The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-01
GOLDFISH AND CUPID
BY STACY E. BAKER.


this eccentric giftall be his If he abided oy
several eendtonseasy conditions i.
EZRA Dodderman had won the beginning OF ms
fortune as the captain of fishing smack on tns
coast of New England. and his sentiment for his dull
eyed pets while freaksh, commendable
goldfish could not be called frivolous. All it asks
y to indolent fin. Ezra Dodderman'a segen
be-whiskered emulsion makers while paror COD.
have thought of keeping their huge tank home In
other room in his modest domtcile. The parior for
| his hnny ones! Hadn't their kind established the
moneyed house of Dodderman? Nothing should be
too good for them He gave them fresh sea water
The $4,000 that to Hamilton was accom-
be given all the comforts home; namely. con-
spieuous place in the parlor and twelve twelve
good in any OF these conditions would result In
quaInance. with the bookkeapers high stool for the
lanky side hiskered Robert
/ Hamilton was of the young-old type that is often
His life was clockike methodical He went to work
at certain hour and did everything he had done
1t each day during his connection with Clegton q
tiosg He lunehed at certain hour and returned
Hamilton was system. Uncle Ezra had put END
Hamilton Mortified when the Breezevilie lawyer
cited the conditions attached to the acceptance Of
rihed when the bookkeeper refused consder them.
II took seven days Of picturesque eloquence to bring
Hamilton was not married His scaled wards
moved into his humble cottage the night The
bookkeeper ashamed of them. His housekeaper.
an aged dame. who had been sworn by the youth to
keep closed lips to the presence of the tank
the thick glass of the aquarium into the expression
less eyes OF the slothful sea-parasites. Thence
q tank of water arrived each week Boston.
the tracks and at very little expense h was haa
spur thrown into his back yard. People were curl
the fish.
kept to his Job at the cegton Clogg books willingly
This was made Impossible by the imperative clause
the hsh The antquated slavey refused to deliver
over the green stuff from the the
to 1t himself
I Hamilton always dressed in black. He wore str
! white shirts and white ties His modest garb and
reddish sideburns lent him ministerial dignity. ana
model young man He did not indulge in tobacco
iaws in all good timber Hamilton had one alsas.
patton Her name was Annahelle Lea.
spite omnipresent expression Of meekness had a
most resoute will of her own She had known Robert
society
For three years the bookkeeper had paid Annabels
assduous attention. She believed marry
her, and her ladyke heart pit-a-pated his very
approach. She kept determined spirit In the
Robert. however. was. this period far too busy
with goldfish to bother about girls
No one in the village knew of the youths inherited
$4,000 no more In fact of this than they did Of hx
rustic curiosity throbbed when Hamilton resigned his
position and stuck clannishly his cottage
prayer meeting nights Sabbath mornings
All Of this precuded the ambitious Annabelie from
her maidens difndence and called,
- Robert at home. He always at home.
He invited the lady into his sitting room Hereto
into the parlor. In this failure comply an
ethical condition long established Annabele believed
that she could discern wavering affection she
smiled.
Il thought maybe you me- commenced Anna
belle coyy. That is why called to-day haven't
seen you the house your way lately.
before she was taken away that there in
town as clever as when it came TO sickness, and
I've quit work" interrupted Robert hastily.
"Quit?'e gasped Annabelle. Robert of work.
was the catch that Robert faithful retainer OF
'ummm." laconicaly acquesced Hamilton. I've got
money. You know No reason for me to keep bent
This was Newn to Annahela Robert. however.
reputation u,hfuness not to be denied she
had no reason 10 disbeliere him she resumed Ihs
II Sleeps and small talk.
: Just as things were progressing nicely peculiar
noise caused Robert himself and enter the
, r<iior He made hurried exit immediately. tire
: madly cot through the Kitchen door and returned
almost Instantly with two Drumming pals water.
p'ahai;th Fl thls strange conduct was vouehsafr1
the, caller as the flushed xbookkeep.r again joined
for some time. then. with reoroachful glance ths
yo"ng man cal efuy picked the broken threads
AnnabelIe went home with food for thought Her
Richard had cast several admirng sianees her wsy.
hA. the marathon OF the Seath into the parlor
" beyond her. The parlor of the Hamilton home was
Robert had explained, in embarrassed way. that
re was engaged In special work Annabelle told
him that she would cali again She did. and once
more departed mysthed ever. Roberts
eccentrcities oordered insanity He needed watching
study.
quently excused himself dashed wildly into the
parlor in response TO imperative flap that
like nothing she had heard before cod when
- their water became foul. made impatient aud gasp
ing pilgrmages into the air. returning MOSTLY. II
her fifth visit to the home Robert. and
of his hurried PUSHES to the OF cot
tage alter the essential brine that girl deter
nincety opened the door and the mystery was laid
D bare
q Annabelle gaped, unpcturesquey. perhaps, but
naturally. The scaled gathered curiously
e at the glass side prison and stared fshy
sha king the4 whiskers the while
The ourde n bearing Robert entered. and gasped
when he suddenly realized the presencs OF his far
Q one lire end his romance risne,f
q lugub-iousy
: Annabeile speaking.
Robert Hamilton, What this mean9"
Robert shace facedly confessed his heart hidden
e The maids voice forceful he couldn,t
y help himself.
'Umm." ventured Annabele completion of
y the story. You need guardian Robert, and /
+ deem it my duty you IL once and stay rirhf
!. here with In these days OF good plumbing ID