The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-23
a,EArpI-E RAnEY

Ysy TEMPLE BAILEY.
& fCopyright. 1871, by Associated Lat
crary Press
They liked to call themselves spin
STEERS, although Htida was only thAr'y
and Helen and Harriet were suil
younger Indeed. Harriet was 20
young shAt she still wore her bright
hrmids tied with black ribbon,
They lived alone in the old house
on Scarlet Ridge. and IL was because
4 Of ti.eir purely feminine household
that they termed themselves spin
ssers
We are never going to marry,
they declared and the people in the
little town half mile away knew
the reason Of this declaration.
n. Poor things. poor things. they
would say with shake of the head.
Their father and their brothers we're
geea-taF- sasaf sEiHss, IL isn't aat.-Fet,is-
der that they don't like men"
There was money enough in the old
house On the Scarlet Ridge, so that
the three girls entertained comfort
q hly and were famous hostesses. They
were talented. too. and Htlda $ music
and Helens paintings were matched
only 10y Harriois skill as house
keeper.
She is the youngest of US. Hilda
MaHla So but she is the most prae-
teal; and she looks like one of RIA
phaels angels
Scarlet Ridge got it's name from the
Wonderful masses Of dogwood which,
turning red In the fall. blazed against
the gray powders. The rugged seen
cry. the Wild river which leaped at
the foot Of the hills through rocky
passes made it a favorite haunt Tor
artists who came from far and near.
especially in the autumn. To paint the
glowing landscape. When the artists
were women, the three spinsters in
the old house welcomed them with
open arms. hut to all strange men
the doors were shut,
Perhaps for this very reason men
bombarded the old place tried TO gain
Ambulance To castle whose gates
were closed to them. II was known
that the spiBsters were attractive, but
inxulnerabIe This fact piqaed curl
osfty. IL came as something Of a
shock, therefore, when, one stormy
December morning, Harriet answered
knock at the door and was faced by
three young men in raincoats,
We saw" said the foremost young
man difndently. the light of your
( fire through the window We were
here in October TO paint the dogwood
We thought We would come again and
see the effect Of bare branches, but 1t
Ii cold outside and it looks warm
within. VIII we be imposing toe
much on your hospitality it we ask L.
share your fire ?"
Harriet hesitated. The rule OF the
house said. No admltianee for mas
eulines, Yet this young man with his
hat In his hand. with his deferentiaI
manner, and with that dominant note
n tu
with.
'I'Il ask Hilda." she said at last.
ailda, playing songs without words
IN the dim music room Mas nhdurate.
OF course they can't come IN"
Well. you go tell them" Harriet
said.
'.of course" Hilda responded. "oniy
ID don't see why YOU can't do it, Iar-
riot"
..Youll see when YOU get there. =.
was Harriots response,
Hilda. sweeping down the hall her
soft white robe trailing behind her,
was thing of beauty To the men
who looked upon her she seemed IT.
ernbody everything that was gracious
and gentle. With her words, how
ever. came disillusion.
am sorry. gentlemen" she said,
rrfsply that we cannot welcome you.
There is an inn i'm the town"
But we didn't want to 60 to the
inn said the tall young man, plain
lively We are three poor travel
ers who have seen the light Of your
IRE. Would You condemn as to
Eteampipes and radiators -
Hiida found herself smiling But
we don't she began. Then the SET
ofd man stepped forward. He wasn't
very tail. but his massive head and
thick hair that waved back from his
sanality.
1T has been MANY years since /
have seen fireplace like that" he
said, with the big back log burn
1ng and with the old guns and antIers
above the Ina ntelpieces;. Vet ,you woalld
send us back TO the darkness ana
baroness If the hotel parlor.''
iiilda, turning from one 10 the