Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-10-13
A PRECIOUS TRUST


crate. So. il being July. VIII Merrivch
got OF At one o'clock on Saturdays
So did Iona Wray. who was in thc mail
order department. and who frequent
" came 20 him. in his position as man
ager Of the cloth depart ment. 20 match
samples or order goods. On one OF
these occasions he discovered that
Iona lived in The same suburb as he
did. He found out. too. that they gen
orally went out OF the city at the same
hour. on the same train. On learning
which his spirits rose like a toy bal
loon. To be sure. Iona was a pretty
girl She possessed not only beauty
but distinction. She held her slender
young body so ercctly. she spoke sc
frankly but also with such diCnifed
reserve. and she was so earnest and
so conscientious in doing the work in
trusted 10 her that VIII Merrivel FOR
GOT while in her presence 70 give the
firm bis best duty and attention.
But. then. Merrivell was eNtrer ely
susceptible. II ne had not been Sc
susceptible Il - quite unlikely that he
would have been confidcd with pre-.
clous trust And n he had not been
selected for the honor conferred upon
him he and Iona might never have pro
ceeded beyond the boundaries where
the cOurtesies 81 casual acquaintance
cease. Indeed. she did not feel sufii-
ciently familiar with him 20 mention
the fact OF her intention 20 stay m
hour later IN town than usual on one
particular afternoon. although she had
come down 20 Merrivell that morning
for six yards Of lavender broadcloth 20
BE- sent 20 lady living In Arizona.
Hot day." remarked Merriven 1T
will be fine 10 GET away early"
DELIGHTFUL" assented Iona.
But she did not enter the Northwest
ern depot az her ordinary hour. al
though VIII paced up and down just
without the railing. and watched the
great gates until his train had come
and gone. Surely she would he here
before the next train vas due 10 leave
The thought Of sitting beside her as
the train rushed out OF the smoky city
into the beautiful green suburbs was
delightful. He might even Get up cour-
age 70 ask 20 CALI And II permitted
20 do SO. how kind he would be q
Bobhy-if only Bobby would keep still
about their htsle alteration Bobhy
had stretched a string across the side
walk Merrive4l. running for the train
had fallen over IL and skinned his shins
Observing the culprit. ne had promptly
grabbed him and given him chastise
ment brief but effective. Confound it,
How was he 20 know that the little red
headed wretch was the brother Of thi
charming grip lie would fan owe
strings all the way from Melrose {,
State streets, II only
Il beg your pardon. madami"
His hat was in his hand and he wa
howing profoundly 10 lady will
whom ne had almost coliided when IA
had turned 80 abruptly Ia HE impetu
Gus walk.
do not mention iti" cried the lady
~'ho was young and pale and OF almos
tragic appearance. She was handSoms
too. but evidently grief was responSi bl
for the wild expression OF herlarge blacl
eyes and the pitSous trembling OF he
lips. She wore deep mourning IN
was apparently foreigner. "Rut yo
will help ne. sir2 l am in desperation
Two hours from now take train .
the west. / came down here 10 max
arrangements for leaving. vt my hS
tel / forgot some important papers.
must return at once aud secure then
In the meantime may beg Of 70
90 undertake the care OF my darlin
Snow fiowsr7 1t is a precious trus
and one which I wOul6 not conflde :
every stranger. Is this asking 70
much sir2"
Merriven. the susceptible. Merrive
the gallant. bowed stilI more court,
ously Il am hOnOred." he assured he
highly honoredl Consider NE at you
servicel"
He felt jubilant This was an OF
portunity. Now. when Iona Wray a,
rived. she would see with What gentl,
ness, with what tenderness he care
TOR this child of strangerl She woul
appreciate all the lovely depths of h
sympathy! She would be incredulot
OF the statements OF that red-heade
Bobby, She might even think Bobh
deserved corporal reproval. And. whe
she passed through the gates alof
what lingering glance would she n'
send back 10 him where &c sat caril
for the child Of lonely young widoN
He would smile sadly in answer, al
she would realize that il was only
sense of chivalry which kept him fro
her side. And all the way out she
So deep was he In the delicious drca
he did not perceive the return OF 2
blaek-eyed stranger until she was clio
A--t.1-