The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-05
(All Rights 1sescrvcd)


with his whip the sufficiently APPROX.
ing groom. and made his way towards
the main street with light hand and
a light heart. 1t was such II Sunday
morning as Jethro Dexter loved best,
in his pleasant, epicurean way.
He lad Travelled thousands of sea
miles to take his ease In Warwlckshire.
stratford- on Avon was his goal, STRAIT
ford-on-Avon OF his dreams.
He had earned his leisure with hard
work; self -denials In the past had MED
his present pockets; while leisure ana !
treasure lasted he was king OF the
road and his throne WAS borne upon a
pair Of yellow wheels. Ohio seemed n
+housand years away; surely all his
life had been passed on these delight-
full roads, in this delightful weather.
on this delightful vehicle.
Jethro Dexter. the self-possessed.
the natively austerc, was impishly WIS.,
tied with made desire to sing, 10
drink, to love. The first was easy to
crafty. With stretch OF lonely road
before him he began to carol Justify.
1T Was Lover and Lass" to tune
he had heard long ago at Days the
etre. AS to the second, why HIS wills
were swimming In the wine OF time.
As for the third!
A kindly waysidc signpost told him
that he was within mile of Stratford,
and that Warwick lay seven miles TO
his heels. when from n house on the
right hand Of the road. so grit about
with trees that he had but dimly no.
tfced some rudy shoulder OF 1t through
the green wall, woman emerged. She.
had run rapidly across the lawn. for
she was painting as she lifted the latch
of tho gateway. and she was painting
rs she let the gate swing to behind her.
and catching at her skirts made to run
in the direction Of Stratford. Dexter
saw, in a flash that she was young, that
she was plump. that she was dark
haired. that she was dressed In a cool
blue raiment that luttered around her
slim ankles. Dexter thought that she
ran prettily--all women run not So
and was wondering why she ran at all
on so warm a morning when his INTEL
ligence. that had been lulled to semi
slumber by the calm OF easy travel,
suddenly quickened and gave him an
swer.
He had been indffercntly aware for
some little time past that the morning
had become musical with the beating
OF bells. and he had taken the bells
quietly for granted as n needed and
pleasing portions of pleasing world,
without, for the time being, actively
realizing their significance. Nagrant
heather that he was, he had forgotten
that 1t was Sunday: that good men
and incidentally good women--were
being knolled to prayers. Successive
to this timely recollection came the
certainty that the girl in the flowing
blue gown was making for church. and
anxiousy afraid--to the point OF
breathless running-of being late IN
arrival.
Jethro looked from the nimble.
eezc-auttered figure ahead OF MIN
along the winding road to where IN the
distance-a still considerable distance
he could see the tower OF a building
that played at being medieval. and
beyond that slender spire. the sight
whereof should have thrilled his pulses.
But for the moment Jethro's pulses
only thrilled with concern for the girl
in the blue gown, who was alternately
running and then slackening her speed
to distressed trot, and then running
again. Jethro had passed her by now
and in passing saw that she was very
spretty, with girlish almost immature
prettiness. her smooth cheeks PINK
from speed, some curls OF her dark
hair shaken loose-through that same
speed-and dancing naughty under
the brim OF her large hat.
Jethro afterwards assured himself
most vehemently that he would have
done what he did do Just the same ane
Just as readily If the face revealed tc
him under the large hat had proved
plain, commonplace, insignificant. PIN
pled. wrinkled. dull or frankly hideous
That is as 1t may be; this. at least. J:
what on sudden impulse. Jethro Dex
ter did He slackened the pace OF hi!
nag, then brought 1t to a standstill OF
the white highway, as the painting gir
came anigh him. and quite unwarranta
bly, and audaciously addressed her:
..It beg your pardon" he said. pleas
antly, "but think you are making To-
church. and I think also that you will
be dreadfully late"
The girl had stopped at the sound o
his voice, and was staring up at hin
with surprised dark eyes. while sh
painted. Jethro did not give her tim
to realize the enormous bulk of HI
impertinencc.
II am stranger here. he ran on
Elibly-and, indeed, was surprised, b.
the way, at his own glibness and cool
ness-"and I am going to Stratford
Please let me give you a HIT SO far
That will bring you to a church In goo
time, and will promise not to say
single word to you during the whole o
the drive"
The first puzzled look had passe'
from the face Of the girl. and sh
EaZeu now up AT JelHTo Will d - ca
calmness equal to his own reigntnE i
her. dark eyes. There was a second Q
so OF silence as she studied his gravi
clean-cut face attentively; then sh
nodded good humoredly
at is very kind of you" she sale
In smooth, tuneful voice, that mad
the young man. for some inexplicabl
reason. think of violets, ito offer me
lift. and it would be foolish of me 7
refuse 1t under the circumstances.
She glanced at the. sky as she spoke
over which some dark clouds wer
drifting, threatening, summer shoWe
Jethro. delighted. held out his hand 7
her ungloved grasp, for thanksto he
hurry, she carried her gloves In he
left hand. to don them while she Ia,
In another moment she had swung
his side, and the horse was In motto
again, and the way shortened as tn
clauds heightened.
True to his promise. Dexter kept h
mouth shut; more than true to h
promise, he kept his gaze strnigt
ahead Of him. between the ears of h
nag, though 1t was holly his desire
scrutlnize the pretty face so close I