The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-02
Margaret's Knight Errant
ny IDA DoNNEI.LY PETERS.

tGopFright 1910. by Associated Literary Press)
You and Aunt Jean realize that
to be like other grls cried Margaret with fash
ing eyes Even should know that simplicity Is
out OF date nowadays. girl. If she wishes good
time, cannot afford to be different from in
her set
Forgive me. Margaret" pleaded the young clergy.
man with CLEAN Of something more than mere
friendship in his kindly "only yesterday dear
girl. would have been amused at SO marvellous
transformation. But to me you are always beau
tful and dear and sweet
She was keeniy conscious the tenderness in the
ciergymans voice and face: there undoubtedly
s1a =. IN met own neart that responded to It, but
pas u was an SO matter of fact she could rely too
surely on, what she considered his commonplace af-
clersymans widow, Margaret's early girlhood.
ana she had passed the half OF under the
They were too much plane of humdrum
friendship ever to be anything she herself
petuantly.
Her young soul yearned for great heart throbbing.
nance. And all this she believed had found
the godlike. handsome Percival Harriston
and from the first he had singled her out for
particular attention. Yesterday he had murmured
her in his nimitabl manner:
Il am longing to you without your hat and
veil, for know you look like dear. little French
marquse with pompadour. puffs and curls'
Hence the towering structure adjoining her hitherto
smoothly waving locks and the amused establishment
OF the clergyman, whose expression had now changed
TO one of trouble he gazed at the small figure OF
the girl who had resolutely turned her back upon
him.
At this crucial Mr.. Harriston was an
Percival jast right shade Of warmth in his
ansnid brown eyes when he greeted Marsaret and
somehow, though her heart mot satisfied she felr
pleased and excited at his melancholy you-only nn-
ders,and- me air.
ed softly. he placed her in automobile gilt
after which he arranged himself in wide.
softi. cushioned armchair
There seemingly obiisious OF her discomfort he sat
the entire evening. gazing ,enderiy her and
murmurtng sweet nothings in her willing
The saccharine quality of the conversation and the
romantic type of Pereivals beauty could quite
tn pf he ell
troubled face he sat at the writing table In the
library just beyond that her aunt glanced In the
parlor dsapprovingy as she rustled by to join the
lonely figure.
This evening the beginning daily meetings
with the exquisite Mr. HARRISON, and his sad
pressive dignity continued to faseinate the visionary
figure
Margaret began her aunt night after OF
epreisals calls do not get il into your head tina,
care FOR timing On Garth or IN heaven beyond his
oh Aunt Jean, If that be true. why should hs
come here
comes here for tile reason he treauents teas
incense and other women. who should have moro
self love-
You unjust him. auntie. He really for
TO perform great deeds for the good OF mankind"
"Humph" granted none too patient Aunt Jean lean. II
his love OF self for a minute and use little Old
! fashioned common sense, IL would be much more 10
the point than all his dreamy moonshine."
You are unjust to Perciva, Aunt Jean repeated
Margaret
"Percival. Perciya: WELL what expect any
way from man with name like that
Please don't. auntie."
Very WELL I'll say no more but my chief
laton is that In your heart more for him
than do. You fascinated by his romantic looks
and highfown speech. pray earnestly. dear child,
that do not throw away beyond recall the sub
! And Aunt Jean Margaret very
versaton Margaret went for stroll In the park with
autumn day Every grass plot in the park was ned
with gay. laughing children but finally Margaret and
| in pathway deserted but for infant sleeping
peacefully in baby carriage opposite
! Percval his iangutshing brown eyes looking unit
terable things began to hold forth in the language
that seemed go we'll with his type OF manhood.
while Margaret sat listening entranced.
Il you. Miss Startled, knight srrantry is not
dead" he grandiloquently, the things ons
as chvarous and are OF larger import than most OF
| the deeds done by knights of old And when the
chance comes to me to prove this promise you
shall be ready
"oh. Jane and some other could only hear
him now they could not fail to be convinced of hts
splendid manhood" whispered Margaret to her own
soul.
time resumed Percival T.
/ Before he could more terrified scream rent
The baby carriage opposite had started down tina
side to side The infant was yelling Justify.
Stop that carriage OH, run. run cried Margaret
How can you anything ridiculousr
The infant is in danger The children will"
But waiting to hear no more Margaret sprans up
after the quickly moving little vehicle
her beautiful pufs lost for ever.
! Margaret always afterward maintained that stimuli
taneously with the loss OF her hairpin Percvl
disappeared behind tree In testing second
she had learned to value him at his true worth
Suddenly she caught sight of the cleaning lake u
the distance. The baby carriage Was rushing toward
IL She rushed forward and reached the handle bars
lust clergyman, coming rom side path, step
ped in front OF the carriage.
over the squrming and indignant infant their eyea
met And for the first time Margaret clearly and
truly There for them in that brief moment In
all the world only man and one girl music and
laughter, springtime and love-
One of the successful cartoons We have 49,
for some In q recent issue of the New York
world 1t was entitled. Running Away and rep
resented In the foreground ragged emacated mother
1 with her baby in her arms and empty basket
beside her and a look OF despair on her face while
short distance or the hero OF San Juan Hiu.s
with the we'll known big stick his shouldaes
running away from the sad a. fast as his legs