Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-31
CHAPTER Nv.
! M ID Ennancment.

greater number sdll waited on the
farther platform. The girl Ia gray
was surrounded BY half dozen stu
dents. all talking animatedly. AS I
walked toward them I could not jus
ufy my stupidity in mis- taking a
school girl or Is OF 16 for a grown
woman: but II was The tam-o,shanter.
the short skirt the youthful 10Y in
the outdoor world that had disguised
her as effectually as Rosauud TO the
eyes Of Orlando She was probably a
teacher-quite likely the teacher OF
music, I argued. who had amused her
self az my expense.
Il had seemed the easiest thing IN
the world 20 approach her with an
apology or 9 farewell, bot those few
inches added 20 her skirt and that
pretty gray toQue substituted for the
tsm-o shanter SGT up a barrier that
did not yield at all as I drew nearer.
At the last moment. as 7 crossed the
track and stepped upon the other plat
form. f. occurred to me that while 7
might have some claim upon the at
tenton OF Olivia Gladys Armstrong. a
hayward school girl Of athletic tastes.
] had none whatever upon a person
whom it was proper % address as
Miss Armstrong-wh was. felt sure.
quite capable OF snubbinC nae ~ snub-
bling fen in with her mood.
She glanced toward me and bowed
instantly. and her young companions
Withdrew TO a conservative distance
/ viii say this FOR the students az S.
Agatha's, Annandaie; Their manners
are beyond criticism and an anable
discretion is one OF their most &dmira-
bic traits
I didn't know they ever grew up
50 fast-in a day aud a night"
was glad I remembered the mum
Der % beads in her chain: the item
seemed at once TO become important
It's the afr. 7 suppose It's praised
By excellent critics" she laughed
But you arc going 90 an anpler
ether, diviner ar. You have at
tanned tho beadGc state and at once
take flight X they confer perfection
Ike an academic degree at St Ak
atha's then"
had never felt 80 stupidly HELPLESS
f. my life There were a thousand
things 7 wished TO say 90 her. there
were countless questions I wished TO
ask; but her calmness and posso were
disconcortinE Her eyes met rnino
easily; their azure depths puzzled mo
She was almost. but not quite. some
one had seen before. and it was not
nay woodland Olivia. Her eyes. the
sole curve OF her cheek. The light In
her hair-but the memory OF another
time. another place. another girl. lured
only 20 battle me-
She laughed little murmurlng
laugh.
I'm never ten II you WON'T she
said
But l don't see how that helps me-
with your"
Tt certainly does noti That Is
much moro serious matter. bfr. Glen
arm"
And the worst OF Il IS that I
haven't single thing 70 say for my
self Il wasn't the not knowing that
was so utterly dull"
Certainly not, Il was talking that
ridiculous twaddle. Il was trying 10
nirt with silly school girl. What
viii do for is IS somewhat vacuous
for"
She paused abruptly. colored and
laughed.
7 am 27!"
"And am Just the usual age" she
said.
Ages don't count. but time "a i'm.
portant There are many things I
wish you would ter me-you who hold
the key OF the gate OF mystery"
Then you'll have 10 pick the Ioclyt"
She laughed lightly. The somber
Sisters patrolling the platform with
their charges needed US little.
Il had no Idea you knew Arthur
Pickering-when you were Just Olivia
IN the tam-o+shanter."
Maybe you think he wouldn't have
cared for my acquaintance-as Olivia
IN the tam-o-shanter Men are very
Queer."
But Arthur Pickering Is an old
friend OF mine"
so he told me"
We were neighbcrs In our youth
Il believe have heard him mention
It."
And we did our prep school to
gether. and then parted"
You tell exactly the same story so
It must be true. He went to college
and you went to Tech"
And you knew him." / began.
my curiosity thoroughly aroused
Not at college any moro than
knew you at Tech"
The trains coming" said earn
estly. and I wish you would ten me-
when l shall see you aEainI-
Before We part for ever" There
was a mischievous hint of the Olivia
In short skirts IN her tone.
Please don't suggest fti Our times
have been strange and few. There
was that first night. when you called
70 me from the lake"
How impertinenti How dare you
remember that?"
-And there was the snow storm and
at the chapel porch last night. Meth
or you nor ! had the slightest business