The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-15
By Istclle Tacs.

+
Literary Press)
you don't play the game fair.
Catherine" Barry Churchill looked
down with frowning Impotence at
the fair girl who sat idly tracing
fantastic patterns in the white sand
at her feet, She waited to give
final establishment before raising
dark eyes that held a look of quiet
amusement in their depths.
oh, l don't know. barry" she re
pliod. 1T really isn't nay fault that
you insist on repeating that tiresome
question at regular intervals never
more than SIX weeks apart. nor am /
10 blame that / cant give you the
answer YOU desire me to glfe. so
just where / break any Of the rules
Of the game as You choose 10 call
this summer friendship OF ours, /
am at loss to understand With n
light shrug or her shoulders, Cath
crime HOLSTER rose to her feet and
opened the gay little parasol.
Granting that returned her COM
pani0n quietly still you might at
least give reason fer your continual
/ refusats, Why won't you marry me.
Catherine" he insisted as no took
the parasoi from her hands.
The girls face flushed deeply at his
touch, but her voice was ayel as she
replied. i have given yoa my NO
mans reason before and 10 all intents
ana purposes it proved wholly in
adequate. so why bother to repeat it,
/ might add, though, what have
RETAINED from saying heretofore out
l. L 4
Ings-~-
And that is?e the man inquired
That you aren't at all the sort af
man | would care to marry" she con-
/ tinned.
The man gave a laugh that was in
/ tended re- be careless but his face
whitened at her words. III your dis
taste is engendered by any ONE par
tieular shortcoming that might
change he began somewhat sar-
easticaly.
1T isn't" tho girl broke in alb
ruptly. You ara YOU and | am f."
/ she said. and any attempt to weld
! two such natures into one harmnoious
/ whole would result in inevitable dis
aster. SO why talk about 1t further 2'
And she dismissed the matter with
a. little impatient gesture OF her
j hands that was meant to express
/ dnality.
| Together they walked along the
/ beach in silence, the man with grave
face and set lips, the girl carelessIY
swinging along beside him. She had
I removed her wide hrimmed hat and
I the cool evening wind blew the soft
hair around her face. The man felt
a tightening sensation in his throat
as he looked at her and every line
ana curve of face and figure WAS
stamped iadeiin{y on his rem en-
/ hrance
WIN all her winsomeuess there
was yet am 3afbTsroaef4gb feqress about
/ Catherine HOLSTER that kept most
men at a distance. and it was d hint
=! OF moekery that ever lurked in half
/ tautalizing eyes that had kept Barry
/ Churchill from revealing the whole
strength and tenderness Of a passion
| that had touched the very depths
or his self-contained nature Like a
wall his cold restraint and pride rose
| between himself and the girl until
her very soul cried ont against It.
| That night she sat by her open
| window looking out over the storm
| swept e&panse Of ocean that had
! Been So placid Il few hours before.
| Her eyes were wide and her heart
was tiiled with a tumultuous pain
| that all her calm reasoning could not
still.
Why can't he be more warmly HUI
| man." she said fiercely to herself as
she rose and began sto take down
heavy braids OF gold that We're cooled
around her head.
You're a perfect goose" she said
to the girlish reflection in the glass.
'To think OF YOU, Catherine Hollis
ter, a1custonled. all your spotted life
| to n perfect excess of love and ten
derness. dreaming of marrying Barry
Churchill. Why his proud indiffer-
ence and self-centered affection would
break your hungry little heart into
n thousand fragments in less than a
month and he would never dream
that he had been tho cause of st!'
/ With laugh that was half sob
she turned down the light and slip
ped downstairs to her sisters room.
| Opening the door softly, she peep
ed in. Hello. Cathie," exclaimed her
sisters husband. Come in and Join
our happy circle"
Cant" returned Catherine. II
! thought Madge said YOU were going to
! be away Tonight or / wouldn't have
ventured own, I'm lonesome and
want to borrow the baby II she isn't
asleep"
- Not by WhDle LOT, sne ISM I,
returned the fond parent as he turn
ed to d lined crib that held the
I jewel OF the household.
Here. Dolly Dimple," he said as
| he lifted Growing bundle of soft
muslin and lace from it's depths. Go
comfort the lonely heart of this spn-
ster aunt of yours while | enjoy my
book and pipe in peace for half an
hour"
AS he laid the baby in the girls
outstretched arms. he gave one Of
her long braids a gentle tweak. Why
don't you marry Barry and settle
down to a happy home life of your
own" he asked, teasingly.
why should l. when | can borrow
all It's joys and save myself its sor-
| rows2" she retorted laughingly
AS she stepped out into the hall
tine entrance door was hurriedly open
ed and the tall. coated figure of Bar
L y Churchill confronted her.
where's Jack. Mrs Weston?" he