague
ly, uncomfortably conscious of what
was going on about her through long
nights and sleepy days. Now it was
morning.
MAY, feel wonderful" she sud-
denly said to the maid. WAS /
very sick?"
well, we had the doctor come in
once" May said, land then yester-
day he looked in when he was here
to see Mrs. Marshbanks."
''Was Mr.. Coates here?"
Fright along until this morning.
He went home to get some sleep.
He's coming back. Mrs. Marsh
banks" May pursued with jerk of
her head toward Fran's room, "re-
tracted. That's what they call 1t.
She confessed and then she said he
did it, and then she retracted that"