The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-17

4, drew up their chairs before the cheer
! full blaze of the open CRATE and chat
ted merrily.
Il wonder" said Helen to herself as
she softly closed the door connecting
her room with Mrs. brakes, what
Mr. Crofton's fiance IL like? lie is so
nice and congeniai"
Mr.. Crofton was down stairs before
her the next morning and was Joy
oualy staring out upon a world Of
/ binding Wilderness when she made her
appearance.
! 1T is a blizzard" he cried happily.
"a good old-fashioned blizzard. Talk
! Of trains"
/ The STORYTELLING flakes Of the even
/ ing before had become working
/ snow storm later in the night The
/ hedges and bushes on the lawn were
white and glistening. 1t seemed al
most impossible that few hours
could have made such drifts and bar
4 rierS-
! After breakfast Helen phoned to
| the station, but the agent informed
her that no train would pass that way
| for few days II the storm continued.
"Murrah." shouted Mr.. Crofton
when she impaired this information.
II shall offer up prayer to the gods
/ Va StloN anu WiUd W Keep tHIs uD.
am not bit keen on leaving this
place"
She glanced at him sharply, think
7 ing It was satire. but his face was
/ boyishiy happy.
The storm continued steadily until
Saturday, when II ceased to fall: but
the wind still blew and the station
/ agent thought a train would 40
through the next day.
The snowbound pair made great
strides toward intimacy. They made
mad journeys to brakes cottage, the
! barns and the memories. They took
! constitutionals on the piazza; they
read; they shoveled paths. Helen
played the piano and her companion
sang comic songs, which greatly
amused Mr.. and Mrs Drake. who
| chaperoned the pair with great care
On Saturday afternoon, after lunch
con. Helen, had an Inspiration to build
/ a snow man. Hooded and mittened
and with Mrs brakes overshoes on
her feet, she was an amusing little
figure, as she worked. The man
watched her small fingers as they
deftly welded the large Jumps OF
| snow. Surprised at his lack of ener-
gy, she rolled soft SNOWFALL and de-
liberately threw II at him.
~~stttT -SeH With With you ne cried,
bounding toward her. She threw an
other ball as she reiterated. For a few
| minutes she eluded him, but finally
stumbled In a drift She guspef, spiut-
tered and struggled, but she could not
I get away Her rosy face was thor
oughly washed with snow. HELPLESS.
she started up at him. Suddenly the
arm that held her shoulder frightened.
You dear" he whispered as he kiss
I ea-heF1- then, stupetfcd by hts auda-
city, he released her
Biundering to her feet, she looked
at him with eyes fun OF scorn and
anger, and marched into the house
/ She VIII never forgive me-" he
muttered to the snow man, and /
don't blame her. What a cad l have
| been, when she was up here all
alone"
Upstairs. Helen was washing her
face thoroughly, striving to rub off
the kiss; but her cheek still burned.
HE came into the house and called
her. but she did not answer; then
she heard him pace back and forth
across the hall.
He may walk forever. but l. shall
not leave my room until go for my
train" she said aRgrIly. Later she
heard the front door slam and
through the window watched him
stalk with long strides over the drifts
down to the Drake cottage.
Humiliated and angry she lay upon
the couch duly contemplating the
ceiling.
1t is my fault" she sobbed bit
terly, Il should have gone to the
hotel" Then she thought of the
girl to whom he had been disioyai
and she pitied her
IF she knew what he has DONE"
- III B-lx
marry him.
An hour later loud knocking at
her door aroused her
Who Is It ?" she asked.
1T is Crofton. Please open the
door. want to speak to you.
She confronted him.
II don't want you to think me
cad as well as coward. Helen" he
said
Miss Stevens. If you please" she
said coldly.
Mrs. Drake has just told me- he
continued easily. that you think j
am engaged. The girl to whom ] was
50 attentive last summer was my sis
ter-in-law. 1t was wrong. however,
TO do what I did but somehow / could
not help it,
A duh red mounted her cheeks and
her heart began to beat madly.
Won't you forgive me and come
down stairs" he pleaded, 1T is so
lonely"
Maybe she answered, slowly |
striving to control her voice.
Later. when she made her appear
ancc, he met her at the foot of the |
stairs and handed her a slip of paper. |
This is a telegram ] am going to
send" he said PLEASE read IT.
Hope baby is better, Had a de-
liRftful time at Sunny Craig Am |
madly in love with Helen Stevens. |
intend 10 make her marry me" Bill
Croften
That isn't truthful" stammered |
the girl land YOU convey an utterly |
false impression. Cousin Fanny will /
think that you expect to have Diff
Guilty In persuading me to marry YOU
and you know perfectly we'll"
She turned toward him smiling. |
radiant but with soft hint Of tears
back OF her brightness. The foolish
bit of paper futtered 10 the floor
between them. as he took her In his
arms.