The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-25
BY Virginia Blair.

Dy virginia pialF.
Copyright, 1911. by the Associated Lit
erary PressD
Il certainly don't want to meet him -
said Mary Cornelia, with her head In
the air. 'He hasn't a thing to recon-
mend him but his money"
How do you know Leonora de-
manded
Listen to this" Mary Cerneiia sat
up in the hammock, and read:
" I want you to be nice to him. Cor
~ dear He isn't good-looking. and his
clothes are badly cut. But he's good
and kind, and has loads of money -
Mary Corneiia threw the letter into
her cousins lap. Neither good looks
or Style"
''She says he's good and kind
"oh, of course she had to say some
thing. But any man can be good and
kind-and nonentiy."
mo. he can't" said Leonora. who was
married happily, and had the wisdom
of the contented wife. Ned liz tina,
kind Of man. and my father was. But
If ] searched the list of our acduaint-
ances | shouldn't find more than n halt
dozen husbands and lovers who are
really tender and true"
Aunt Jane doesn't say anything
about his being tender and true"
IT'S the same thing" Leonora stated
Kind men and good men are tender
I men and true men. and you'll learn as
the years 90 on to care less for good
looks and more for a good heart
We'll, anyhow Mary Cornelia
shifted the argument, IT am not going
TO stay at home to see him tomorrow
afternoon. I'm going to take my lunch
and book. and go to Big Rock and
/ have lazy day all to myself"
/ But Aunt Jane will be hurt. She
I says he was so good to her. while shs
/ was i'll at the hotel in Florida"
You are a great deal nicer than
I am" Mary CornelIa's eyes had a wick
/ ed light in them" and yollIi ask hin
questions about himself and get him Il
I talk, and he'll have lovely time"
but he wants 10 meet you, and he's
coming TO dinner"
Tn not fortune hunter" the Iigh'
had gone out of Mary Cornelias eyes
( and yoni people needn't try To marry
me to "A rich man that / don't like"
you're unjust" Leonora said. holly
! ''as II | wouldn't keep you with ms
! forever But how do you know yot
won't like him. Cory >"
| Because" Mary Cornelia gathered
up an arrnfui of books. preparatory Ii
/ her departure,
The next morning, a TAN and will,
the daisy-starred fields, In one hant
she carrie da basket, in the other I
small book. over her arm was a rug
on her head was wide hat. A big
collie dog followed her.
| When they reached the little stream
beside which lowered great rock
Mary Cornelia spread the rug in IN,
shade. But she was. not in a mood t
read. She threw stones idly in tn,
-
them.
IN, there" said voice suddenly
from the other side. you're soaring
the fish
Mary Cornelia peeped around th'
rock. young man in faded brown
icorduroys was casting his line.
She threw another stone. and drew
back into her hiding place.
III, there. boy" said the voic,
again, you wait tin l come acros
the bridge
Mary Corneua liked the voice. 7
was that OF a man born to command
She kept very still. She could hea
the whirr of the reel as the line wa
cast. Once there was q splash and
ichuckle OF satisfaction. Mary peep
ed around the rock again and say
that the young man had caught
fish.
II like his looks she said to Bops
softly
Mary Cornelia was young lady o
retiring tastes. Tho appeal that tn
young man made to her was strong
hut no appeal could make her over
step the bounds OF propriety. e.
with a sigh she opened her book an,
read, keeping her eyes sternly ava
from the tempting corner.
Then suddenly Bobs began to bari
excitedly. and Mary -Cornelia looking
up saw slipping through the ground
just beyond her a snake.
She screamed, and ran. stumhlini
, around the corner of the rock, meet
ing half way across the rustic bridge
the young man In corduroys
"For heavens sake" he gasped, a
he was clutched by the vision in pink
ARE you hurt?''
Mary Cornelia explained, distract
eddy. 1T WAS SO bsgyr~oand harrid. = gaa
| shuddered.
He left her on the bridge while h
dispatched the enemy, then ne cam
back to her. and found her yer
white and shaky, sitting beside hi
| creel and rod.
"Oh. thank. You so much" she said
Il don't think was ever so fright
ened In my life"
81 don't blame you. He was a dan
gerous customer" he asserted. The
as he took in her beauty and charm
he asked, suddenly: Was 1t you VIII
threw the stones?"
yes You were 80 sure / was
boy that I was tempted
II came over from the hotel earl
this morning." he said: II am up her
to meet some people that don
know, and 1 was not to call unit
afternoon. I'm doing 1t for the SAX
of an old lady / met in Florida. Sh
was such dear old thing that didn
want to disappoint her. But it's
sort. OF BORE
Mary-Cornelia stiffened. IT dom
see why" she began.
well. it's this way. She has nice
"a amesake-Cornelia, / think
anyhow. she calls her Corry--an
she's got an awfully good opinion o
herself, and she isn't a bit pretty"