The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-19
nv HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH.
(Ccpyright. 1910. by the Associted
-. L lyrs,aS 1


II Wae after midnight and Moui
ton was returning to his boarding
house on bad terms with himself anf
I the world. He had sat through 9
stupid show for no other reason than
that he had nothing else TO do, lie
i ArNg wondering how many es these
lonely evenings he could endure. lie
had been in the city six weeks ana
WAC as friendiess az when he started
The acuuaintances he had made II
ronnessig with his business and at his
hunraing house net appealing 10 MN
as possible intifnaies. But this even
Ing he recognized that he was be
coming desperate.
s.osher fellows make friends Moui-
frn reflected They don't need Sis
weeks 10 dc 1t. either. How the
deuce do they manage IL 49, He told
himself gloomily II WAS partl. aques.
zion OF luck, and the luck WAS always
against him.
What further nsssimistic conclusion
he might lias@ reached. left tn himself
& " IL impc ssihle to say, for at this In
start he WAS accosted. and by young
woman she was DIRE =sed most PC
= sugsaYyy fer the street gusliless of hat
or arap i4ee cfsse fitting blue frock
gave 1 glimpse o9 a white neck and
thr Is. ending at the elbow, re-
I seaiea a pair nj plump pretty arms,
Excuse me-" said the girl to Moul'
II ton. ana caused.
In Moulton's present ssstc OF feel
Ing he would hase excused any hu-
man being who made advances to-
wa-.i tslsse ssi:..aee hut in the case
! or III pi.t tit" need ot excuses was
especially slight
..po son," began the girl heaitas-
inHiy. ''aie you mind-~rats 90
lii an instan. Moulton understood
Her unusual drrss, her uneon eutional
hating OF stranger and when he
came 10 notice it, "a certain Nildnost
In her gaze. all pointed - the same
painful conclusion; This fair Young
s5cFeatur. had escaped some inexcus-
SAbty careless keeper. houlton had
mad few dealings With the insane. bat
10 recalled having heard that II was
4 AAyis&hle always 10 agree with them
N41ef voice had trembled AS she asked
sS4ha question, and Mouiton promptly
Axe3i into her mood.
Mind them - he repeated. Il
i should say | do. Horrible vernin.'
nv II lis never well To trust too much
e m r rias. especially the theories OF
other people. The girl stamped hei
foot.
I never heard of such thing.
} Atse cried. "A great big man~--you
4 must be fully SIX feet--~afraid OF
rats.
nj sutton fastened TO appease her.
# afraid" he exclaimed. Not a BIZ
Ut II. In fact. | rather like them ii
anything. Playful little creatures
''Do you like them So well that you
would object TO Killing one ?" the cir
asked anaiousiy.
And at that moment II occurred I.
Mputton that perhaps there wa
method in her madness. lie muir
insured something uninteiiisibe which
! aehH evidently took for assent, for shs
seemed relieved
In that ease she aald, I'll asi
II you 70 come up To the library. II
b unconventional, | know. but Ar ra
has had grandma freed Oh the lbrar.
4 table for tssa hours, aud Ii IL Ion.
past grandma bedtime. II doesn
I; NNFm to me Il time to stand on cere
uony."
She led the way into the house, an,
g Mcuiten convinced by her ton, tina
| her questions were all method and II.
n madness, followed her. congratulatini
u himself on his own good fortune. Tn
B Htrarv was on tho second floor. It
only unconventional feature was an 81,
lady sitting on the library table. witt
her feet drawn mp under her, On
u the floor below. tat terrier gaze
4 iixcdly at come object hidden hy III
Dropping cover.
At the door the girl paused
81 1randma,' she said, this in Mr.
MI
Mouiten." prompted the owner o
& the name.
/ This Is Mr.. Moulton. grandma, an
b he IL going to Ne kind enough to ki
the rat for u.s.
The girl climbed nmbly Into a
arm chair as she spoke, and stoo
with her garments drawn tight
II about her. The old lady on the tabl
Il Il acknowledged the introduction wit
Il much dignity.
y hope, Ethel, she said pIaintive
& III, syon have explained the situation
q lii 4 housekeeping experience extend
n ing over fifts years. Mr.. Mouton. Their
n hAk never been rat in my hous
until this moment
" haven't explained. but ! will.
B naid the girl with an air of not rel
2sz
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