Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-20

dirty brown gown, pink opera cloak
and q blue hat was begging hysterical-
ly to be taken back to land.
The captain saw peace for him when
he perceived the tug The steamer
stopped, and Lillian was transferred to
meet her shameless lover and the just
" indignant cOstumer. She began to
upbraid the former when the CONNER
cial man interjecIed:
EASY now. easy. What about my
two hundred and fifty dollar wrap, not
TO mention the dress: | see you have
damaged the cloak so we can't take It
back. Now. how dc know you can
pay for it,"
Poor Lillian! Two hundred and fifty
dollars on demand. Her checks burn
ed as she faltcrcd. 81 can't"
"Well, then, will have you arrested
for grand larcenyw cried the irate Mr..
Schenck.
But Nicholas now interrupted angri-
". How do you dare, sir, to speak so
to my wife,
"Your wife? She is Miss Fairweath-
er, ana we have her name on our
books"
"My wife. We were starting for En-
rope today. but were both detained, as
you see"
Despair and rage and thankfulness
mingled in poor Lilians mind. But she
acknowledged to herself that Nicholas
had taken the only way out of the
difficulty and caught at the proffered
suggestion.
"Aliss Macy took my dress to fix it
and kept it until | knew | should miss
the steamer" And she burst into
tears.
Now, sir, do you understand and
will you accept my check for $3.50? |
will send 1t tomorrow. You know me,
I think, Nicholas Purdy Of the firm Of
Purdy e Bros"
"Yes, sir. thank you sir, and
beg the lady's pardon. | did not know
she was Mrs. Purdy."
"Well, that's settled. Here are our
two cabs. You go In one. my wife and
| In the other"
With the look Of loving and ODE
dent wife Lillian staggered into the
cab. Once inside, her expression I'M
derwent an astonishing change. There
were several moments Of silence. while
the storm gathered fury and broke.
"Scoundrel Liar! To harrow my
feelings for week, to get me down
like this and then to find it was all a
bluff | might have known you would
not have spirit enough to do it!'
81 like you when you're mad. But II
were you, LII. wouldn't take on so
in that thing. High tragedy and it
don't agree BY the way, the clOak's
mine | might strip it from you and
expose you to the public gaze In the
other cnormity."
ooh. you are too bad! suppose you
think you have bought me with your
S250w
81 wish could, were it thousand
times that amount. | mean your heart,
my dear. and know money can't buy
that"
Silence for few moments.
you'll acknowledge. Lillian, the sit
uation was awkward. Didn't do the
only thing ! could do"
ooh, OH oh, deaPW sObDing. ITS all
been too much
"Thars right. little girl, lean your
head against me. That's where 1t
ought to have been long ago, if only
had had the right sort of spunk."
"What do you call the exhibition you
are giving me, them
"Well, little girl, don't see what else
| can do. When fair words for five
years will not win girl and yet man
finds that she does care for him q lit
tie, he Is going to get her the way he
can. You have shown me that the only
way Is to take possession. as the say
ages do"
Ten minutes later the cab drew up In
front Of the boarding house where Miss
Lillian Fairweather occupied fourth
floor back room.
"Goodby. savage" Then to herself
as she mounted the stairs: ut is not so
bad to be taken possession Of. | dc
like masterful man.