Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-01-20
The StinSiness
OF Grace
Ry MARTHA HUMPHREYS


who would ever have dreamed she
was so stir ~y? OF course the more
money you have in this world the more
you want. She doesn't look like a girl
who thought of nothing but money.
Miserly people are supposed to have
steely gray eyes and sharp chlns. and
she has the softest brown eyes and a
dimple in her chin"
WHO has emp asked Tom Bliss.
rolling over languidly i'm his steamer
chair.
Il was talking about Grace Patter-
son."
HAS she dlmples and brown eyes?,
asked Tom innocentfS.
His sister flung him q scornful
glance.
You ought to know. You have been
hanging around her ever since YOU
came down.
well, a fellows got to do something
when he's on his vacation" said Tom
easily. You can't expect him to turn
woman hater when he's the only man
to twoscore of pretty women
That's just why I'm complaining.
With so many pretty girls here 1 don't
see why you should devote yourself to
one"
Margaret Bliss would have objected
TO any woman her brother might have
selected as the object of his attentions.
Her love for the six footed bachelor.
Oldest Of her brothers, was distinctly
selfish, and she was glad the occasion
had arisen TO prove Miss Patterson far
from perfect. Tom lighted fresh Gig
arctic. and the hand which tossed away
the match patted his sisters head In
patronizing fashion.
And how has your ladyship been Of
fended?'
You know Jim Green, the man who
has been on the beach boat for two
seasons, died last night. All the board
eFs knew him, and of course we looked
right into the matter and found out
that he left his family almost penni-
less, SO we are going to give fair for
their benefit. We asked Miss Patterson
to make something for it, and she said
she was too busy; then we asked her to
preside at one of the tables or to rattle
or the embroidered sofa cushion Mrs.
Marshall is going to donate. and she
said she didn't believe in Yafiles"
my opinion OF Miss Patterson i'm
proves" said the aggravating Tom.
MANY time and oft have been done
at your fairs and raffles."
Margaret rose angrily.
ct might have known she was max
ing some sort of n grand stand play.
That sort OF girl only cares TO please
the men"
Tom leaned back in his chair and
smoked dreamily. He had rather en-
joyed Miss Patterson's society, be-
cause she knew enough to steer n boat
and not to screech when IL shipped wa
ter. Now he felt a curious desire to
know her better. A girl with tender
brown eyes and dimple in her chin
rarely held decided opinions on such
grave matters as hotel benefits and
raffies. But she was not in sight at the
present moment. Then he recalled that
his stationery needed replenishing. and
he started for the village store. II was
cheap imitation OF the city depart
ment store, and as he was passing the
dress goods counter on his way. to the
stationery department he heard n IA
miliar voice say:
us that the best quality of nuns
yelling you have?'
It's enough better than anything
she's been used to having" said the
middle aged woman behind the coun-
ter.
Tom Bliss stopped short an amused
smile on his lips. for he could see that
Miss Patterson was flushing indignant
ly ut the woman's rudeness.
eNfra Craar, man not ~ ,Afo
another black dr0ss soon, and I want
To select something Shst WIN wear well
and not turn rusty"
Tom woke up. Green, Green!' Why.
that was the name OF tho man who
had handled the life saving boat. Why
was Grace Patterson shopping for his
widow? He drew closer.
II think the henrietta cloth is better.
You can give me ten yards of that and
three yards OF the Grape; also four
yards OF that lusterless black ribbon"
she turned suddenly, almost bump
Ing into Tom.
Wont you let me help?" he said,
with note in his voice that she did
not recognize.
mo, thank you," she said, blushing
u
think we have everything" He no
ticed the ''we' and liked 1t. SD
"But the children" he urged -
"oughtn't they to have something; say.
little black frocksY' + =
mo, there would be no time 10 make
them. The funeral is tomorrow, you
know. Besides, they're such babies to
wear black"
1T would, please the mother" he
urged. possessed OF sudden madness
to share in this shopping expedition.
Miss Patterson's eyes smiled frankly
into his.
well, IL you are so determined, we
might get some ready made white
dresses for the children with black rib
bons and sashes. 1t may be great
comfort to Mrs. Green to feel that she
and the family arc so neatly CARRIED
for the funeral"
"Just So" said Tom, pulling out his
wallet.
The next fifteen minutes We're busy
ones for Grace Patterson. She had
considerable difficulty IN steering him
away from lace trimmed lawn frocks
to some simple little piques. Tom pick
ed up the bundles as IL he were proud
OF them.
where nextT he said cheerfully.
must leave this package at the
dressmaker's, and then-well, there's
really nothing else you can do, thank
you"
You are going to see Mrs. Green?
Well, I'm going too"
From the dressmaker's they walked
down the beach road to the humble
house OF mourning. Excited voices
welcomed them. Frowzy neighbors
were gathered on the front porch. Mrs.
Green was bordering on hysteria. Tom
watched In interested fashion while |
Grace brought order out of chaos
One by one the useless neighbors took
their departure. The children were |
coaxed into the shadow 81 an upturn.
ed boat to play store with real cookies. |
candies and raisins which Grace pro- |