Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-06-18

house. None OF the golden rules which
her parents bad taught her were M
| piicable here Other ideals were cher.
tshed. other aims kept In sight. A,
hrst II bad been very mystifying to the
girl to ind that the teachings OF her
whole lifetime were OF no account. 1,
was as II abe had taken great pains &c
acquire Latin only to find that French
was demanded OF her.
Her father and mother had married
for love. Money they knew to be q
great good which one could yet he
happy without. The poorest person
was as good as the wealthiest, provid.
ed he was or moral character Yet
i, after all, when one was constantly
meeting strangers how could one know
more about them than their appear
-ance revealed? Who cared whether
Mrs. Poynter's first husband was liv.
ing?
man and very agreeable. In Harlin
she would have been looked upon with
suspicion. but here she was eourted
Yes. money was a wonderful thing,
1t brought one so much. Even II she
did not love Nj. Hubbard she could no
doubt be very happy with him To be
able to wear n dress like that gray vel
vet and black furs with long silver
hairs In them. each one OF which rep
resented a pursefui OF money, and ru-
bies like Mrs. Ogden's!
The girl drew a long breath and
stirred uneasily. What would her IA
Their and mother say2 What would
Tom think? She bit her LID as the
memory OF his brave yet tender face
possessed her. She could almost hear
him saying:
Now, look here. afry-Down.D Oily.
you are going up to town to visit your
hne cousin, and she'll have some fel-
low picked out for you, know. He'll
be rich and-and different, and that
VIII end my chance, which always was
mighty poor. wasn't It, dear? II II
wasn't you'd say one word, and then
wouldn't feel 80 entirely down and
out as will be IL you go without say
ing it"
She had not said the word. and SO
she was quite free as far as Tom was
concerned to marry Hills Hubbard II
she chose. With start she came
back to reality and the sound OF his
voice.
"You can understand that everybody
is watching Miss Steuben with a great
deal OF interest. But there Is no doubt
In my mind that the Englishman will
win out"
What makes you think soY" Mildred
asked.
Because. That's a woman's reason,
/ know; but, as 1 say, It involves q
good deal. The American, you see. has
only his business prospects and for the
present an average living. The Eng.
lishman has fine old home. ancestry
OF the best. acres and tenants and a
coronet about TO descend upon his aris-
tocratic head"
Mildred sighed and looked again at
the girl In blue. She was very pretty
as she stood with her back to q great
mass OF daffodils particularly, but now
something about them set her heart to
beating quickly with memories OF
home. A month later there would be
great showing OF them In the little
garden she and her mother tended
The dear. dear things! Nell had or
dered them simply because they look
ed well against the wall paper OF her
drawing room, but TO Mildred's girlish
fancy they Were vital. appealing They
meant home. the country. springtime-
yes. and Tom, walking toward her, his
face full OF Joy at sight OF her.
H.. -
In this hot. crowded room. jostled by
furs and velvets. simple. open air bios
SONS that they were! No one appar-
emily was aware OF them save herself
and the girl In blue. who had drawn
one from the Jar and was pulling 1t to
pieces.
A woman came across the room. set
her cup down upon the table. smiled
at Mildred and leaned toward Hills
Hubbard
81 have something to tell you which
I just now heard on the best author
ity." she said. you have lost your
wager. my dear boy. Love wins. Miss
Bertha Steuben marries the American
after all"
lis that possibleT' he exclaimed. 81
would not have believed 1t Of her"
Nor /. Thank you. no more tea, my
dear Miss Verrel. am Just leaving"
She made her adieus and passed on
gayly. Mildred's eyes, with q new ex.
preston In them. were again ON the
girl IN blue.
He turned sharply.
"You would do 1t yourselfY'
YES" Mildred said.
He studied her moment.
"Yes. ! believe you would" he said,
but I'm your case there are no parallel
circumstances. May come tomorrow
when you a"e alone. dear, and explain
to you what i meanf"
Mildred turned white, but she faced
him bravely.
NO." she gasped. mo. 1t would bt
OF no use. You see, have just made
up my mind to go home tomorrow. It's
the best pl" ce for me, / think, and
they want me. father and my mother
and She stopped abruptly, with a
vivid blush
"Ah. l seer Hills Hubbard said. He
looked very straight before him for an
instant
In Mildred's ears We're ringing the
absurd old nursery rhyme with which
Tom had leased her before she set
forth to visit her cousin Nell:
Daffy- Down Oily has gone up TO town
In her yellow petticoat and her green