Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-16

pc could see was very pretty mouth,
which showed little emotion. His
hand closed tightly over hers. which
vas Immediately withdrawn.
"It isn't that I'm doubtful about the
future" said Cuthbert. 1.-The worst Of
il is that a man spends his best years
fighting fate, so that at last when the
gods deign TO become amicable he is
only another Midas"
''But there's your uncle" suggested
Dorothy.
Cuthbert smiled. "You dop't know
him. He repudiated me years ago, not /
without reason. When was of age. 1
came into possession Of the sum Of $780,, |
O0O-a gift from this same thoughtful |
relative. 1 afterward learned that he !
gave it to me as q test. He wanted TO |
see what 1 would do with it,
"And what did you do with itg'' ask
ed Dorothy.
"It's hard TO tell" said the young
man ruefully. 81 took O college chum
with me to Europe, and when we re-
turned i've months later hadn't PEN
n.y."
"Oh." said Dorothy. without much
surprise. She herself had extravaganza
tastes, coupled with unlimited pocket
money; moreover, she knew little of the
practical value of money, SO that it did
not seem to her remarkable that one
should spend $50, 900 IN five months
while travelling for pleasure "And is
your uncle angry with you for that?
How unreasonable"
"Can you direct me to Saints Rest,
the residence Of Mr.. and Mrs. BaxterY"
asked q wheezy voice beside them. They
started and turned toward the speaker,
whose footsteps had made no sound on
the soft sand. 1t was the speok they had
noticed in the distance half an hour be-
fore, now grown to the proportions of a
short, rather stout, middle aged gentle
man. Dorothy was the quicker to recov-
er herself and replied:
Certainly. It's only a short distance
from here. You can see the cottage
through those pines-straight ahead"
"Thank you" said the stranger. He
was observing Dorothy with respectful
but i'll concealed admiration. Like ali
ugly men, he had an almost abnormal
appreciation Of pretty women. And this
man was AUTOMATICALLY hopeiessly,
phenomenally ugly. He was even gro
tesque, which gave him an air Of dis
, tinction that comeliness could never
, have impaired. His features were largl
and set far apart in his wide, roomy
. face; his small dark blue eyes sparkied
and he was flushed with exercise. Owe
, all played an expression of bland an'
| playful innocence, like that of goo'
I humored child
Il am Mrs. Baxter's uncle" he an
Q nounced.
' "Oh, Professor Swithinl Mrs Bax
4 ter has spoken of you to us-we are he
} guests-and she has wondered muc
what has detained you," said Dorothy
n Then. TO Cuthbert's disgust. the profess
q or walked with them to the cottage
= usurping the conversation in the inter
!, est of his OWE affairs. He had been Dc
| layed by business exigencies; he ha
s come without sending advance NOTES
n presuming he could obtain a carriage
n the station; he had been unable to &
is so, and therefore had been compelled
|. walk the entire distance, which mu
DO over q mile, and he had left his Luz
ie gage at the station, among which WI
It a valuable telescope He hoped Sc migl
not be injured.
J. "You are Interested In solar .biolog,
- Mrs. Baxter tells us, observed Dor
thy after all these incidents had bee
/ laid bare.
81 have made a study of it for ov
q" 80 years, said the professor with prid
Indeed may say that am one Of q
o. pioneers who searched for knowled;
ht along this line in this century"
al 81 suppose it is very difficult to n
ne derstand, " mnrmured Dorothy politel
SIX "Oh, that depends upon the amou
Il of application given to it to a certa
extent. Though have a natural gra
a of scientific subjects, can usually t.
n the place any person occupied in t
II, great solar world merely from observ
to tion. Now, if might venture to h&za
an opinion-as to yourself, for instan
"a. If you would not consider me imp,
o; tinent"-
ne Certainly not, - said Dorothy, SIN
its ing.
nv II am of the opinion, then, that y
ok area Sagittarius. If you will be so go
N. as TO name the day of the month
TO- which your birthday arrives, we can 4
up whether or not 1 have Numbered.
Dorothy named Dec. IL. She v
". amused by the eccentrlcltles OF q
ipt quaint old gentleman.
ed. "Rightl Quite righti'' exclaimed
ia, professor joyfuliy.
IL They had now reached the cottal
and Mrs. Baxter was advancing to IL
them, full of welcome and introd
tions. General StanhoPe, a tall, tn
intellectual man, who surveyed
calmly through q pair of big, rou
eyed speetacles, was delighted, IN
cold, deliberate way to meet again
cid friend, and they sat down on
piazza for a chat about old times. La
Braddon, delicious little creature
pink, with short curls and big vic
eyes, seized Dorothy and bore her aw
Were going to have little Il
loween dance tonight. Did you KIN
it?'' she said. "And we shall try so
old charms afterward. Some people
going to drive down from the Poi
| l.. -. -