The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-07-04
Vn.ginia's
Lesson
BY HiIda Richmond

ried look on her motherly face, "or
that Virginia is disobedient. They are
simply too silly for anything. 'Mushy,'
the boys call them. and the word fits
very well. Instead OF having a good
time with the crowd as they always
did, they prefer to sit around by
themselves at parties and Virginia Is
getting 80 dreamy that you have to
speak two or three times before she
realizes she is on earth"
"Oh, WE'LL" said her sister, consol-
ingly, "all girls have those spells.
remember how Bob Lane and l used
to think our folks cruel and unsympa-
thetic because they rutblessly spoiled
our cherished plans by sending us
away to school. Virginia will get over
her foolishness In good time and be
able to laugh at herself. Don't take
It to heart So"
ITS all very well for you to take
that view, for your girls are too small
to give you any trouble yet; but just
wait few years. Virginia's health
and lessons suffer while she is moping
around, and really have to force her
to eat when she and Herbert have had
little tiff. I wish they would fall out
and scratch each others faces as they
did years ago. Then maybe this non.
sense would come to an end. / always
think of Edtha when I see her, for
she moped just like that when she
was Virginia's age"
ssEdfthaf Tho narQOnf Sand
for her to come and spend a month
with you, and II that doesn't bring
Virginia to her senses nothing will.
| Il will mean a lot of hard work, but
you will be repaid for that, I am
sure"
In less than a week Mrs. Castle was
able to announce carelessly at the
dinner table that Cousin Editha and
her family would visit them next
week. Mrs. Randolph narrowly
watched Virginia without seeming to
do so, and saw Just what she expected
in the pretty face of her niece.
Cousin Editha!" said Virginia, with
a pleased look 81 haven't seen her
since the day was flower girl at her
wedding. She was just II then-as
| old as | am now--and was ten. Do
you remember, mamma, how perfect
| ly beautiful she looked?
Yes, she was a lovely BRIDE" said
Mrs. Castle. unless you eat more
supper. Virginia I cannot allow you
to go to the lecture this evening"
How many children has she?" ask
ed Mr.. Castle. Three or four?"
Three" answered his wife. Tive
boys and a baby girl"
The whole family had been instruct
ed as to behavior and these plotters
die during the weeks to follow. Even
Rob promised to tear himself from the
delights of baseball, II by so doing
Virginia could be made to act with a
little common sense" as he expressed
II.
few days later Cousin Editha and
her family made their appearance.
Give me the baby, Ede," said a
young man who had conducted two
small boys in dirty linen suits down
the car steps. The brakeman will
carry your luggage"
"Ede!" Virginia looked in disgust
at the innocent young man. but heI
disgust changed to astonishment q
minute later when her mother kissed
the pale young woman with her hal
on one side of her head and told hel
how delighted they were to see then
all. Was II possible that this was the
beautiful bride Of seven years ago
white flowers with which Cousir
Editha had always been invested II
Virginia's memory faded away before
this tired, thin woman and her little
family.
And this Is Virginia?" said Cousir
Editha, as soon as the boys had beer
packed in the surrey and the baby oI
Mrs. Castles lap. You're quite
: young lady, Virginia, and pretty one
too. No, Carlos, mustn't whip tn,
horsie! Jack, stop pulling at the lines
Those children were clean when VI
started. auntie, but only for a few
minutes. suppose I'll have to TAX
the baby. She's cutting teeth and fear
+ fully cross. Yes mamma Is well a
: usual, but she always seems tiret
She helps me little with the chi
: dren and--Jack! have spoken to yo
a for the last time! II you touch thos
: lines again I'll spank you as soon a
5 we get to auntie's."
Virginia sat silent during the shoI
, ride. Cousin Editha's husband ha
/ walked with Rob, leaving the sure
!. for the ladies and children, so Mr.
v Race had the whole care of the livel
g infants. Mrs. Castle sat with her
t the back seat and Virginia had tn
). two boys with her ID front, SO theI
9 was little chance for her Joining
e the conversation II she had wished b
Her cousins sharp, tired voice crate
unpleasant on her ears a. she remer
bered the soft. low tones that had r
amended m musically to the nome