The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-22
! a Virginian Page for Each Member Of the Family
IN PASSING OF JENNY WREN
ny MARTHA MecuILocH-wrLLrAMs.


frowning. II forgot" significantly.
II will take IL back--on condition
that you ask all of us to the we'd
ding"
And ask Lily to be maid of honor"
Mrs Jaynes, yice-president, added.
She did not love Lily, and wanted 10
drag her in.
Beatrix gave them long. steady
look. Il won't affect to misunderstood
YOU" she said clearly, But you do
me too much honor. / could not, IL
would. marry Alison Biake-he rs
too intent upon being the knight of sill
women ever to think Of being the hus-
band of one
Amen" Keturah said it, and rev.
erentiy--Keturah, who had never be-
fore raised her voice In public.
She had risen. Now she continued
In high, breathless voice: Amen
And amen! | tell you. You women
come together and talk a little chart
~ and a heap OF scandal, and nag
men folks into giving money that you
fool away. mostly--and Alison Blake
goes his way, doing real good. Never
mind how / know do know. I'm
less you let him alone. all Midvale
shall know just what happens here
you won't like that. You won't last
long after II Is known---"
or forget the guild obligation OF ST.
I ience," Mrs. Light said, trying to be
whitening.
/ Keturah almost tossed her head. II
[ know | can't tell IL. but Jenny Wren
: u she cried In triumph walking TO-
ward the door.
! Beatrix was already there and Lily
close behind her. Both were crying.
/ Outside they turned and held out hands
to each other. -
! Keturah nodded approval. Come on
home with me, you two" she said.
| II have things to tell you You're
sweet md young. and Lord knows
don't want you to grow up cats. like
the others"
In her small, stuffy room she told
them. You know Alison Blake lit
tie bit-~how every man and boy that
/ works for him gets little beyond
/ living wages. But you don't know
that he's paying better than living
wages To the folks that work for the
'Crescent'-writers. picture makers.
printers. and all. Cash on the nail
I too. No, he doesn't own 1t. A young
fellow he likes started II and got In
deep water. Alison pulled him out
and has stood behind him since. He
insists that the Crescent will make
them both rich in the end. If IL does
/ know where the money'tl go--into
helping the folks that need help,
whether or not they deserve 1t"
How do you know so much q" Lilly
asked.
why! take the money up to town
Midvaie thinks | so there after fash
ions Lord, IL II knew"
but how did you get into III" Lily
persisted.
/ Keturah eyed her for n minute. her
sallow cheeks flushing family Now
~ 4r1s ..v-4k
| while to keep anything back" she
said you see, came to understand
him in our getting together over Jenny
/ Wren"
Jenny Wren" Lily repeated in
credulously. You are not-;-you can't
be-
81 amt" Keturah said with sly
smile. But / aIn--as much as any
body except Alison himself You see,
| was In debt a hundred dollars on
account of death and sickness, and !
hadn't got any out, working five years.
1t made me desperate | tried to write
something~-verses, you know. Alison
pays for all he prints. He didn't print
my verses, but they brought us to-
gether. and he Matched aP-th PlsFs--I
to tell him the things Jenny ought to
know about. and let him see how wo-
men thought. and all, and he'd put
'em down. And he paid me ten dollars
week for Just that. and us he come
to know was trusty got me to help
with the other things. Now I'm debt
free and have money enough to buy
wedding clothes Silas and | have
waited fifteen years for that"
Lily and Beatrix looked at each other
through swimming eyes. and went
away silently, walking close together
Al the corner. Lily turned, saying
timidly: you'll soon be making your
wedding clothes. Bes. Mr.. Blake ask
ed me last night II he might dare tell
you how he loved YOU
What did you tell him o. Be asked,
very low.
Lily laughed softly THAT 1t would
not be In the least bit daring" she
said Hurry up the wedding. please,
IT must come off before the passing
of Jenny Wren. or midvale will feel
bitterly defrauded."