The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-13
Silas Carter s Romance
BY CARL JENKINS

lpere was nothing wrong about silas Carter He
vas sT"pEihs young man who worked in a sawmill
ana ate three square meals a day When eveninp
came ne sat down to store his mind with knowledge
He couldn't borrow Shakespeare or American b,s,or,
anu IN consequence, he borrowed romances They
were not exactly dime novels. They related mostly
10 knights and chevaliers and of distressed
daInsels
After reading two or three years snaa got "a.
uea mat he was chevalier, and the distressed
aase' would sooner or later heave into view. He
uiu" say anything about It, 1t might be that he
WASH chevalier and it might that the distressed
danset would be detained on the road
On night when he calling on Miss Euuics Re-
gee, the daughter Of vager he casually Observed
EuhiIe' love You and want you be my wife"
Il WILL" she replied
Eunicc had known Silas for n ,or. ., ,
come to realize that she loved him. and WHY shou,dn
eHo nave answered that way. Why blush and stick a
Ia hef mouth ana reply that she would see
her rather about it? She did just as plain sersh,
sFi Always does under the circumstanceswho waited
for Silas to say more
re began and ended right there. If the distressed
ch Appeared he would tell Eunice that he had
aanseo MS mind: II she didn't then they would ger
plain girl an6 e St Ennce continued to be good
coming ~ ''eS open LOT "hat was
oitv u"tne one July day young lady from the
do"n to the mill pond fish. silas was In r. ~a'
yard wrestling the saylors aho1, vas IN inc mil
no nearu scream He for the water ana was
q h 70 pull very wet and frightened girl out
y. When she could speak called him hero ana
nd ' s aa saved her life and her eternal graft
hero-the chevalier. There could be no twa va
-noat mat de was invited to call the hotel and
her departure 'Na ~"ASo' LOOK
o elas Carter called He braced UP by the heroic
e ne mad done and he felt important when he
round himself in the presence OF a Young ladv 49,
ing 9anonds and fine clothes. and almost smiling at
the fresh grease his boots He didn't know Az
se'y what to do with his hat. hands and feet but
ne slowed them away somewhere and modestIv said
tha ne so0od ready to rescue damse every day In
He Wal
she could never forget him she even went 40 Sa-
as to give him her address the city and saw that
sionaiy In getting of the hotel veranda silas fell
over q Widows poodle dog and rolled down the steps
out he was none the less hero in his own ewes for
this He had read that they occasionally TOOK a
"nen he went over to Eunice he said:
4'a aTss T." ' '''' > '''''
Ve S We'll we s s1a on rso While so9u. It
She might have become angry and tumned nm ana
down ana threatened breach Of prornise suit bun
had an idea it was that but she did NOT lose her
Sas Sne JUST moved the pitcher along and said:
go IT'S good to keep of the nightmare
for se %sn sr 9 w before she s.
10 heF. lie wrote that he took his in hand 10
never better. lie wrote thar the sawmiii business
was good and that he expected have his wages
said IN fact he had riven stake at the spot where
she nad fallen in and went there TO look it nvs
and ended the letter by saying that he hoped for az
He didn't receive one however Two weeks drag
sed along. and then one pight he calling on
"Euny, about our getting married"
Il think we'd better"
Very we'll"
She waited for him toe ask to name the day.
but he had nothing further say on the subject 4
bright idea had occurred to him He written In
haste on the envelope OF his letter but by so doing
ne may have made the postmaster and the epists
had been torn up He decided write again.
hts oS ms pen IN hand win hTmer grip this time.
hoped for an answer within three days but at the
reached the village postoffice he inquired nvs
times day. 80 as TO make sure of missing nothing.
Was Chevaler silas In love with the daxnsel he had
rescued? He was He didn't kick around nights and
ly--knghtly-the same the heroes of his romances
had loved, Perhaps the reason she hadn't answered
was that she coyly waiting for him to come to
the city and tell of his alteration Her mother might
her love for him For three days sas debated as to
like circumstances. and then he left for city.
Having the damseI's address. 1t easy to nnd
ing Just the father temergxg with a very
overa. uttered "humph" to himself and then
asked:
"Your--your daughter up Bervine in July"
stammered the young
She tumbed into the mill pond"
And s got wet -, Wen, what OF that"
II thought Go on"
Il pulled her OF the pond"
"Oh, you did" Did 1t strain your back any"
mo, sir
IF It did, try d porus plaster"
But saved her life, sir" continued slas and
she said she'd forget it,
And don't think she will. She lost her falss
hair and complexion. believe"
And she asked me TO call on her II l ever
in town"
And being you In town, you have come to
call. Well, you in and interview the cook IL
wish. My daughter has been married weeks
and ID still away bridal tramp. She never men,
toned anything about but II you really saved her
life why. have q cigar with me-
Silas reached home that night II o'clock His
Jaw and his look determined. he VIII
layers had long since to bed, but that naught
him. He walked to the house OF Eunce's father
around her window and, In response to his
calls, a head poked out and voice exclaimed:
My stars Silas but what's hRppened"'
Nothing yet. but something's going to- You Ia
ready at o'clock in the morning be married!
There's been foong enough about IT,
SMi