Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-24

OF the diplomatic circles. here and
abroad. appeared In public as violin
ist last night She is a member OF the
most exclusive sets. and society was
out to do her homage. One OF Wash
ington's brilliant young horsewomen,'
and so forth Away down at the bot
tom OF the column. somewhere. they
will add that I play the violin rather
we'll for an amateur" In all her trial.
this was the one bitter expression. and
she was sorry for II the moment 1t
escaped her.
Happily her father was not listening.
He was wholly absorbed in the mystery
OF the Cancelled note
She had mounted Jane and was gath
ering up the reins. while James
strapped on the saddle-hamper. This
done. he climbed into the saddle and
slgnifed by touching his cap that all
wss ready So they rode forth IN the
sweet freshness of that NOvember af-
ternoon. A steady wind was blowing.
the compact white clouds sailed swift
ly across the brilliant heavens. the
leaves whispered and futtered. hither
and thither. wherever the wind listed:
Il was the day Of days IL vas the last
ride. and fate owed them the compen-
sation Of a beautiful afternoon.
The last ridei Warburton's mouth
dropped Ne-er aeain 20 ride with heri
How the thought frightened his heart
What a ting SC was going 20 be TO give
her up! But so # must be. He could
never face her gratitude. He must
HlHnrrnm~ lilo "a 90 ~fo in, ho
story boofs n he left now. and she
found out what he had done. she would
always think kindly OF him. even ten
derby. At twilight. when she took out
her violin and played soft measures.
perhaps a thought OF two would be
given TO him. After what had hap
pened-this contemplate masquerad-
ing and the crisis through which her
father had just passed-it would be
impossible FOR her 10 love him. She
would always regard him with sus-
picion. as a witness Of her innocent
shame
He recalled the two wooden plates
IN the hamper Whom was she going
20 meet? An. well. what mattered &C.:
After to-day the abyss OF eternity
. W1NAA NAWM NNNWtNM NMtNns HOW ne
loved her, How he adored the ex.
Quisite profile the warm-tinted skin.
the shining hairi And he had
lost her, An. that last ridel
The girl was holding her head high
because her heart was full. No more
20 ride on n bright morning. with the
wind rushing past her. bringing the
odor Of the grasses OF the flowers. OF
tho earth 20 tingle her nostrils: no
more 90 follow the hounds on a win
ter's day. with the pack baying beyond
the hedges the gay. relocated riders
sweeping down the field: no more 20
wander through the halls Of her moth
er's birthplace and her owni Like
breath on n mirror. all was gone. Why?
What had she done 20 be flung down
ruthlessly? She, who had been brought
mp in idleness and luxury. must turn
her hands 20 4 livingi Without being
worldly. she knew the world. once
she appeared upon tho stage. she would
lose caste among her kind. True. they
would tolerate her. but no longer
would her voice be heard or her word
have weight
Soon she would he tossed about on
the whirlpool and swallowed up Then
would come the hageling with mana
I gers. long and tiresome journeys.
| gloomy hotels and Indifferent fare. Gu
/ rious people who desired 10 see the
I one-time fashionable belle: her Dor
/ traits would be- Autographed and hung
up IN shop-windows. In questionable
I resorts. and the privacy so loved bv
| Eentlewomen gone; and perhaps there
would be insults And she was only
on the threshold Of the twenties. the
radiant, blooming twentiesi
During the long ride (for they COW
cred something like seven miIes) not
a word was spoken. The girl was bid
/ Ing her time: the man had nothing to
| voice. They were going through the
woods. when they came upon clear
| Ing through which a narrow brook loi-
| tered or sailed down the incline. She
refined in and raised her crop. He
was puzzled So far as he could see
he and the girl were alone. The third
person. for whom he reasoned he had
brought the second plate. was no
where in sight
A fat boulder lay at the side of the
! stream. and she nodded toward It
Warburton emptied the hamper and
spread the cloth on the stone. Then
he laid out the salad. the sandwiches
the olives, the almonds. and two sill
yer telescope-cups. All the time not
a single word from either: Warbur-
ton, busted with his task, did not lift
his eyes TO her
The girl had laid her face against
James nose, and two lonely tears
trailed slowly down her veIyety
cheeks. Presently he was compelled to
look at her and speak.
Everything is ready, Miss" He
spoke huskily. The sight OF her tears
gave him an indescribable agony.
She dropped the bride reins. brushed
her eyes, and the sunshine of a smile
broke through the troubled clouds.
Mr.. Warburton." she said gently.
let US not play any more. ! am too