The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-08
BY CAR JENKINS.
Copyright, 1910. by Associated
Literary Press.)


Literary Press.)
Judge Clin was . widower with one
child--a daughter, Viola. Colonel
spencer was widower with one child
"a son, Robin. Judge Clin had a
manor house called The BeeChee.
Colonel Spencer had q manor house
called The Elms. The two properties
adJoined.
The judge and the colonel were old
cronies, but they seldom visited each
other at their homes. When they met
outside. it was BILLY and Tom
and the greatest good fellowship.
properties. AT the rear OF his grounds
the judge had a big chestnut tree. Al
the rear of his the colonel had the
same.
II should have been that the son
and daughter Of these old cronies
were at least friends. but as q matter
of fact UP to the time that Viola Clin
was nineteen years old. and Robin
two years her senior. they had never
met. The two families had not been
neighbors over a year, and the young
folks we're away at college and board
ing school. Sometimes the Judge mac
said to the colonel:
Colonel. you have a son. be-
neve?'
Yes. fine boy. Judge, you have u
daughter. / heiisse..''
"Aes. Iine girl.
And that WAS all the two old cronies
knew vi each others offspring. The
judge would have moved into the city
for the winter in September. but tor
a within OF the daughter. She wanted
to wait tor the enestnuts To ripen.
The trees were loaded, but she must
for hA rihan
and bring them pattering down. she
had never gathered chestnuts. She
mad never eaten chestnuts gathered
under her own tree.
Nonsense. my dear--ail nonsense"
the father had replied. but she had
had her way just the same.
There had been three frosts, and
now the wind was blowing merrtiy.
That meant ehestnuSs would he raii-
ing-brown. fat chestnuts to be eaten
on the spct or taken aome ana roast
ed.
A hasty breakfaAt vas eaten. and
Miss Viola donned M Old dress hunt
ed up her shabeiest hat. and set OF
for the trees with basket on ner
arm. Yes. the frost had done its
work. There we're :leaps anu heaps
Of cheetnuts lying on the ground. and
more peppering down with every
gust.
When there are two big chestnut
trees standing within twenty feet OF
each other. each loaded with fruit.
Is a poor girl to think of dividing
lines" IL she to remember that there
Is such legal phrase rs trespass?
Must she hesitate over picking up the
latest and hrownest? Not at all.
OF course abe skips from tree 70 tree
and back again, ana X thought OF
property rights enters her head at
all she murmurs to herself that the
law can go hang. fr she were the
daughter OF q Judge. as was the case
In this Instance. she would accom-
pany the murmur with a defiant toss
OF her head.
Tho wind hlew--the chestnuts rat
tied down--Miss viosa gathered and
devoured. And then came the acct
dent. In passing from tree to tree
she caught her foot between two
roots in such q way that she was held
as fast As it caught in the frog" OF
railroad switch. II seemed a triffing
thing at fret. hut after FIVE minutes
she had to realize that she was n
prisoner until aid should come. Stand
Ing there. with sapiinE for sup
port. she uttered a very lady-like cry
for help. Then she uttered another
and another. 1t was forty rods TO the
house, and her father deaf In one EAR
The falling chestnuts we're peppering
her hat. and the situation was look
ing serious, when a young man came
into view.
He had baske. on his arm. He
was also after chestnuts. He also
had club In his hand. as If expect
ing to find trespassers. He came