The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23
A PAGE OF THE BEST SHORT STORIES.
1ane-

II alnt wantin IT yeller." said Jane
nne She hesitated for morncn,
Il be wantin' 1t to so round my neck.
an tie tight behind In n bow, same az
old Doctors daughter once mad. That
Were black"
BLACK nin.t youthful-like," said tho
boy.
Janc-Annie's lip dropped. Black was
not youthful but The Doctors daughter
! had worn black; and Jane Annie feared
| to leave the patti, trodden by the docs
/ tors daughter.
Pink be cheerful 'Ere's pink" said
/ the boy hastily.
Jane-Annic took the pink ribbon and
drew 1t through her fingers. The light
/ SEM II into soft salmon tints. She had
! 1t against her neck.
/ 1T be too gay?" SHE questioned fal-
| teringy
I The boy looked ut the ribbon against
/ the long youthful neck. Jane-Annfe'a
soft skin seemed to glow, and her pale,
colorless hair to send out a fragile radi-
once. She lent back the better to show
4 tho pink ribbon. and her eyes looked
at the lad then away. She was trem-
bling.
"'Tis the first time" said Sammy,
| drawing long breath, "as 4 seed
aught In pink ribbon"
ut be a delicut shade" said james
Annie.
/ She drew the ribbon s,.owly from her
neck. and laid It along tho counter,
| She stood looking at 1t, her eyes drop
| ped. and there was pretty anxiety upon
| her face.
'.Tuppcnce yard" eaid Sammy coax.
ingy. His gaze, too. was upon tho
pink ribbon; II held an added admira-
ton and respect.
Jsne-Annie sighed From the pink
1 ribbon her glance wandered, like dis
q. 81 t...tss fS..f 4. A
colors From a corner n palc-hlle veil
! vet CLEANED out Mt her. She drew In
her breath. Let's see the blue shd
said.
But Sammy looked at her boldly.
II be partial to blue" he said. "It
be in our family We is--all on us
4 fond OF bit OF blue"
1T be q taking color" said hne-
4 Annie. She lifted the blue ribbon. and
drew It over the back OF her hand
i 'Rounh-that way said Sammy
He took the blue ribbon from her
hand and leaning across the courier,
set It against her throat. The Iala
blue OF her eyes rose to greet It, and
her hair shone with delicate splentor.
WHY Jane Annie. you be beautifu.
cried the boy.
The ribbon fell from his hands. lie
| dropped his head, and kissed her.
Then they fell apart. tho countr
with It's ribbons stood between then.
Tears came Into ne-Annie's blue eye;
through them she looked at the vclv,t
yibbon.
You hadn't out to have dono ic,
she faltered.
Sammy had turned from pink
pale Suddenly assurance came bac:
to him. He smiled at her boyishly.
why. Jane-Annie. you weren't
rightly sure who the lad might be-
~ AL 4.
measured off length of the blue rih
bon with shining eyes II pays for thii
ere" he said.
4 He came round the counter and He'd
1t about her neck.
& BE | your lad, Jane-Annle?" nd
asked.
4 Jane-Annie looked shyly content.
Father says as amt to be wd
10 none" she said
The statement gave her added chant
ins Sammys eyes She needed but thu
, hint Of the unattainable to make hr
simplicity perfect to him.
. Happen he's made a mistake" ia
said
Sammy put out the lights in the sha,.
and together they left IT, They wet
. back to the yard through the sumnnr
) eve. pregnant with sweet scents aid
| subtle sounds. sanmy's red head wis
, full of glad hopes something stirred
sweetly in Jane-Arhie's hreast
, The girl stood fol moment by this
: cottage door when he boy was gone
5 There was a trump In her eyes. O.
E which she was unawsre. and which sh.
would not have understood. She I'M.
t did the blue ribbon, rolled 1t softly
round her fingers in the dusk, and
: thrust it within the breast OF he.
gown.
: When she entered tk cottage shs
i; sat quietly down betwee the two old
Y men, and began to knit. Her face was
: untroubled in It's calm sNplicity. She
was abundantly satisfied
{, She had a lad.