Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-08
a Smile At cERBERUs

A SMILE AT CERBERUS
Two weeks contain 2O.160 minutes
Noel Duke had counted them. and
every one was empty.
The six O'Clock bell rang on Devil
May-Care. the pickers quit work and
began singing as they brought their
cotton sacks 20 the turn row
Duke in a blue cottonade suit and
cork helmet. rode slowly down the
cotton row. the cotton completely hid
ing his horse. and coming to the mans
waist Before turning toward the
house he paused 90 smile at his broad
white feds. level as floor. with
hundred piclsers singing I'm the rows.
/ But when he reached his gallery.
which faced the river. with the levee
| between. he was not smiling. Anita
Cameron had come into his thoughts.
turned his universe upside down. and
he could not smile az that. He
thought, too. OF Mrs. Ashton. or his
'feud in pottieuats" but he swore at
! that more often than he smiled.
lie sat on his gallery through the
still evening. and watched the Ivanhoe
road until he saw cloud OF dust.
mule and negro. coming toward him.
Then ne walked out 90 tho crown OF
the levee and waited for his spy-the
coachman OF Ivanhoe.
well. Kinly. what is it,"
"Dc young ladies is gvine ter stay
wild Miss Ellen Patterson to-morrer
an DC mex day; dcy lows dey wants
ter go er fshin."
us Mrs. Ashton roing2"
mo. sub: I'm gwne ter dribe 'om
ober IN dc surrey. an 20 back for 'em
Wen 'sday night"
kinky's news was worth the dollar.
He SAT on the steps OF the store eat
ing his can of salmon. and watched
Duke ride hurriedly toward Lake
Bruin plantation. where Maj. Patter.
son lived
Huh. he sho don't lose no time"
the negro commented.
Early Wednesday morning the
/ Duke OF DevilMay-Care halted his
best horse anG shiniest buggy at Mai.
Patterson's gallery
Ellen Patterson met him on the TOP
step with an exclamation OF surprise
that completely deceived the other
two girls. But for her cute little wink.
Duke might have supposed that she
had forgotten their deeplald scheme
OF Monday night-a bargain whereby
Ellen betrayed her friend for a i've
pound box OF caniy-to arrive on the
next boat
why. Noel how lucky. I'm awful
ly glad to see you: you are Just IN
time for breakfast. Girls"
Alice and Anita glanced at each
other without rising from their bench.
Girls. come here" There was no
help for it unless they made scene.
Miss Cameron. this is Mr.. Duke:
Miss Ashton
Alice shook hands Imply, and drew
back Anita laughed: il was really
very comical and she couldn't help
il now.
Ellen, El-lenl" Mai. Patterson. 3
voice echoed through the house: "El-
len what on earth did you do with
my hate"
Il know where it is" Alice sug-
gested' and darted into the hau-a
hash OF blond hair. the hutter of a
pink-dotted SKIRT and she was gone.
Excuse me, Noel" Ellen trie1 to
restrain smile: Il must 20 and see
about breakfast. You and Anita. make
yourselves at home"
II may be true that love is blind
but love is very lucky.
Miss Cameron. believe Won are
from Virginia" Duke began. Il used
10 know LOT of fellows at the Uni.
versity"
"oh. did you go to the University?
When?"
He had stumbled unwittingly upon
the very strongest bond Of union that
ne could ind with any Virginia girl.
In 81, for awhile. The professors
thought they could get along without
me, so came home"
Shipped" Anlta's eyes twinkled
NO. expressed-the professors were
In hurry" And they both laughed.
Maybe you knew Laura South
wark?" Anita moved a tiny bit closer.
Yes. all that set; knew them all
better than did my PROFESSIONALISM
was just the trouble"
Laura is married now" Anita vol
unteered. Why, didn't you know
tnatE She ran away. Come. sit down
and III tell ycu about it." She mo
uoned him 70 a seat beside her ON
the bench beneath the crimson ram
oier' and began telling him all about
II.
presently Ellen came tripping back
through the hall. She saw them fac
ing each other on the bench, talking
virginia. both at once. Duke reached
up. piucked a rose that hung above
his head. md Ellen heard him say: