The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-18

WEALTH COMES IN AT THE DOOR

He had placed Ada Noon as MRS
Breton protege, In spite OF the iacl
that her froeks had always a touch
OF distinction. She wore the SIM
piest ornaments. but they always be-
came her wonderyully--her string OF
big coral beads, for example. ac-
cented wonderfully the soft curves OF
ner neck
Looking at the beads. Barclay
caught himself wondering how GER
sain red rubies. In his family strong
Dox. would look In their place. The
speculation startled hint was
wholly new. Could ne be really fall
knE in love? And with a girl to whom
ne was evidently no more than part
Il the landxeape7 He asked himself
the question -wrathfuily. Then ne
went off for a long day alone. Al
the end OF 1t ne knew. Ada Noon
nad come to mean something more
than the rest of the world to him.
40 meant to marry her, whether or
no. II pleased him TO think her race
WAS her fortune--rather her pretty
wit, her poised and charming per-
sonality. His mother would make
scene of course--now for years she
had been iInpressing it upon him that,
being rich, he must marry money IN
RIDER to be richer. One needed 70
grow in the grace OF wealth, she
eaought--aand active business ventures
meant risk. Just two things were
4afe---matrimony and economy. She
hated economy--it Is hard. on eighty
thousand g year-so she was as eager
to have her son bestow himself prop
erls as he had been ioath to do 1t.
He said nothing Of all that when
ne told his love next morning-so
early the dewy roses had barely
thought of opening. Ada was out
among them. bending to KISS their
unfolding buds.
He came behind her. caught her
In his arms. and said trifie huskiiy.
| ITS a shame to waste such things
az you're in kissing mood, why, kiss
me-
At first she surged away from him.
nut after one long upward look. stood
stjfl, her breath coming fast, red
roses, ali her own. flaming In her
cheeks.
barclay put a hand under her chin,
fitting ii until he could look to the
depths of her. eyes. What he saw
there satisfied him--he bent and
kissed her then said. trying to laugh:
we never meant this for earnest
not la the least---but fate took the
game into her own hands and played
n
/ 10 sui. herself"
/ Fate il an iucorrigible jester
! but not always "a cynic one, Aoa
| answ cred, with an enismatlc smile
{ She slipped from Barclays embrace
/ he stiiI held her hand.
/ Tn going to proclaim things at
/ breakfast" he said After that
/ shall send a telegrain---to my mother
/ 81 course She will he amaxed---as
| much 80 rs dear Mrs Breton will be
/ delighted"
again Ada smiled that odd but
| tranquil smile. Barclay understood
/ IL six hours later. His dispatch read.
! Going To marry--wire blessing. Al
! for lave---but she Is worth a lot more
than millions. Announce engagement
/ every " here--name's Ada Noon--
/ she'll do credit to the rubles.
Mrs John Barclay was the soul Of
thrift. but she did not wait to send
/ a nifty word answer AT reduced rates
/ Instead her son get this. as soon al
/ the wires could fetch II: blessing
twice over. You have made me very
happy Misc Noon Is. indeed. worth
| more than niiliens~~caiied up Fat
| Fryer. our trustees. and they assure
ME she is sole heir 10 at least ten
with expectations. Am having this
! ruties reset and have ordered a tiara
af The newest fashion. Fetch hons
I your tfeasur. quickly to
Your Adoring Mother"
Bob. looking over Barclays shoul'
Ter. laughed upeoariously at his idol's
i hanga of countenance.
| I'm glad you didn't know. ole
i nan. Granny swore everybody mol
! to TELL he said when he could speak
/ Ada knows you didn't know--ant
| eau two were really made for eact
5ther. You can afford TO be mis-
anderstood--of course the world vii
/ ay Your match Is the result OF some
thing like the attraction OF gravity
Sui never you mind
II WON'T Barclay said, sighins
i feep down. But it's rather tough
| soh--- am marrying solely fol
| owe
And he won't fly out Of the win
| low because riches come In at tbs
sonr," Mrs. Breton said sagely, com
| ng up behind them. IF ! had no
cen sure of that. this conspiracy q
Hence would never have been be
gun"