Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-23

| ribbon, the purchase of which at the
Dry Goods Emporium had been direct
ed 10y a sudden inspiration of his supe-
, xsor, Mr.. Parker Of the composing
force. 1t was Ross intention to gar
uish each chair with an deliberately
tied bow, but as he was no sailor and
, understood only the intricacies of a
hard knot he confined himself to that
species Of ornamentation, leaving, how
ever, very long ends Of ribbon hanging
dswn after the manner of the pendants
OF rosettes. Mr.. Schofield was alone at
hss labor. his two confreres having be-
taken themselves to the station to meet
the train from Rouen.
J 1t was wet, gray day. The wide
country lay dripping under formless
wraps OF thin mist, and the warm. driz-
Shng rain blackened the weather beat
en- shingles Of the station, made clear
rejecting puddles on the unevenly
worn planks of the platform and damp
! ened the packing cases too thoroughly
for occupation by the station lounger.
The bus driver, Mr.. Bennett, and the
proprietors Of two attendant "cut I'M
Gers and three or four other worthless
90 that locality awaited themselves OF
the shelter of the waiting room, but the
gentlemen Of the Herald were too agi-
tated to be confined save by the limits
o. the horizon.
I They had reached the station half an
hour before train time and consumed
che interval In pacing the platform un-
DER big cotton umbrella. addressing
each other only I'm monosyllables. Those
IN the waiting room gossiped eagerly
and for the thousandth time about the
tate events and particularly about the
tremendous news of Fisbee. Judd Ben
nett looked out through. the rainy door
way at the latter with reverence and a
0ne pride OF Craftsmanship. He de-
olared It to be his belief that Fisbee
and Parker were waiting for her now.
For al Carlow knew why Fisbee had
sone to meet the strange lady at the
STATEN when she had come to visit
the Briscoes, why he had come with
her to the lecture, why he had taken
supper at the Briscocs' three times and
dinner twice when she was there. Fis-
bee had told the story to Parker on a
melancholy afternoon as they sat to-
gether In the Herald office, and Parker
had told the town. 1t was simple
enough indeed, and Fisbee's past was
q mystery no longer. 1t might have
been revealed years before had there
been anything In particular to reveal
and IL 1t had ever occurred to Fisbee
60 talk Of himself and his affairs
Things had a habit OF not occurring to
Fisbee.
Mr.. Parker, very nervous himself,
felt his companions elbow trembling
against his own as the great engine.
reeking In the mist and sending great
clouds of white vapor up to the sky,
swooped down the track, rushed by
them and came to q standstIll beyond
the platform. Fisbee and the foreman
made haste to the nearest vestibule
and were gazing blankly at Its barred
approaches when they heard silvery
laugh behind them and an exclamation
Upstairs and downstairs and in my
iady's chamberl Just behind you,
deaTw
Turning quickly, the foreman beheld
a blushing and smiling little vision,
vision with light brown hair. a vision
enveloped In light brown rain cloak
and with brown gloves from which
the handles of a big brown travelling
bag were let fall as the vision dis
appeared under the cotton umbrella,
while the smitten Judd Bennett reeled
gasping against the station.
Dearest" the girl cried to the old
man, you should have been looking
for me between the devil and the deep
sea. the parlor car and the smokerl
I've given up cigars, and I've begun
TO study economy, so 1 didn't come on
eitherl'
The drizzle and mist blew in under
the top OF the "cut under" as they
drove rapidly into town, and bright lit
Gle drops sparkled on the fair hair
above the new editors forehead and on
the long lashes above the new editors
cheeks. She shook these transient
gems off lightly as she paused in the
doorway Of the Office at the top OF the
Tickety stairway.
Mr.. Schofield had just added the last
touch to his decorations and managed
20 slide into his coat as the party came
up the stairs, and now. perspiring.
proud, embarrassed. he assumed an at
Titude at once deprecatory of his en-
deavors and pointedly expectant OF
concentrations for the results Gle
was modest youth and a conscious
After his first sight of her as she stood
Ia the doorway ii was several days be-
fore he could lift his distressed eyes
under the new editors glance or, in
deed dare to avail himself of more
than hasty and flutterng stare at
her when her back was turned.) AS
she entered the room he sided along
The wall and laughed sheepishly at
nothing.
Every chair in the room was orna-
mented with one of his blue rosettes.
ued carefully and firmly to the miGdle
stat of each chair back. There had
been several yards of ribbon left over,
and there was hard knot of glossy
satin on each of the inkStands and on
the doorknObs. blue band passing
around the stovepipe lent it an ANTIQUE