Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-04-09

occasional widower, silly Tom Pix,
and Billy. One by one the other your,
men had mended their hearts and OF
fered them good as new elsewhere.
| The votive offerings that now cam,
to Thais' shrine were far less frequent
Billy brccght her nothing at all. but Il
was woi derful how many little thing.
he found to present the captain with
He even gave Aunt Lefty a beautiful
crochet hook with q chased gold han
die.
More years passed and more SLOWLY
Tor Thais. Chaminade had ceased ia
charm her, and she missed the excite
ment of past alteration. Mr.. Sweet
| had gone away. and Tom Pike. I'm dc
spair OF winning That's. had married n
| woman easier TO WOO. There were no
now lovers Forthcoming. fer That's was
now generally labeled dangerous. More
over. she had ceased to be the beauty
OF the time.
Sne had reached very trying period
Vi her lie, being too old to go In the
young set. too young to go in the old
set and prohibited by reason of her
maidenhood from the married set.
Her dreams did not. as In the past
satisfy her. Her hero, the ideal of her
lmagmings, had not come. She beliey.
ed now he never would come. She be-
gan TO Sigh when she looked I'm the
glass. Sometimes she saw herself
quite Old, sitting at table pouring tea
for Aunt Lefty or playing cards with
her father and having no interest IN
life beyond these two daily duties.
That's ideas of life were changing
Sue discovered that Billy Smith had a
good forehead and mouth and that bis
hair looked better with CLEANS of gray
In it,
Eily still came to the house as I'M
Iaiiingly as ever. He was almost the
only single mau who did come. I'm
consciously almost she began to look
forward to his visits. and he often
found her shutting cards against his
arrival
Billy had frightened wonderfully an
these later years. He told stories and
JOKES and the amusing gossip of tho
town. He was earning large salary
ana was much sought by mothers with
marriaSeable daughters. But for some
reason he continued to be free and to
play cards at the captains.
One evening he found That's alone
She begged him rather shyly TO stay.
and be stayed. They sat down at the
card table. and Billy dealt the pack for
pedro, They played as for dear life
scarcely speaking, Then by means Of
lucky ace Billy won.
BE looked across at That's. bur her
eyes were down. Something In her
race. however. lent him courage. and
ne caught her hands, which were alb
sentiy engaged with the cards.
Ihais|' he commanded. She looked
at him,
81 winv' he said triumphantly.
"Yes," she faltered.
"it has taken long time" he said
presently. "Thais. ] have never given
you present But have one for YOU
which l have carried with me con.
stantly for several years. May 1 give
It TO you now?"
"fes," That's said meekly.
When he had put the ring upon her
finger he leaned forward and kissed
her.
ut has been long game" he said.
and one that required lots of patience
ard determination. You see. dearest. I
fell In love with you the first time ]
saw you. and | made up my mind to
have you. Gcd willing. The only way
| could make myself welcome here
was to play cards. So i played. You'n
never ask me to play cards with you
after we are married, Will you, dear?"
why not?" asked That's wondering
ly.
Because j loathe them and have
loathed them since the first game !
ever learned"
"Oh. Billyr' That's said.
And then and there she realized that
the man of her heart was indeed, after
all. hero