The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-22
sopyright, isio. by Associated


Literary Press.
IS The 3eweled clock climbed 3. MID
ifcent True touched the bell. Her de-
cisioa was final. There remained only
the task OF handing the mtssive to
the servant. who would deliver II te
bora Nfndmerp. From that moment
she would become the 3ffianced wife
OF the English nobleman. Hearing
steps, Millieent. without turning, held
out the letter
See that il goes at oncet
Is it So very important"
AT the voice. SO entirely different
fram the one she expected, the CIR
spranK up. ''Oh. Adam. I'm glad
but first / must dispatch nay note.
About to restore the letter so oddly
thrust upon him, Kowe's eye fell upon
the address Let as talk first" he
suggested, coolly; there's plenty of
time
Barely sufficient. it's already s.
His lordship remains at his club TIL
:, when. should there be no message,
he starts ON his deferred trip to Cali
fornia Why doesn't James come ,"
ALLOW me-" Rowe leisurely crossed
to the mantelpiece, his gaze lingering
on the girl, tidying papers in her desk.
t-v-srt4A masking Ii from view
he remarked. Five. you said? Your
- clock asa -
Il can't be mistaken" In the
act of consulting her watch she was
arrested by an exclamation from her
guest whose sleeve had brushed
roughly against a statuette, prompt
ness alone on his part saving IL from
destruction. Miilicent shuddered in
mock relief.
To-day liz nay lucky day" he assur-
ed her. II feel capa BILE of Miracles
even of convincing you to my way OF
thinking. Come" Half Jocularly he
pushed chair before the hearth,
then set another for himself. Hands
thrust deep in his pockets, he nodded
toward the clock. For one hour We
VIII talk"
And the subject
Everything that concerns you--or
me.
She studied him from the corner OF
her eyes. contrasting the fine pro-
portions OF his muscular frame with
that OF Lord W1ndmere, TO the lat
ter's disadvantage. Il am IA head
taller" she thought. experiencing a
uuiGk sense of repulston.
Rowe smiled quizzically Y OF
approve Of nae physically Good?
II was not thinking of you"
so was--about you. Who would
have dreamed that such a scrawny kid
could develop into the beauty you are
nov? No ofrense~~looks being youi
second biggest asset in the game you're
playing
you are coarse; won't be talked
to so'"
After to-day. maybe, ] shan't care
TO talk to you at all"
The girls face softened ooh, yes
you will The spice OF things has
been in our discussion Of them after
ward. Your point ot View Is direct
It's the reward of keeping at sutfi'
cient distance TO permit OF perspec'
tive with me, relative values Otter
grow confused"
II gu remember the creek where w
fshed as youngsters 2" the man de
manded irrelevantly. And the da.
you insisted on crossing the slipper!
log alone. and tumbled in2"
see you now, with your torn cap, YOU
.kuiekers' rolled up and your home
made rod, ] thought you awfully
4ses-s4}aeIa yea pulled me out--twt
feet OF water. wasn't IT."
"But think of the reward you prom
ised"
children make pie-crus promises,
''Iust SO you remember, that's ALL
Adam stretched his long legs to tn
blaze. and his companion, consciou
pf his slightest movement, felt a half
frightened resentment at the power o
her old playmate to crowd out all othe
personalities from hcr thoughts.
I'm thinking Of the night YOU toll
me of your fathers first big successfu
speculation. II was raining: we wer
In the best room, abominably stuff
because rarely opened. Your life wa
changed by that deal just as the noun
tain stream Is changed when it fall
into the river Ii became merely
question VI time before you woul
reach the city to be enguifed."
You thought IL would make differ
ence In our friendship, but"-almos
wistfuily she touched the arm @
Ra~e's chair---'it HASN'T"
1T has The mans tone strucl
back harshly. Had we .stayeds on
there in the foothills you would neve
have known about society. or the magi
of title dangling like scalp at tn
belt Of your wealth Life might hav
meant work, but It would have mean
freedom. Think OF salloping over tn
rolling plains, the soft grass flying fron
tina horses heels, the wind in our nos
trils--the width OF the sky above-ius
we two"
"Stap, Sometimes the longinl
makes me mad----it seems as If l mus
run away back 10 IL all. It's tn
Famous C,xy1prc