The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-12
fcontinned from Yesterday. }

Continued from Yesterday
Jim broke the news at once. gath
tring everybody but HARRISON ana
Aunt Selma in the upper hall. He
was palpttatingly nervous, but ne
tried to carry II off with hfgn nand.
ITS unfortunate" he said, looking
around the circle Of faces, each one
.frezen with amazement. and Just a
suspicion, perhaps, of incredibly
ITS particularly unfortunate for her.
You all know how high-strung she
Ii. and If the papers should get hold
of it--well. well have to make 1t
easy az we can for her
With Jims eye on them, they all
swallowed the butler story without
kulp. But Anne was indignant,
TITS like Bella" she snapped.
We'll. she has made her bed and she
can lie on. 1t. I'm sure I shan't make
1t for her. But If you want TO know
my opinion, Dir. HARRISON may be IA
fool, but you can't ram tow Bellas.
both nee Knowles, down Miss Caru-
theirs throat with a stick"
We had not thought of that before
and every one looked blank, Finally.
however, Jim said Bella's middle
name was Constantia. and We decided
10 call her that. But II turned out
afterward that nobody could remem-
Der 1t in hurry, and generally when
We wanted to attfNct her attention,
we walked across the room and
touched her on the shoulder. 1t was
quicker and safer.
The name decided. we went down
stairs In a line to welcome Bella, 10
try to make her feel at home. and to
forget her deplorable situation. Leila
had worked herself into really sym
pathetic frame Of mind.
Poor daer." she said, on the way
down. Now don't grin, anybody,
just be cordial and glad 10 see her
/ hope she doesn't cry. you know the
spells she takes
We stopped outside the door. and
everybody tried TO look cheerful ana
sympathetic and not grinny-which
was as hard as looking as II We had
had a cup of tea--and then Jim threw
the door open and We fied in.
Bella was comfortably reading by
the fire. She had her feet up on a
stool and a pillow behind her head
She did not even look at us for 8
minute: then she merely glanced ur
as she turned a page.
Dear me" she said mockingly
what lot OF frumps you all are!
had hoped II was some one with my
brea kfast"
Then she went on reading, Az
Leila said afterward that kind o.
person ought to be divorced.
Aunt Selma came down just Their
and / left everybody trying to explain
Belia's presence to her. and fed to tbs
kitchen The HARRISON man appear
ed while / was sitting hopelessly IN
front Of the gas range. and showed
me about 1t.
Il don't know that ever saw one
he said -cheerfully. butt know tbs
theory. Likewise. by the same token
this tea-kettle. set on the flame. vii
boil That is not theory, however
That is early knowledge. Poly, pa
the kettle on; we'll all take tea.
Look at that, Mrs. Wilson. ! didn'
fight baciiH with boiled water a
Chickamaugs for nothing"
And then he let out the policeman
and brought him into the kitchen
He was a large man, and his facs
Was curious mixture of amazement
alarm and dignity. No doubt we die
look queer. still In parts Of our even
ing clothes and l in the white Sill
and lace petticoat that belonged under
my gown. with a yellow and black
patsma coat Of Jimmys as sor
OF breakfast jacket
This Ia Officer Flanagan Mr.
HARRISON said Il explained our un
fortunate position earlier in the morn