The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-21
4Y MARTHA MCCLIDtsH-W'ILL
lAMS

Il HAMS.
Copyright. 1910. hy Associated
Literary Press
'tJoe peshas'' the colonel roared.
/ his face contemporaries, Why. I'd
II send you To nunnery before you
should marry HIM
sIn-deed.' Betty. his granddangh-
4 ter and sole heiress. said, sticking out
her chin thought. and smiling an
Y Irritating smile, as she shifted at a
4 rose. The chin Was softly rounded.
yet had somehow 81 suggestion OF
ermness to match the colonels own
u wiiffnl race the HarkMass. said
nrrrybody that knew tferu-~-good
friends, fair enemies. bat set.--oh.
beyond anything.
Ss At rising seventy the colonel was
K most SGT upon two things matching
i Betty 9Th her cousin buval, so the
estate should he kept in the name:
and beating with a horse Of his own
breeding the pride uf the Desha
stables. whatever that might happen
/. 10 be.
nuvai Virginia bred. and at most
4 ffth cousin. ought 10 have suited
Miss Bets as we'll as he did her
elders But she had In full the family
Inclination for her own wsy-inore-
over il had been 81 case of love At
sight hetwlxt her and Joe Desha-
They had met half a dozen times. yet
were betrothed II was Bettvss own
doing ont te tho colonel
She had not said a word to Jue-in
the strength ef loyal love she meant
10 spare him humiliation. since she
knew he was coming soon To speak
for himself.
seems like you'd have more prize
than even 10 speak Ia oun OF that
scursy lot" the colonel went ON.
Nratbfully.
Betty shifted harder. Il don't
know any one Of "A seHrNy lot, she
said. sweetiy. You cant mean the
peshas-~-"
a why can't >" the colonel roared.
Because they ara about the best
bred people In the ceunty--as hish
bred as their horses Betty flung
Back. and though size stu smiled
there were points Of dangerous light
IN the middle 81 her eyes.
Tho colonel ought To have needed
Them. but he was anger blind. lie
NRxipped her arm, saying hoarse}y AS
~ pushed her toward the stairway:
-.You.If GO to your room and stay
s4hers under lock and key---untH you
learn eense--and manners Under
sG&a1ad. you saant set foot outside
ffhta house until YOU agree to marry
Duval.'
she MAS tan and slim, bur 1.-THE AS
I'M ash sapiing. once free the colonel
sNAr no match for her. But he felt
ne hsd the advantagc---she was III
her pink satin party dress, her feet
III silk stockings and tiny. high
heeied pink satin slippers. She had
made her Aveiatiun while they were
waiting for the carriage, which Was
no take them. Duyal included, TO the
EaHtons' Christmas eve dance.
Betty had not put ON cloak nor
h0Dd---her hair fell In tnm bling curls
ever her shoulders. outside IL was
@Fpftting snow. and there was a thin
Ehite skin on the ground, But that
&0td not in the least daurft her~--<iarr~
\ tn8 into the hall she snatehed down
III long horseman's cloak, then ran
b AhfUugh the front door, down the
aMnwy steps and on toward the sta
hles- Al first her sole impulse had
beeu fight As she ran purpose
shaped itself. mad one TO be sure
H hut Suiting her present mood. Ii was
30 mount Bonnyben. her grand
i fathers darling. ride back. fling a
\ ahAlfenge at the old man--and beat
\ him in fair race, In spite Of carry
ing weight
She knew Joe would be down AT
the crossroads waiting for a message
Y from her tie should ride with her---~
n together they would distance the an
u 10y colonel. even though his mount
were Sir Archy. next to Bonnybell.
N Ms pride. She knew he would dare
40 IL. the Hawksworth blood did not
Il know how to be afraid. But Duvai
" and grandmamma might interfere--at
NAny rate, they should have the
n chance.
While this was beating II out In
Hetty's brain ty help Of i3etty's
u heart she ives In the stall. had
scrambled 10 BounybciTs back. never
& 9htnkfng Of saddle, hardly even stop
spIn9 to put bride In place of halter.
s. NE had heard her grandfather shout
u Ing angTiy after her. Al first he
MhAd waited on the steps-now he Was
e Stamping down the walk 10 the sta
Nh 63&s--jnst as she was clear Of the
N pnter door she saw him. lantern in
II hand, a fine. almost 81 pathetic fig
u mrs. rudy, white-hafrsd erect, with
u Vot 4 little RIGHTEOUSNESS Of move
anent.
~ In spite If il she flung at him her
shoulder as sine sent fsonnybel
atretching away
6s I'VE will wait for YOU al the oroFs-
roads were the last words. folio ed
Il N u reckless laugh.
Youth is cruel often for want II
N Wrought, as age liz cruel III its hard
d existence. The colonel loved EettY
=