Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-12-27
THE PLANET:
"Bur / hardly think"

"And l certainly know. Gomez Bets
crazy to go. and says she depends on you
TO persuade Uncle Bob the horses are
quiet"
Miss Bette doesg' Ihesitated. There /
was lump in my throat and singing |
In my ears; was deucedly afraid of the |
mad beasts myself, bat then she wanted |
70 GO, 50 / added: well, perhaps after |
al they may be little quieter soon.
And, Tom, you do-ah-really think |
them safer"
Certainly I do, and Bet does, too.
She's not bit afraid" That decided me.
sTom jones' spoke with deep solem-
nifty. / knew that moment what they
felt who saw the tuInbril ready to bear
them to the hungry knife OF the first
revolution-''Tom Jones, l will go, Of
course. But, Tom, pray do not use that
horrid abbreviation OF your cousins
name. There are some subjects too
scored for the PROCLAMATION Of slangy con-
densation, and your cousins name is
''Bullyl You'll go then?" interrupted
the irrepressible Boomerang. "I'1 wheel
'em round the block and bring 'eln in
cool, you-Bet."
He bounded down the stairs, sprang
into the sleigh, seized the reins, and, as
the men jumped from the horses heads.
-ras Oh WI. furry of snow and /.
bnrrah from the crowd.
am not dab at the classics, so I viii
not say how, having plunged like Cur
thus into this gaping sleigh ride, now
sat like Msrius, amid the ruins Of my
wardrobe. But did tumble all its con-
tents into the middle OF the floor and
then sat among them, hopeless of cram
ming into my small valise half enough
for this all important Xmas VISIT But
she wanted to gol I was to risk my
neck for her sake-by her side. Delicious
thought SO just as the bells again
jingled at the door jumped upon my
distended portmanteau, sprung the lock.
and answered Tom with yell as wild
as his own.
Now, perhaps / should explain that
Tom Jones and I had always been chums.
Residents of the same village and chill
dren Of intimate friends, we had thumbed
the same algebra, robbed the same or
chards and been logged by the same
pedagogue. In fact, we had never been
two weeks apart until his appointment
to West Point, FIVE years before, had
separated us. TOMS persevering industry
assiduous course of Benny Havens,n had
scarcely been thoroughly rewarded, for
his graduation-third in his class count
ing from the bottom-nade him brexsi
second lieutenant in the United States
Boomerangs. It had found me dignifed
but patient lawyer in the iacipient me-
tropolis Of Piketon. Happy chance had
thrown Tom at the arsenal near by, and
had introduced his chosen friend to the
family circle Of his Uncle Blythe.
There I soon became ami de maison
Mayor Blythe-he was the revered chiei
magistrate Of Piketon-was brother
lawyer, and = man Of high social ant
literary renown. he had capitally
chosen library, warm heart, cele
brated cook and a rare assortment O
such winesi Andthen-heml-lilz Jeph
than Of old, he had Zone fair daughter
and no more"
But such a daughterl
Bette Blythe was Just turned Of ~
and the most perfect mold Of female form
divine. OF medium height, just plum
enough FOR perfection of rounded outline
and with the tiniest models of feet an
hands that ever fell to the lot Of woman
her face was still her chiefest charm
Not regularly beautiful, with scarce
feature in it that would have been pro
nounced fine under critical analysis, theI
was yet an iudescribable witchery
that face, orin the character reflected b
it, that bound me hand and foot from III
first week knew her. Those rich. dar
oval lines, with heavy bands of gloss
hair, seemed to command, rather tina
ask, second look. And who could loo
twice and forgets
There was a merry devil In her eye
large, languid and black as sloe-thl
drew a tinnid mans heart right up in
his throat and kept it kicking there wit
forty-horse power. And then the IA
was but an index Of the sprightly b
sound and well stored mind her faith
had seduously cultivated during Ion
widowerhood. And the steady, tend
CLEAN that sometimes replaced the M
chievous twinkle in those eyes could on
have been drawn from the well spring
pure heart.
With the first month Of our acquai
lance began to believe 1 cared for b
tie Blythe; with the second believed
loved her, and with the third 1 l1nt
it for certainty. On the fourth mon
nad tOiu ner AucrSu DER Wl4uiJs q
for three subsequent ones had con
again and again, to the very threshC
of repetition. Gentle and woman
she had at first told me gravely--the r
of the face demure, while the eyes dane
very witches dance to the tune of ST
pressed merriment-that, though
were very excellent friends, we were 81
almost strangers. could only aclxno'
edge the truth Of what she said, s
prayed for forgiveness and for hope.
gave tho psrdon, the pardon gave
hope, and I wandered on in fools pa
disc. But though we became better 2
better friends, though she let me me
der unchecked through the most ext
sive fields Of rhapsody and lay the tall
flowers of sentiment at her feet, yet
first outright word spoke carried up
e. fsx.rr =, ~,