Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-07
Ascot"

Lord Lugton sat gazing out at tbs
scenery. and in an off-hand question
ing way said: 'Well?'
The magazine that Rebecca Bruce
had been reading when he entered the
carriage tumbled from her daintily-
gloved hand to the floor. . Half al
hour later nan picked it up, and
discovered between its pages a bunch
or witbered violets. He glanced about
TO see that no one was looking, and
then he placed the flowers in an in
side pocket. His name was Todd. He
WIS leaving the golf club for Ascot
rs the train moved out he saw his
future brother-in-law speeding toward
the links as if gliding on air. He was
thinking of Lord Lughtou's reply when
he, Todd, had wished the other luck
a the afternoons match" Lughton had
said:
Thanks, old boy! See you later.
I'm in paradise fit for the gods!"
Todd wondered what he meant. He
! was soon to know. Afterwards he
wondered how it was that he had not
understood. The races had COM
| menced when ne reached his destina-
ton. He was Just In time to get a
lift on friends drag. The friend
happened to be a cousin of Miss Re-
becca Bruce. The first thing he said,
| after they had settled in their re-
spective places, was:
Heard the news, Todd? Becky's
engaged to Lughton!"
Todd had net heard. He smiled half
ironically as Becky's cousin went on:
"Lughton's an awful good sort! I'm
| tickled to death about it, You know
Becky's life hasn't been a bed of roses,
and she Is such a little trump! I'm
| awfally fond OF Becky"
The man understood the young fei-
lows enthusiasm. No, life had GER
| tainly not been a bed of roses for the
| girl who was to make the most bril-
liant match OF the season. Todd knew
that The peverty-stric,len man
smothered a sigh as he turned to his
companion and asked:
lis she here, now?"
Yes, she's with my mother, over
there. l promised to take her for a
turn and get her away from the crowd
She's tired. BY the way, Todd, she
has to go back to town to-night-on
that Special You're taking 1t, too.
aren't your
eyes"
Twill you look after her on the way
up?"
with pleasure"
Thanks, old man. I don't believe
she's well, but she says she's all right,
ind-I suppose she ought to know"
Eyes, she ought to know"
| Todd thought of the viclets, and
put his hand in his pocket to assure
himself Of their safety. They were
there.
The Ascot Special" was nearing
Waterloo as a girl tossed bunch Of
withered violets to the winds, and
then turned to the man sitting opo-
site her.
cit is better that they should 60 with
I'll the rest, Rex!"
Eyes, perhaps so, Becky. Strange
hat should have found them. / rec
ognized them at once as being those I
had sent yoSA"
Should you have sent them, Rex?"
why not? 1t was for the last time
Becky! Do you remember how we used
70 build castles Ii the air, and talk vi
the violets and roses we should have
when"
Don't, Rex. 1t was not to be. We are
both poor. We have nothing. am CRATE
ful to the man who has been loyal to nae
through everything. / mean to be Loyal
10 him from this time forth for ever
more!"
you think that might have given UT
my profession, given up everything-oh
Becky, I'll do that now, if you say the
0ordi"
But the girl was not listening. She
was thinking of the woman Rex Todd
was going to marry.
The Y pt on:
Becky se nearly there. For the
asst halfIaL e have talked of what
might have SS-.S"
I'VE have. am sorry. Let US talk now
IF what is to bel"
Becky, can't give you up!"
stop, Rex! Will you make me regret
hat my cousin sent me back in-your
,are?"
Il see. It's all over. Becky, for the
Iake of Aud Lang Syne, tell me, is there
lnything 1 can do to please you after
.his?"
, Eyes. Be good to Madge You're lucky
% have won her."
Some one met them on the platform
Ind called out:
Hello, good people, where've you
Deen-to the races?"
The girl smiled and answered: Yes. .
The man touched his hat, glanced
pack at an empty railway carriage, and
nuttered:
Been in a fools paradise!"-Lady's
Realm.
A Royal Treasure House.
The plate-room at Marlborough
house contains what is probably the
. Il uo I'm HE nclfactiOrN 81