Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-06

oeymours tne girl prompted.
Ah, yes, thank you. dear-Mr. Sey-
mour-you are very kind, but we have
not one umbrella fit to show. NV
daughter has not succeeded in sewing
the eye-glass piece in SO that IL holds
its place when the umbrella il opened
and closed"
Il can easily finish the one began
last" said Miss Robertson. "if Mr.. Sew
mour could wait for few moments."
Most certainly can," said 1, perfect
~ happy. and willing to wait all night
IL necessary, "apd--"
Here I stopped to listen to a queer
noise or succession Of noises coming
through the half-closed door of the
next room. II was the sort of sound
that is made by a pump when sucking
air instead OF water, or by a person in
great distress from asthma.
That's Mrs. Virgins" said Miss Rob
ertson, jumping up. please excuse me
Tor moment" She left the room.
closing the door after her. / had hard
ly begun to talk with Mr.. Robertson be-
fore she came back.
Mrs. Virgins says that supper will
be spoiled unless IL il eaten at once
this minute. And, as IL will take me n
good many minutes TO make that UNI
brella Presentable to a real umbrella
manufacturer, may ask Mr.. Seymour
TO take supper with us2"
Before the father could add his re-
1uest / had assented, without attempt
TO hide my pleasure.
ut Is ready now, and on the table"
abe went on, ushering me into the next
room. which proved to be tiny room
even for three persons--so small, In
fact. that every time Mrs. Virgins ap-
peared from the kitchen Miss Ellen had
TO rise and move her chair to let her in.
This room often reminds me-" said
Miss Robertson, 'of the lady who closed
her first visit to New York fat with
the remark: Well, now that 1 have
seen all the closets where are the
rooms p She must have come from Vir-
giria. our old home; we have big houses
there. But if it is closet or no better,
ats our own. With Mrs. Wiggins"-
here the same curious sound of a pump
In distress made itself heard-'that's
Mrs. Virgins now" and Miss Ellen
jumped up to allow that singular old
woman to come in with dish of roasted
rabbit.
When the door closed after her, Mrs.
Virgins has her peculiariies, as you
may observe" said Miss Robertson,
laughing. THAT peculiar snort of hers
is something 1 can't understand, ex-
cept as a signal to open the door. You
see, have to get up every time the door
is opened; and, as Mrs. Virgins usually
has her hands full of plates or CARRIES
tray, she cannot knock"
"And to kick she is ashamed: or per-
haps she feels that ii would be undig-
nified," added Mr.. Robertson. with a
smile.
$50 she snorts," said Miss Ellen.
"And she can also cook" said L, for
the rabbit was excellent and cooked TO
perfection. Roast rabbit was some
thing 1 had not tasted since i came
from the country.
81 really don't know what we should
do without her, papa, dear. You see,"
turning TO me, "she stays in the room
with my father n great deal of the time
while 1 am away, SO that she can get
him whatever he requires"
And SO we chatted throughout the
meal, with but one shadow upon the
feast i felt that YVES traitor. Here
was eating and enjoying the bread OF
these good people and meanwhile plot
ting their ruin. Another weeks nc
quaintance with the Robertson family,
and should be ready 90 throw the Ca
zetts overheard and help the criminals
to escape After the meal was over and
Mira. Virgins had snorted at the kitch-
en- door for the last time and gone
home, we sat down by the fire, and
while Mr.. Robertson gave me q some
what rambling account of his re
searches upon the Spanish Inquisition
at least 1t seemed rambling to me,
perhaps because of q disturbing vision
upon the other side of the fireplace
Miss Ellen worked deity at one of the
famous umbrellas, and talked as clev-
erly as knew how, trying to divide my
remarks between the Spanish Inquisi-
ton and the patent umbrella. Very
much too SOON those def and dainty
fingers had finished their task.
There" exclaimed Miss Robertson,
with an accent of triumph, interrupt
ing her fathers graphic description of
the persuasive effects of thumbscrewa
an manipulated by the Spanish In
quisitors. ''I do believe practice makes
perfect. If that eye-glass falls out, /
shall be surprised. Nevertheless, Mr..
Seymour, you can tell your friend that
this is the work Of beginner. By the
way, it's my old school umbrella"
1 tested the work and shook the UNI
brella up and down. 1t had been so
long since had had a taste of anything
like home life, and this little glimpse
OF a home had been so grateful to me,
that was sorry to find that the glass
held in place. 1t might be long time
before 1 was invited to sit before that
fire again. Half-past eight rang out
from the little clock on the mantel-
shelf. L had no further excuse for
staying.
Whether or not succeed in convinc-
ing my friend of the value of this great