Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-24


call him Chilly Billy at the Metropoli-
tan cIub.-and our efforts TO converse
were pathetically unfruitful. The two
ladies' stood by. making no conceal
! ment OF their impatience Their eyes
were upon the girls from St Agatha's
on the other platform. whom they
could see beyond me- I had Jumped
the conversation from Indiana farm
values to the recent disorders In Bull
garia. which interested me more. when
Mrs Taylor. ignoring me. spoke alb
ruptly to her sister.
= That's she-the one In the gray
coat. talking TO the clergyman. She
; came moment ago In the carriage"
The one with the umbrena7
thought you said
Mrs. Taylor glanced at her sister
J warningly. and they both looked at
me. Then they detached themselves
and moved away. There was some one
on the farther platform whom they
wished to see. and Taylor. not under
I standing their msneuver-he was real
( " anxious. / think. not TO be left alone
with me-started down the platform
/ after them. l following. Mrs. Taylor
N-AA AANA oAhANI NdAhtu 10 inc enc OF
the platform and looked across, a bis
, cult toss away. 70 where Stoddard
stood talking to the girl I had already
heard described as wearing a gray
coat and carrying an umbrella
The girl in gray crossed the track
quickly and addressed the two women
/ cordially. Taylor's back was TO her
and he Was growing eloquent In a mild
well-ored way over the dullness Of our
statesmen IN not seeing the advan-
tsges that would accrue 20 the United
states In fostering our shipping indus
try. His wife. her sister and the girl
IN gray were so near that could hear
plainly what they were saying. They
we're referring apparently to the girls
refusal OF an invitation to accompany
! them TO California
so you can't Eo-it's too badi We
had hoped that when you really saw
rs on the way you would relent," said
Mrs. Taylor.
But there are many reasons: and
above all Sister Theresa needs me-
Il was the voice OF Olivia. a little
lower. little more restrained than I
had known Il; but undeniably It was
she
But think OF the rose gardens that
are waiting for US out there," said the
other lady. They wore showing her
the Difference that elderly women al
WAYS have for pretty girls.
Alas. and again alasi" exclaimed
Olivia Please don't make Il harder
for me than necessary. But gave nv
nrnrrfaA - 4
holidays In Cincinnati"
She ignored me wholly and after
shaking hands with the ladies returned
20 the other platform I wondered
whether she was overlooking Taylor
on purpose 10 cut me.
Taylor was still at his lecture on the
needs OF our American merchant ma
rine when Pickering passed huruedly.
crossed the track and began speaking
earnestly 70 the girl in gray.
The American haS should command
the seas What We need IS not more
battleshIps but moro freight car
rters-~ Taylor WAS saying.
But ] was watching Olivia GLADYS
Armstrong. In a long SKIRT, with her
hair caught up under gray toQue that
matched her coat perfectly. she was
not my Olivia OF the tam-o' -shanter.
who had pursued the rabbit; nor yet
the unsophisticated school girl, who
had suffered my idiotic babble: nor.
agaIn. the dreamy rapt organist OF the
chapel. She was a grown woman with
at least 20 summers to her credit. and
there was about her an air OF knowing
the world. and OF not being at all a
person one would make foolish speech
es to. She spoke to Pickering gravoly.
Once she smiled dolefully and shook
her head. and / vaguely strove to re-
member where I had seen that look
in her eyes before. Her gold beads.
which had once carried In my rocket
were clasped tight about the close col
lar OF her dress; and I was glad. very
glad. that had ever touched anything
that belonged 10 her
Who was Olivia Gladys Armstrong
and what was Arthur Plckerlng's bust
ness with herr And what was II she
had said 70 me that evening when
had found her playing on the chapel
organ! So much happened that day
that / had almost forgotten. and. IN
deed, l had tried 10 forget that / made
fool OF myself for the edification OF
An amusing little school girl. Then
you prefer TO ignore the first time
ever saw you" she had said; but II I
had thought OF It at all Il had been
with righteous self-contempt Or, I
may have fattered my vanity with the
reflection that she had eyed me-her
hero, perhaps-with wistful adnira-
ton across the wall
Meanwhile the Chicago express
roared into Annsndale and the private
car was attached. Taylor watched
the trainmen with the cool interest or
a man for whom the proceeding had
no novelty. while he continued 20 d.
late upon the nations commercial OBJ
portunfties- / turned perforce, and
walked with HIM back toward the sta
ton, where Mrs. Taylor and her sister
were talking 70 the conductor.
Pickering came running across the
platform with several kilograms In his
hand.
I'm awfully sorry, Glenarm, that
our stops 50 Shorthand PickerinS's
e