The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-21
ny TEMPLE BAILEY

that had come to him from his grand
father On the other hand, however,
II she married the doctor he would
give her the pretty things her soul
crHved, for even as Virginia loved the
pink and white of the orchard and
the blue OF the sky. so she loved the
I t.fttntfncss -uf sffken gowns ana the
sparkle of Jewels.
Therefore that night when the doc
tor asked her to marry him. virginia
,. put him off with a tiInid half prom
ise
Il must think about IT," she said,
and went to bed TO lie awake and
/ wonder II she could live the rest of
her life In the dim old house In town,
with man she did not love.
In the morning she went out early
to work In the garden. She could hear
I Marks whistle. but even when he
called "Good-morning. she did not
go to the fence. Her broad hat hid
t her burning cheeks and her hands
treinbled as she dug around her rad
ishes. Presently Mark came closer
and called. Come here. Virginia
/ There was masterful note in his
voice which she had never heard be-
fore. she rose and went to him.
Virginia" he said abruptly they
say in the village that you are going
to marry the doctor"
fsn. Nirginia's face famed but | am
7 NOT she cried, and In a moment she
| was tra5saarmed. Like flash ii had
/ come to her what ii would mean to
! put Mark oct of her life; what II
would mean 20 have the spring go
and the summer come without these
moments of happy meeting.
! II am not Mark" she said again.
! why, you--" Then her voice died
away. She could not tell him what
she thought Of That was tho
mans part. Mark looked down at
her Il know what you want to say.
! Virginia" he told her gently and
wish you would say IT. 1t seems as If
| | had no right to ask you to love me
and to marry me. But you won't be
happy with the doctor--you won't he
happy with anybody but me. Virginia"
IT was the serene assertion Of the
man who knew that he had met his
mate. Virginia knew. too, that there
was nothing of conceit, nothing to Of
! fend in his sense Of security. She was
his, as he was hers. and ne enc should
separate them.
Miss Cornelia. unconscious of the
awakening OF the young people. came
down the path and across the garden
To play the part of cruel Fate. She
! had ruled Virginia In everything fer
years. and she meant to rule her still.
Virginia, go back to the house.
I wont have you idting in the vegetable
garden" she said.
Aunt Cornelia. j am going to marry
Mark, Virginia returned calmly.
II was useless, after that. for Miss
Cornelia to protest to bluster, to
plead. Virginia had made up her
/ mind. She loved the out Of doors
and she loved Mark. She said II over
-and-arer- again.-"AHa I am to have
a flower garden. Aunt Cornelia." was
all the answer she would make to
the old lady's arguments. when they
had left Mark and were in the house
once more.
'Eut you will never BID happy" Aunt
Cornelia's tone was tragic
Virginia pondered for a moment.
then she said, Are you happy, Aunt
cornelia?"
Aunt CorneHa stared. She had not
thought of II that way.
When l am with Mark" Virginia
said Il see beauty in everything. II
was he who first made me see the
wonderful things in my vegetable
garden When you wouldn't let me
grow flowers, he found me CRYING III
the orchard under the apple tree
and he showed me then the beauty
. things of life he gets so much tina
is interesting and wonderful. and yol
never showed me any beauty Aun
, I CC"nelia."
The old woman knew that II Wa!
true Things had been commonplace
, To her always. To Virginia. life woult
never be commonplace II she married
Mark She rose and went to thu
window
Well, ! suppose you will do as you
like Virginia" she said dreariiy.
Virginia came and stood beside her
Cant ii he as you like, too Sud
denly her arms went around the oh
iadys neck, her fair head lay on tn
spare old BOSOM the young eyes Look
ed into hers with love in them.
And at that Look Miss Corneli'
: melted But she was not one to show
: her feelings. and although her arm
frightened about the slender form sh
said, grimly Well. | guess YOU vii
7 have to do as Won like. Virginia, ant
: when You and Mark come to live witt
, me in this rig old house. we Will plan
E flowers in the front garden" @