Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-10-16
The girl laughed at him.

t-fettv. very clever Mr. SOrnfucrs. btlf
YOU see. Il won't stand the hicbes,
test"
,Nos" ne asked SURPRISED
''No Mr.. Sommers. not for mo.
ment. Let me supuo-e "a little SIM.
pose YOU or some other officer could
change places with the manager OF thu
steel plant. or suppose the owner OF a
steel plant even should come TO me
and say, i have plenty Of money
can give you everything you want
VIII you DE miner And then I should
say. I'm awfuily sorry, Mr.. Manager
or Mr.. Owner OF Steel Plant; but.
you see. I have everything 1 want.
thank YOU. and I don't care the least
little bit for YOU Now. where would
your suppose theory Doe then. Mr.. som
mers:
The man shrugged - shoulders.
Anyhow. Hiss pu-ut" he said.
"the manager of the steel plant or the
owner OF the steel plant can 20 70 the
girl he loves make mis- FIGHT. take his
chance and. like a man. abide 10y the
result But the navy fellow CANE d.
chat An be can do SIS 90 bite his lips
and twidIie BIS thumbs and regret and
suppose"
lie ended 60 bitterly. hair turning
away from her. $50 that Le did not sec
the girls quick. Involuntary motion too
ward him. He was stu haf turned
away when she fought down the iu-
cl.nouou OF her heart 20 speak. At
last she gained self control
"Of course. Mr.. Sommcrs." she Doe.
gan sarcasticauy. 'if the navy men ar,
So selfish THAI they're not willing O..
give girl 81 chance 20 show the stun
she's made OF. ~ they're afraid 90 tak.
any sort OF plunge except a plunge
Tor glory. why. they must expect o..
receive the reward that comes 20 d.,
men who won't try-the reward OF
failure II I were a mau"-hor voice
took on color OF stre-gth and boldnes.
whether were iu the navy or
whether Z owned "a continent. I would
not let any foolish seldshucss OF ms
own keep me from attempting 20 rct
anything Z wanted"
"Fraucesw The man whlrled sud
denly. catching her two hands. 'You
mean itT"
she looked up az him. happy and
quite unafraid
Eyes" she said. "of course I mean
IT," And her eyes invited him.
Impulsively the man leaned toward
her. Then. as their faces almost seem
ed TO touch q cold. hard voice seemed
20 cut them apart
"Ah. Good evening, Z thought Be-
was you two up here"
Angry. embarrassed. the navy lieu
tenant stepped back. The girl. with %
womlu's power Of self control, seemed
quite unmovcd
OH She cried gayly. "ls that you.
Edwards Lieutenant Sommers and
were just talAiug OF YOU. lie says
you're luCSy dog
The marriage 81 Frances Durant AND
Edward Piuckucy had been So louu
anticipated hy an who knew thca
| that the announcement Of their en-.
gagement would have been received
with a feeling OF general relief I'm
| the minds of their friends 10 would
have Strengthened out an awkward
situation. Under present circumstance
their friends did not know just how
| 10 take them. For more than year
1t had been generally understood they
would some time marry. but the mem
beers or the set In which they moved
had waited anNiously. but In vain. Tor
! some definite sign. Ii was generally
taken for granted that Mr.. Durant die
[ not object. and Mrs. Durant was open
. ~ In favor of the match.
Frances herself was the stumbling
, block. Time after time her intimates
/ tried 20 find out but each time. with
perfect good humor but with complete
+ thoroughnesS. she blocked every at.
I tempt Finally, their curiosity block
ed. the solicitous friends had decided
/ 10 take the situation for granted. and
! so they had with perfect faith spread
! the report that as soon as Frances had
reached her majority the couple were
/ 10 be married. Even the people about
] the steel works had come to look al
/ the matter In the same light. The
! men understood that the general man
| ager was some day going 10 marry
| the daughter OF the boss. and that
/ made them treat him with more re-
| spect. for not only was he the mana