The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-11
In a Summer House
BY MABEL CLAIRE SMITH.


surprise when he realized what a storm of objec-
tons he had brought down his head by the SIM
PIE ann, announcement of an important happening.
What a fuss you making Grace' he inter-
poseu, hasy taking advantage of momentary pause
had committed a crime in daring engage myself
70 the dearest girl in the world Your only objection
10 MISS Floyd, as understand you, Is her profess
sion Well what's the matter with it? A doctor
y NANCY person to have around think I'd trust
IN the hands of some masculine practitioners could
name.
elebrows 49,
Cant YOU understand" she cried vehemently
mats just why you should marry her! Just
.minh what sort OF home you'd have with wife
rldlng around the country all day and
night at the call of anybody and everybody! She
% go ne woman Wheh she deliberately chooses
profession like that I'll warrant she hasn't spark
choice. I'm Its hard to be disappointed in
only brother she mourned
oh, nonsense frowned Burton "Fsther wouIdn'e
keep up her practice after married, course
At least not to the extent of answering night calls
wish you'd look at the matter in unprecedented
light Grace. never interfered with you George.
though knew all the time that he poor a
poets usually and would amount to a row
OF beans You've had time enough TO find that there's
plenty OF truth IN that reckon If IT were not for
the little dowry brought him / fancy life would
be day Job George Instead Of his pres
ont easy rhyme making existence why can. Won
show the same generous spirit toward me-"
The two cases are quite unlike, Burton" flashed
his sister with indignant of her head George
and get on beautifully together. and both
h"me-overs He likes 70 write poetry and like him
cause it lacks merit, I'm sure, for all rejection
slips say 1t isn't I'm thankful that George doesn't
have 70 from home every day and in
hot stuny Office"
Well each for his or her hearthstone." yawned
I%erton gathering mis- reins and lightly feeling the
bit Il wish YOU would call Miss Floyd though.
Grace. She would like know you. I'm Per-
haps she could prove To you better than that lady
does not have relinquish feminine graces and
complishments to become member OF the business
When / do it'll he red letter day Burton Kuhfi"
claimed Mrs Treyeiyn 7 sunpose you're riding over
Yes I'm going o take Esther look over Wood
lawn this afternoon. If she likes the place mean
to buy 1t Tor our future home We shall he near
neighbors Of then. Grace; miles and half
between the two places BETTER make up your mind
''You'H know it when do" nodded Mrs Trevelyn.
as she tossed him af+l watched him cartcx
out of sight down the dusty road.
Left alone, the little lady returned to her fancy
work I'm the hammock At one end Of the cool porch
and pondered the disturbing news Burton had brought
She sighed restessy and finally bundled up her fancy
sippered feet
I wonder whether the girl has small feet and
head Suppose she is a big. awkward creature With
"A wide sm ana grip Ike mans Suppose she
which nobody dares resist Just suppose poor Bur-
ton has been fascinated ny muscular Amazon and
4 s ISL - h t .,s - , w. ~.
Dr Esther Floyd Is George hates TO be bothered
rin, nin ON 4far, Wish knew how She onksl
| shan't have hit or peace until find out know
. Ia 60 to call her this very afternoon II Burton
hadn made F4rh fuss tnopt II, ana II ne N9oIan
woodlawn other time"
! sunddenly Mrs Treyelyn sprang feet.
mischievous sparkle her eyes. Whisking indoors.
HITtheIy upstairs and hurredly changed her
house dress for an outdoor gown Of a pale yellow
SHADE. with hat. parasci and belt to match Then.
popping her head in at the door OF her husbands
den she informed him that she going for a
walk Having received trritated grunt by
response she softly closed the door and ran down
the stairs and out to the road
1--WE just got to got glimpse Of that girl this
very day, fair or not fair. she murmured de0antly.
III get Woodlawn before they do, IN hide
in the old summer house and peck all please with
out anybody being the wiser
She took short cut through field ana another
through orchard. Gracious she painted, some
minutes later tired and flushed from her unwont-
ed speed she neared the unocouped frame house set
among stately uid shade trees. Its spooky tone-
ly place. III wager this lawn hasn't been moved since
the owner went away, three years ago. everything
looks seedy ana mdewA 10 me. It's just the sort OF
house Burton likes. though" she added as she hur-
red through the high. tangled grass 10 rustic sum-
rncr house half way between the house and the ~
trance gates He always did want to get as near
nature as possible"
The summer house was ovcrgrown with vines and
its interior far from inviting: but there was
rustic seat just inside the door ana Mrs. IreNe9n
very tired with carefully clutched skirts and
fearful she entered the retreat and seated her.
self the messy bench.
The day was unusually for that time Of year
and Mrs Treyeiyn was not accustomed much
exercise. Consequently, before she had been seated
in the place minutes her closed and she
Fifteen minutes later she came to herself with
terrified start Something sInuous and horrible
gliding away from her across the floor of the old
~ ~ frrers If her left hand with a gasp Of ter
ror she raised her hand and stared at two round
bricks on the tip of her forehnger. With a mufled
rry Mrs Treveiyn sprang to her feet and dashed
from the house Just as two people came up
the walk from the gates.
ooh thank goodness for somebody to help me-"
gasped TreVelyn. thinking of nothing save her
extremity DO something for me, won't YOU please"
she vailed appealingy holding out the wounded
ger to Wide-eyed newcomers. I've been bitten
! by a snake-oh awful thng!f know I'm going to
ttie-nv finger feels queer DO something for me-
we gods and little fishes gulped Burton, help
Iessly Mating her back. Grace. poor girl how'd
YOU do IL? You're sure snake"
Let me- hite please" said quiet lew-
toned voice from the trinity clad woman at Burton's
/ back She stepped quickly forward and took Mrs.
Trevelyn's shaking fingers, oh, yes, see the two
tink punctures quite plainly. she observed, after
brief scrutiny the injured finger. Her hro#s drev
together as though something puzzled her and sh@
looked uncertainty toward the summer house. "Ia
The snake still there she asked, expectantly.1
oh | suppose ~ shuddered Mrs. Trevelyn. feel-
inc cold and ill., do you think it's deadly bite?
win die? Ooh. for goodness sake tell me how
long to live.