The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-22
tCopyright, 1919. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

tf.opyright. 1919. by Associated Lit
erary Press)
Jenny wren's chatter filled, week
IL, a column next the Want" adyer-
tieenents in the Midvale Clarion"
III was for the most part mildly anus
Ing, though now and then there came
spice of malice. Naturally there
was much curiosity among Clarion"
readers as to the real name of Jenny
Wren. But Editef Blake only smiled
At questions outright. and shook his
head at the willy ones who tried to
trap him into telling
He was a good fellow, Editor Blake,
tai1 and thin, family stopped, and be-
Gfnning 10 grizzle. He Kept away
from women. not through shyness,
hut because they bored him. AT least
the general mass of them did. There
were exceptions.
Because Beatrix Henry was the
youngest and Tar the prettiest of
these exceptions moreover, saucily
bright. and just the least bit spoiled,
more than half of Midvale said she
was Jenny Wren, and governed itself
accordingly. Beatrix knew the fact
both az cause and effect, She was
asked everywhere. to everything,
throush fear of what Jenny Wren
would say. or the greater fear that
nhe would say nothing.
1t was puzxiing, however, that Jen-
ny often passed over with a line coca
MONS at which Beauix had been al
lnost the bright. particular star: also
tf1X1 functions frrm wfItrh yf1n-way
Gonspicnously absent were either
praised extravsgantiy or deity ridt-
c1aied.
Still. with every beau in town more
or less among her satellites, Beatrix
was In the way OF knowing about al
most everything, Yet. for the would
be hamorists who addressed her in
public as Jenny Wren, she had fine
scorn that in itself predicated inno-
cenee. Moreover, was not Lily Greer
n bright, as popular and very much
more given TO sharp speeches than
she?
Lily. also. disclaimed Jenny Wren
ship, but, somehow, she did II less
conSincingly. She. too. WAS among
Biakes exceptions--he dropped In to
nee her for half hours in the late af-
ternoons when his days work was
done And all this gave color of
reason To the public belief The
public was firmly convinced Ii was
one of the two giris--mainly for the
reason that il could. according to its
mind. be nobody else.
Beatrix and Lily did not love each
other. There were those who said
Editor Blake. despite his grtzzHfags.
was the cause of the war How ever
that may haS~ been, they We're, in
public, SO studiously civil to each other
s that ii was impossible 10 mtsunaer-
stand how the land lay. Jenny
Wren never mentioned either Of the
yeung women, This made a puZ2Jing
situation.
80 astIfrafe never would have believed
1 = f.xYt 10 "a
lseassfs and IAiy as to anybody else.
Next to Jenny Wren's identity, Mid
vale puzzled itself most as To what
\ Editor Blake did with his money.
\ aie made the Clarion pay its wa%-
Ii never did more--but aside from
4 mat he had toierable competence
In spite of this he lived very simply
saddle horses were his sole extrava-
gance. But his income went out OF
the bank as steadily as ii came into
1T. He neither spent nor gave 1t away
to Midvale's knowledge; he could mot
waste II In riot since the stuck by MS
work year in and year out. Nor had
= he any dependents-~at least any
viEfivir r-ts-s--s=s.sg.!pgr as he did from
rich family lie gave meagerly ~
foNn charities. so meegeriy indeed
that boards Of lady managers were
his Most hostile critics.
Mrs Light, head of the Improve
mani guild said outright, In lace Oh
Il guild meeting, that he was distinct
liz a menace, She intimated by this
that his courage of liheraltty kept tbs
rest of Midvale men from going deei
down in their pockets.
Keturah Scales. who, although she
Eewed FOR living. belonged to every
Thing going and somehow did hei
share, smiled oddly to herself. bu'
kept stfent-fs usual. LILY Greei
bA5t also silent
Eeatrix spring up. with eyes light
ing sividly. UNLESS you take tina
4. hack" she said, trying hard 10 speai
steadily. II Will quit the guild--anf
sa. l think, viii every other person
who hates stabbing in the dark"
Dent fly at me SD hercely, Jenny
! Wren" Mrs. Light said. trying t.
speak iocosely, though she wa
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