The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-21
HE LUCKY MAN
BY JOANNA SINGLE.

young men in the could hardly have been ex-
number more, but Gene Turner and Ebe Fashsr
were anead--or 1t looked that way. Also it looked
meant the ladys favor. 1t odd, too, according
department store they would have though. spDanns
r , susan Jane-woud require some Of
Gene stylish but he was young and straight
ana wore his working clothes with a jaunty grace
mater to 'I he &c.. dinner bucket as that were
u'sioe at carpenterng what Ebe Fisher did behind
dancer and dresser, matter which must have ABB
so.Ded most OF his salary. had the girls stopped
Suzanne. whose final name was Ryan had sonoe-
how escaped the heartedne.s Of which
nen denial pert prettiness wealth of reddish hair.
herself had all style She was the best dance
In the store She lived with old whom sh
scant attention front room. was she made IL
understood. for her especial tricke
II out with some cheap Tides and albums. lot of
photographs Of everybody who would give her one.
iment plan For the rest. she owed l, to herself
dress like lady
charm to the circle in which moved-she was gay,
saucy independent with that little touch of feline
cruelty which men laugh at and love In pretty girl.
not realizing its real sgnihcanee-uncss they marry
| All winter she had danced aand airted and-work
ed. Ebe, as the desirable in train.
had taken pleasure playing with liked to make
herself envied by the other girls counted Che
Fisher sort of prize. by snuboing him In favor
herself 1t this reckiesness OF consequences
which made the store agurattvely hold Its breath.
They began. the girl clerks. and the men, too. bcx
on which would be the lucky man.
Even Gene s, had become really interested in the
could get two dances to Ebe's two walks this
park oftener than Fisher could At hrst he has bee
not at all In earnest simply amusing himself he
support who the apple of his eye. and ne
paying for little lot and cottage.
there ad only Irritation. clumsy
but certainly. even then. too subtle She would
|
how he was not man to pick UP and drop. He
left his mark the of personality which is hard
to erase. And his independence matched her own
/ in the spring Gene took running In
from room with the girl and chatting her Finall
old Moliie the aunt kept shining and comfortable
and which. with its old furniture. handmade By
/ prettier and more characteristic than all suxannss
cheap frippery 1t irked the girl that the Handsome
his calling sitting with the lod woman making her
chueke at his jokes, mending thing for her. doing
| a bit of hammering saving and always In Jolly
Once The girl joked--rather seriously-at him on
on Aunt Mone" said.
j II am" he retorted. She's almost half as nice
as mother-Tm used to old ladies an like them.
Come out home with me some night and visit mother
She's bi. lonely. and try to stay home with her
The girl tossed her head. She had no mind to fas
his house. She had in the back OF her head notion
own might not be bad marry she had idea 81
wasting her youth in department store-she intend-
i And Tor Gene: he had become fond Of the Eirl
He was at times sure he was In love with her; su.
snsersa his head tha II she should for
him ~ ana would marry him. Aunt Molly could have
her little house moved to corner OF his lot and ne
their eyes, He a born
4 He noticed Ebe Fisher becoming NOR
ten,ion to the girl 1t Weakened his Of rivalry.
And though he hardly knew It, he was sorry for 81,
at home dress her hair like real woman instead
Of to stop ehsI nnr psn s
wanted to protect her--even from herself He finally
ossd am no ai His mind aae on her
little wu smile She wa. 20 sw.s srs ana matsr or
working in a He did not like the ,d nippansy
but he thought /. would vanish when real love came
One evening late in May he wandered Over
ten hs her ali hs heart and nnx
ne entered the small green yard with It's old-fasn-
sas NO ana ons He
talking in the Kitchen her voice raised 1 g y
again oua aSt H ne ss "a ana
in minute and ind him and he would tell her.
and nsn stream Of words come thick ana fast Ne AID
to listen but he was 50 stunned an CO.. inst s
sir's voice was sharp and angry
NO" she said Il won't ask Gene TO fx =; .na
can tell YOU right that keep out OF the
way ne comes Do you think he comes e sss
y Ws,, y do marry himand SHAH II asks
and he will-~you can bet you needn't think ycu'H
i live with us Nor his mother. either! I'm no such
fool as that II 1 do look easy. What you take me
i FOR? shant keep any old ladies' nome and Y nes
co,ntin on that got another guess contn to hiu-
i I'm paytn You board, but don't need any chaperun
He's al "a me over his mother. III 60 but
hat Il we're ever married she can come over here
ana live with you. That will be close enough fer
i mother -in-law, an N
i without word Gene rose. went down the path
il ana out At the gate. and STRAIGHT home.
i He ala not go her again One dsy she asked
4 MIN IL he was mad" He said that he NOT and
H a.ked what think OF such thing? But hiS
II manner was final thing. The next day she told him
she wos engaged Ebe Fisher-she met Gene on The
street and stopped him with her news her head
Il high
II "Oh" he said II shall have to wish JOY to yot--
i and the lucky man But in his heart Gene knew
that he himself was the lucky man.