Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-03-15
WHITRIDGE'S BURGLAR.

heh ne made his confession tn me
he admitted that this was reckl.ss
thlng :" do when one considered the
Inconvenience of crossing the ferry.
riding IN 1t trainful of commuters
Changing 10 trolly car and finally
groplng through II dark park. But.
AS he explained, the heart. like the
wind, goes pretty much where i, Wills.
anu his had taken up its abode in
the old Walton house some IL miles
from the city, aud after all it WAS
not SD bad
Whitridge was such an indclent
man that II seemed to his friends
rather strange that he should have
chosen to worship at shrine that
could be reached only bv a veritable
pilgrimage. His lazness was hatu-
raj and sensible, for his grandfather
had dried up in an old tea warehouse
on Front Street and left him mil
hon. Before that he had pottervd a
little IN law AMI had even advanced
SO far as TO defend celebrated bur.
glar, known "a One eyed Grogan,
who WAS acquitted because of the
! shrewdness of his COuuSels' cross ex-
animation and the eloQuence of his
plea. When Whitridge retired from
the bar and took to doing nothing.
he did it we'll.
Such career met the severe dis
appointment of DOrothea Walton.
who, like most won en of the suburbs.
was cultured and had ideas. Never
having done any work herself except
TO study the labor question from it's
philosophic side, she believed that
every man should be busy eigh,
hours of the twenty-four.
SO when at length Whitridge ask
ed her to marry him she said abrupt
ly: "But YOU don't work You are
man without an aim IN life"
My grandfather worked and had
aims for mt" Whitridge replied.
Every man should do something
in this world. if it is only driving am
express wagon" said the girl warm
ly. "Iou are IA man without ambi-
tion-a man who might as we'll not
be living at all. You"
at seems to me YOU are just lit
tie hard" he abrupted, reproachful-
ly.
"Of course you know like you,
DOrothea went on more kindly. "But
it seems so much nober for "A man
to say to woman: Il shall slave all
day in the office for you,' than I've
got million and am willing to share
1t with you Now, doesn't it?"
Il think the average woman would
say, ''Ill share the million don I
bother about the office" was the grim
reply.
Dorothea flushed.
"You consider me an average wo-
man them"
mo, no." cried Whitridge. "And
If you will shall slave for you. I'll
90 down town and plod along on the
law, and we can live on what make. "
Now, you talk foolishly," said
she, IL do not demand work for
works sake, but it seems to me that
for man to be without an occupa-
ton in these times shows lack of
brains"
"But it takes a great deal of brains
to do nothing aud do it respectfully.
And after all, don't think you can
say that | am very bad"
"No. And that's where more
trouble comes. You are not even re-
fo' mable. A woman might devote
herself TO the work Of reforming u
man, but you offer nothing but mere
money"
"And love-" Whitrdge blurted out,
and he was overcome with confusion.
He blushed and began to tear ner
vously at the lapels of his coat. But
his embarrassment served to empha
size his honesty and sincerity.
The girl recognized this and said
kindly: IL know am foolish, Sam,
but | have queer ideas, perhaps. Sc
don't talk of it any more
Then good night said he, rising
abruptly from his chair and holding
out his hand.
"Good night" said she, al trust
you will be able TO find your way to
| h., I'll III