The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-31
txsuryrisfsss 1910. by Associated
Literary Press

II Copyright. ~IRf e,~-by- ASstfefatSe
Literary Press
Above, In the shadows, the author
was speaking softly to the other
0oarxier. The other boarder was an
artist, and the author and he seemed
Always to have a great deal TO say 10
me another. They often came to the
little Miller farm TO spend carefree
sxeek- lends, undisturbed by obtrusiVe
critics and condescending art pa
irons, and tonight. as was their GUS
torn. they tipped their chair legs back
against the shingles. their feet
stretching out toward the piazza rail
their eyes searching the stars beyond
Below on the steps sat the pretty
daughter OF Farmer Miller, gorgeous
In the panopiy Of counting evenings
her soft hair, of mornings SO altur-
ing In the careless disarray of gold
brown strands caressing slender neck
and warm flushed cheeks, now
knotted in 8 tight, awkward wad; and
the soft house dress, which usually
rlunw so prettily about her shapely
little figure. displaced by ii horror Of
ssin starched bingham 1t was court
ing evening. and she sat primly upon
the steps, complacently conscious or
the importance of the occasion and OF
her own immaculate splendor. But
the eyes Of Elizabeth Miller were
frpuhied and q frown- puckered- the
usual serenity of her sun-browned
forehead.
Was it, after all. she pondered. so
wonderful thing to be loved and
wooea by Young Dave Stetson? OF
r-ry1rr-r rr-vvsr Handsome srf4ti fieAfI
his own account, and richer still in
anticipation OF greater things. Tor
some day he would be the sole owner
of the old Stetson place. with its
wealth OF barns and greenhouses. its
expange of sun-kissed hills and rich
brown meadow land. 1T is true. how
ever, that he might have had Nellie
Wharton. the justices daughter. or
pretty Mary Howard. for the asking,
Nellie had been away to school and
Mary's father. part owner of the big
Howard mills, was man whose
wealth and influence were in no way
To be scorned
Yet, for all that, David had turned
to her. despite the greater attractions
OF wealth and beauty, Tonight.
within earshot of the softly modu-
lated voice OF the writer man and
the answering echo of his friends
gym pathetic understanding, the eyes
Of 'Lisheth Miller were troubled and
the frown, deep pickering. defied the
calm tranquility Of the summer stars.
She could hear plainly every word
or the author, though he was sub
timely unconscious of her presence.
hidden as she was behind the piazza
pillar He was speaking strange, in
comprehensive words, socialism, an
Il archy. democracy and the tyranny OF
the powers. But 1t was not the words
or their import--it was the voice
with Its peculiar richness, its strange
Kffsing and failings, its numerous sub
lie infections that held and thrilled
lherA inmost being. David might say,
II love YOU, ] love you. ] love you.
~ ihetsitssa times. hut his passionate
eutpourings could not move her one
4Rlf as much as the utterances of this
frange creature, cold and impersona
he was. She thought He mus
~ that | am pretty! Perhaps In
2tme- Her checks famed scarle
zy&nder their rich coat OF tan.
N Well. she would walt The writer
eand his less prepossessing frient
Avolid be returning. from time tC
3ttme. during the long summer, 81
she would have ample time to thini
Mat over. and sufficient occasion Il
Empress the writer with her unsur
& PASSED weekday dexterity and hel
wondrous Sunday spiendor
There was the eefise silk that Aun
Sabina had left her. She would wea
that one day--and Grandmother Nil
Isr~s black jet necklace and earring
should be called upon In time OF ne
.essity. She knew that the womel
In the great city were beautiful. bu
she would show this man that sh
eeuId cope With any fair damsel o
hn fa q DC