The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-12
sr FRANCIS \. COREY.


Itsopyright, 1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press
Dorothy Granger saxed deSpa3rlnE
nv into the cracked mirror over the
shabby pine washsfanG- L'sng year
OF rhankiess Seryitudc 20 her step
mothers numerous children ha"
robbed her NJ all comeliness. she
was plain almost e. uglinesS. y pair
of luminous gray eyes were her only
redeemIns. feature Even these had
failed 10 attract the other sex At
ahirtN-iive she was still minated,
Not that 4 greati! mind being an
old mafc she Slgnrd So many
marriages among nay girl friends have
tarnea ont cisastruusly. But m
fireg 81 bringing up ether folks chll-
urea. Ny stepbrothers and stepsisters
are mere dependent on nlv IMAM au
their oNn t0athef. hi su !tEo to g@l
away from II. al for vhil,. lsr ny
own mistress
A harsh voice pcaled up the stair
way, B8rothS Yet re ssHntcd. Come
quick
sle 0efgeudcd TIsflcssIt. i'iie-
aienet 10 that d4~tstoria! voice mad
become second mature, Mrs. Granger.
tail, thin, pesVIsh looking Woman,
was waiting Ia The lower hail,
EbeEexcr tttske's come To take YOU
buggy ridiH she snapped Such
foo4ishness---iIi Il man OF his age the
best part q The afternoon il be vast
ed end that neN gown az your sis
tsr's not haH done yet
CHANGING from the window, Dorothy
saw EbeneSer standing al his horse 5
heat, dressed i'll his sunday clothes
Ale was the nearest nelshhor--a
widowef. with small children. \
sudden color aamed into her eneeks.
II wss SO Ike an answer to her un-
spnktn prayer
al seW on l}.rtha's dress This
evening, she SAID. excitedly pinning
on her hat,
Ebenezer greeted her jerkily Fine
day. Horse needs exercising. Thought
you'd like 10 riaV out You've been
good To the children. Wanted to dn
something TO show my Appreciation
II shall be pleased 10 GO" said
dorothy.
At nrst they were both silent. TIE
novelty Oh ihe situation tied Doro-
tnE's tongue, made her seifconscious.
She had never driven for pleasure
with any man save her fath,r. 1t
looked AS II Way OF escsp wac
opening ar. What should she an
swer IL Ebenezer asked her to marry
him He Was Kind noighhor and
haze boon an induIgent husband To his
wife
Her companions thoughts were
running after this fashion.
Never calculated to take up with
AN old maid. Dorothy amt a beau
~; but she's good az gold, IL sho
was only Aled out more-like the
I Widow Brown, But man can I
have wife made to order Hes
got to take women folks as he inds
them
Several times no cleared his throat
portentiously. but the drive came
TO ali end without the momeutous
words being spoken. no use being
In rush. he told himself, having
left Dorothy Ut her own door. Guess
Ill ride out with the widow to-mor-
row"
Dorothy's small brothers and sis
tiers leased her numerically that
night. They thought it a great joke
that their stsid elder sister should
have a beau.
You might do worse than take
up with Ebenezer." said her father
Hes likely man. and well-to- do.
thought. though. you'd fancy some
body more after Dr. Hyland's style
~ss
'Dr. Hyland!" Mrs. Granger broke
in scornfuliy. AS IL he'd look AT
Dorothy Bertha. now. might stand
n chance. I've seen him look ct the
house when driving past. I'm going
to ask him 10 tea some night
Bertha simpered. She wac a pref
~ girl. with beesX plenty as
blackberries: but she would have
bartered them all for the good look
ing doctor
Her task completed. Dorothy stole
up To her attic room and sat for "a
long time AT the open window. with
an aching heart.
The following afternoon, while on
her way to- the village postoffice. she
sEw fshenrzers smart new buggy turn
In at the Widow Browns gate. There
xss%s fiy last gfigItva q" she, sfsSdx hi
whimsIcally,
Next morning. ss she Was wedding
the onion bed. DR. Hyland drove past.
M far AS the Zig white house at the