The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-13
BY JEANETTE WALDEN.
Copyright. 1911, by Associated
Literary Press

y
Isabel dropped the letter on her
desk 1t was good news-glorious ~-
the message which for endless months
the had been longing to hear, and It's
Iarsf reading had brought catch OF
breathless delight, CULVER OF her
long iashes as they vsiled the glad
ness OF her eyes But when she turn
ed from her desk, where she had
been standing In pink flowing morn
ing robe, her pouting lips indicated
the inevitable reyulsion Of feeling
why couldn't 1t have been a sur
prise" she murmured to herself.
Sha stepped through the open case
ment 10 the balcony. To breathe In
the freshness OF the summer morning
and the starry, purple glory of wis
taria that overhuug the. portieo.
Presently. with the impetuous grace
cs hamming bird. she darted within
70 don her riding costume.
Isabel was whimsical. That Was
what her friends said She had many
frtends-an numbered among those
vho knew hon TO manage lsabt--.
Sweet and generous IS she can be,
bet notionate. Was what her girl
friends said; whilo the men volun-
,eered the verdict thar she was "A
jolly interesting girl.
fact that her chief ercentrtctty often
caused Inconvenience. aud sometiTne s
real dtsappelntme Ia the eTninently
rnethodicat OF her set. Fer Isabel de-
rnanded fhe unexpected she never
planned ride, OF drive. and rs fer
a picrie--taat was an intoierahte
bore undess the hampers could ne
packed and the whole crowd be met-
rity and breathlessly on their way in
Fx..v hn i-y1a
the excursion was fret thought 81.
Thus. her visiting friends had learned
the secret Of n sincere welcome ana
flawless good time. They always
took Isa bel completely by surprise
So, Il seemed 20 the girl that morn
ing as. on her GLOSSY bay. she Went
eantering desultorily through the
park, particularly annoying ctreum-
stance that Alex Holt. the person
above all whom she had been longing
to see. should plan his visit with such
stupid precision--eveu To the hour 81
his arrival. why, II ne had come tin-
expectelly. Just popped into view
some evening. from behind the shrub
berry or the fountain. he could have
taken her in his arms. and all tha'
silly nonsense Of courtshtp aud pro
ysosal would have been obViated And
how gioriously surprise he wouie
have been
Isabel wss fully warranted Ia I'M
ayining such scene as this fol
Alex had given her to understand be
fore he went away that It was only
mis- indefinite position in the business
world that kept him from suing tpi
an Immediate contamination of theil
girl aud boy devotion. And now tina
he had made good, there WAS no mis-
taking the tenor OF his letters or nj
purpose in returning at this time.
When Alex arrived, 1sabefs Joy 3
seeing him almost swept away he
whimsical displeasure. His mani
force, hts deferentiai devotion to her
self might a any moment have takei
Jsabers despotic affections by storm
II he had chosen just any moment
That was the difficulty. Alex Holt, Il
his careful and systematic mans mind
set about to lay the foundations Sc
curely for the biissful climax.
Isabel knew what to expect on
certain Thursday. They Were TO aut
IA RiverdaIe alone. returning abou
sunset Alex had always loved tn
sunset hour in early summer. lsabe
herself was touched by the sentimen
tai beauty of the time. Indeed. sh
had no idea what she should do u
say when the moment came. ot on