Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15
IF BRUCE SHERMAN had taken a

BhUCE SHERMAN had taken a
carriage to his club on Ladies'
Night" as other properly brought up
young men with large incomes did, the
story might have been different. But
Sherman was athletic, and proud of it,
and the result was that his satin
skinned cob ate his head off in the sta
BILE, while other thoroughbreds earned
at least part of their oats doing sentry
go up and down the cobblestones in
front of clubs and theaters.
So f happened that Ladies' Night"
found Mr.. Sherman taking a route to
his club that led him eight blocks out
of the way, just because he liked it.
He was quite certain that he did not
turn up the avenue upon which Dean,
of the board of trade, lived, just be-
cause Dean had Ave daughters, one
of whom was occupying a good deal
of Sherman's thought about that time.
This certain Miss Dean was to be at
the club that night, and there was a
very reasonable proba ability of his see
ing her there, which was much more
satisfactory than gazing at the out
side of her home. But the fact still
remains that Sherman paused in front
of the Dean residence, which stood
on the corner Of a narrow street, and
then slowly turned up the aforesaid
street, and glanced thoughtfully in
through the palms of the conservatory
at the soft light that streamed out of
the library.
The certain Miss Dean of whom he
was thinking was standing under the
chandelier in all the glory of rose satin
and pearls. Near her, sitting in front
of the big fireplace, was the second
Miss Dean. She was gowned in a
loose, clinging gown of some neutral
tint, and the flames sent warm pink
lights over her slender figure.
carriage drove up to the door fac
ing the avenue, the rose satin and
pearls disappeared, and still Sherman
stood looking thoughtfully at the fig
ure sitting in the freight. The Sec
ond Miss Dean was not seen at the
big social functions as was her bril-
liant sister. The bellies of their set
spoke of her as odd, and whispered
something about blue-stocking, and
1t was understood generally that she
was in, but not of, their world. The
other three Miss Deans were still of
the schoolgirl age. Mrs. Dean was
dead
The modest, but artistic little home
looked very attractive, and Sherman,
the last living of a wealthy family,
felt an odd sort of lonely sensation
laying its weight upon his immaculate
shirt front. There was no legitimate
reason in the world for this, as the
majority of the beautiful women of
his world were not only willing but
anxious that he should never be lone
ly again forever, and had visions of
white satin and seed-pearls whenever
he bent over their dance-cards But
Sherman wanted a little sympathy in
vague sort of way just at that par
ticular moment, and the thought of
the brilliantly-lit clubhouse and gor-
geously-attired throng did not appeal
to him.
He hesitated a moment uncertainty,
then deliberately turned back, and in
at the low iron gate, and rang the
bell of the Dean residence.
1t was the odd Miss Dean who
opened it, and looked at him with a
touch of surprise in her calm, dark
eyes. ouc nelu Il DOOh IN neT lGIJ n3nd,
with one finger still between the leaves
TO keep her place, which was sufficient
evidence that she was reading, and the
place for social favorites was, conse-
quently, where they belonged. And
that was not the quiet library of the
Dean home.
This fact did not trouble Mr.. Sher-
man, however, who only bowed his
tall head and followed his hostess into
the firelit room, holding his crush hat
under his arm as he drew off his
gloves.
"Am l disturbing your" he asked,
TRANQUILITY. after he was settled in a
deep chair facing the fire. eff 1 am
will go away. But please say am
not"
The dark eyes smiled through their
shadow of habitual gravity, and he
thought of dusk pools lying still and
unfathomaOle under the stars. The