The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-21
Rs MARTHA M'CULLOCII WI L. O
IANS -


Copyright, ISL. by Associated
Literary Press
What shall / do with you? You
airs simply dreadful" Lotte etac-
ulated, looking severely at Basil
He tipped the ash from his cigar
with extreme nicely, as he answered.
Don't know-unless you marry me
heard we were engaged at the post
office yesterday
"Sluggard! 1 heard that week
ago. at least" Lotte flung back at
him. laughing softly.
Basil looked injured And YOU
never told me-" he murmured.
Lotto shrugged family. II would
only there was no danger" she
said Even II wanted you ever so
badly, Uncle Joseph and Auntys Beth
and Margaret would all protect you.
| They don't want the King heirs con-
solidated--not a biz of it. Told me
SO fiatly before you came.
Indeed! Why didn't they warn
me?" Basil asked, his tone moro than
ever injured
Again Lotto laughed. "Oh. they
couldn't think of you as in danger
she said. You see. we know what
lady-ktller you are--then, too, you
! have so much rnoney--quite too
much to think Of wasting yourself
upon a lanky country girl
| You are not bit like my dream
girl Basil admitted. She mas
wheat-yellow hair, eyes of corn
! flower blue--and not an angle IN her
form or in her temper. You are
we'll tail and slender"
And brown of hair, with green
eyes, and all the angles outside
geometry" Lotte broke in. her eyss
dancing their wickedest. I'm SO glad
you told me your ideal. though" she
went on. I'm going to take you TO
SEQ tin duplicate. the Dale twins
Emma and Agnes. Youn have to
sec the whole flock. of course-but
they are the chief OF our sights--the
seven prettiest girls in the county"
Seven! Good Lord. ! can't face
a whole platoon. Not without get
ting more life insurance Basil
cried, pretending to gasp. Cant
'phone7 I believe, though. you are
stringing me-
Would ! were" Lotte said mock
tragically. "Then--well. i shouldn't
live In deadly fear Of spinsterhood
You see IL IL this way--Granny Dale's
sons arc all dead. and all loft girl
children-there are two pairs Of Sis
tiers and a trio In the bunch. Gran ny
is fat and rich and fussy--worships
] the girls, and scolds them all the time
/ Fumes because they don't marry out
or hand--and insults outright every
man who dares to go there counting
She INDUCES the Abunch every way
she can, yet she never lets them fee
4 their souls are their own. Conse-
I quently they all have the loveliest
/ manners in the world--even II FIN
and Az We're not predcstined to cap.
tivate you, you'd never escape-tht
whole lot are so exactly the sort Of
thing you like
How do you know" Basil asked
4 Lotte answered promptly. By thi:
token----they are exactly everything
! am not"
''Indeedr' Basil said, stepping close
beside her. She smiled pyovokingly
wheFeupon he kissed her.
AS she wiped her lips he looked al
her reproaehfufly. saying. mo cir
ever did that hefore--not right to my
face"
h You must remember, there arr
girls and girls. the same as you have
been telling me there are men ane
l men," Lotto said over her shoulder
AZ she ran away,
Basil looked after her, divided he
tween an impulse to follow and kiss
her Again. and to swear at himsel
o. fool shrdluetaoinE ATOM
roaHdl,, as fool.
II He was Ava years her elder, hat
seen the world ~ ALI angles, more
| assE NJ sallsEa esaA asA 4 Mas'e'