Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-11
By CLARISSA MACKIE.

&SSSSS&S&S&&&c
While Mary Smith was visiting her
rich cousins. the Drews, In the city she
met Ralph Meldon. He asked permits.
sion TO call upon her at her home, East
Bay.
Ralph Meldon did not get down to
East Bay for several months after
that. At last he closed his rooms and
went down to his brothers farm. some
ten miles distant from East Bay.
The next day n numbering stage car
ried him over to East Bay and depos-
tied him before the postofiice. 1t
pleased Ralph to walk down the crook
ed village street and pick out the
house In which Mary Smith lived.
A brown church stood ut the corner
where an intersecting street made n
sharp triangle. Next to the church
was a tiny white cottage powered in
honeysuckle vines and ivy. Tulips
and hyacinths made gay the brown
earth borders on either side the neat
path that led to the front door
Instinctively Ralph turned in ut the
gate and strobe up the path. II
was not until his hand had lifted the
brass knocker that he remembered to
look for the conch shell on the porch
The door opened, and n neat maid
servant looked curiously at his town
cut garments.
as Miss Smith at home?' asked
Meldon confidently.
Eyes, sir; walk right In"
Ralph fH6owed the girl into dark,
ened parSur. where she left him. The
stuffy little room with its rose gar
landed carpet, marble topped tables
and grim rows of chairs did not
breathe eloquently of sunshiny Mary
Smith, but Ralph's heart beat faster
ut the sound of light footstep out
side the door.
Presently the door opened, and n
lady stood before him, tall and gaunt
with small severe features and frown-
Ing black brows. Her black hair was
drawn into hard, uncompromising
knot on top of her head, and the thick
lenses of her spectacles gave an add
ed fierceness to her black eyes.
She bowed stifly as Meldon arose to
his feet, and she surveyed his gloves
and stick with open disapp.oval.
4 II don't want my life insured" she
snapped, opening the door suggestively
Meldon Redeemed under her insulting
tone. Really, madam" he was be-
ginning when she siIenced him with
gesture.
Neither do / wish to buy set OF
The Worlds Greatest Literary Lights
nor The European Encyclopedia nor
any other books for which you are the
agent. / ain very busy today She
opened the door wider, but Meldon did
not stir.
You are mistaken, madam. l am
not an agent for anything whatever.
/ merely called to see Miss Smith"
81 am Miss Smith," was the tart re-
ply.
Miss Mary Smith, should have ex.
planned"
Il am Miss Mary Smith"
'Then l have made n mistake in
the house. l hope you will pardon
the intrusion" said Meldon quietly as
he passed through the door
Its common enough name" re-
joined Miss Smith less acidly as her
visitor went down the steps. She look
ed admiringly at the tall, we'll setup
figure as he stepped briskly up the
street. "He must be looking for May
Smith. l dare say he wants summer
board"
Ralph smiled to himself as he looked
at the next cottage TO the one from
which he had been almost forcibly
elected. IT was quite us attractive as
the other one. and it. too. had large
conch shell on the front porch
In response 10 his knock a pale. tired
looking girl came to the door.
II am Mary Smith" she said in an
swer 10 his carefully worded inquiry.
I'm afraid I've made another mis-
take" said Ralph. with pleasant
smile as he turned away. IL am look
Ing for Captain Smiths cottage
Captain Saith lives next door" in.
tefrupted the girl. You'll find him at
home. for hc has Just gone in"
THANK you" said Ralph relievedly
As he walked UP the next neat
grayeled path Ralph Meidon was pain.
fully aware that Smith" was not an
uncommon name iu East Bay and that
sea capts!ns we're as thick in the vii
laCe as the proverJial bees I'm barrel
OF sugar. A half hour before there
had been but one Mary Smith In the
world. Now Mary Smiths confronted
him at every .uru or every door
ST last hc would see the Mary Smith
his Mary be had boldly determined
60 call her one dav. At fbis mint
In his reflections he mounted the steps
and came upOn white whiskered old
gentleman swinging in a canvas ham.
mock on the porch. The polished
boots. the blue cloth suit with brass
buttons. the keen gray eyes under
bushy eyebrows denoted the scafaring
man. lie raised himself I'm the ham.
Dock and 9ccred inquIsidvely up o.
bis visi
I'D. ssf .HH