The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-07

81 OW-COACH WILLIS

face and pale gold hair. I; VAS VIII
lis who picked her up. crowding De
hind the counter and lifting her IL
his strong arms as IL she had beer
a feather. He carried her TO the ele'
vator and stayed with her until the,
reached the eighth fioor. where there
was a hospital for employees.
He waited for news OF her and
heard a group of excited girls say,
Poor little thing. her mother died
last week and she Is all alone
wilIis's mind. working slowly.
evolved plan. I'D like TO send her
home In a cab" he said to one of the
girls. 1T seems to me that | am
partly TO blame. Everybody who
shops in such crowded season is to
blame | might have waited until
the rush was over"
The girl looked at him curiousiy.
You get the cab" che said, and
III bring her down when she IL bet
ter"
At the door OF the cab Willis ask
ed for her number. and he blushed
and stammered.
The ext day he hunted her up. lie
found her on the top floor OF tene-
usent looking smaller and whittier
than ever. as she lay curled up on
the couch, One of the women in the
house was looking after her. but
there were few evidences OF comfort
She greeted him In startled way,
Her life had not made her connding
II YOU win let me look after you
little,'' he said to her. I'D feel bot
ter. / hate to see a little white thing
like you having TO struggle. When
you tainted yesterday in the store 4;
came to me that the world was pretty
cruel 10 girl like you
Her eyes filled with tears. 'Peo-
pie do not think" she said, 'VerJ
much about us'
He did not shower things upon her
Yet he saw 10 IL that she had enough
nourishing food.
She did not dream he was a rich
man. His clothes. his rough hands
his hesitatins manner. gave no Inn
preston of atfileace.
Yet she chung to him: loved him
worshipped him. He was not SLOW
Coach Willis" to her. but a wonder.
full being OF tenderness and strength
When at last he asked her to marry
him. she would have gone with him
to- penury. She did not dream tina
| his was. In sense, fairy palace
his house was. in sensa. fair,
! palace. Plain on the outside il wal
| like a rose within.
| Spurred by the rapture OF his. love
for her. Willis demanded from hi
shrewd lawyer friend Information al
/ 10 the keeping up OF an up-to-dat'
| esta bliahment. stout maid was hir
ed to assist his housekeeper. HI
| bought a big limousine and an cleo
| trio. and when he took the little whit
! maid home to his village they rod
/ In the big car wrapped in furs.
| But you mustn't be so cxtrava
CANT" she told him. thinking it hiret
| for the occasion, after this. @
course. just for our wedding journe!
II is all right but after that VOL
mustn't"
| He smiled in his slow way, and h,
| laughed little AN he carried he
! over the threshold OF her own room
II was the rose room.
oh" she said. and drew quicl
little breath. Oh. In it falryland7"
No, It Is your home he told her
She fitted into IL like a jewel int
its proper setting. She had n Cit
woman's knowledge OF the prepe
thing; and It came about that VIII
iLamphear's home became the centc
| Of hospitality in the town. And VIII
| lis took on new dignity. His wifi
told him what to get and he Dough
1t. His clothes, made by city tailor
fitted him and gave him an air of
man Of the world He was no longe
"Slew- Coach Willis" the towuspeo
pie were proud OF him and of hi
pretty wife.
But there were some women I
whom Willis success was sou
grapes. Il wouldn't have had hin
with all his money" they would sa
spitefuliy.
But Willis wife knew. that she ha
won prize; she had seen beneath tn
surface into the heart of the man.