The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-01
BY IDA NJ. SHEPLER.
Copyright, 1911. By the Associated
Literary Press.)


| His name. in full. was Jay Gordon
Stamford. but his intimate friends
seldom got farther with the name
than J. Gordon.
| ]. Gordon had seriously contem-
plated matrimony at the age of seven
/ teen, Shortly after he was brought
rudely out of such contemplation by
being softly informed by the recip-
| lent of his adolescent affection that
her heart was in the keeping of one
much his senior, one to whom she
| had been betrothed these many years.
Many years? Why how old WAS she
really? He afterward learned some
twelve more than himself. Perhaps it
/ helped him forget her?
| At twenty-five J. Gordon was ac-
tuallv engaged. The girl, this time,
/ was his own age. She was energetic.
She went in for womans suffrage. for
reform OF many kinds and J. Gordon
smiled indulgently. although after the
| close intimacy Of engagement days
set in. he did begin to sit up and no.
tice that she had faults worse than
wanting to vote. When 1t came to
using one handkerchief for a whole
week. and wearing soiled shirt waists
out in company. he did hint few
fwee hints of surprise.
! He also found she had a temper,
when, after a little lecture from him
upon wearing white slippers on mud
dy tramps, she flung his ring In his
face.
The relief he felt at this action
upon her part frightened him. Had
he been fool enough to promise loSe
to a woman he had not loved? II
made him cautious.
At thirty J. Gordon was still I'M
married. and had taken suburban
residence to himself. City noise dis
turbed his rest, he told his friends,
and he loved to look at growing Vege-
tables. fruits and the like,
1T is simply one of the signs ef
i&sactpiesgt saCtsS}ortss-.S, $$st2s..- sasss
him.
And how he really began to be
troubled Was 1t fact that he could
not love the right sort Of woman
The men of his family usually married
early In life. Was he born to live
iunlovedo
AS long as the villas on each side OF
him held the kind OF children they
did. ]. Gordon was NOT sure but that
bachelorhood had it's advantages; for
these were spoiled children. Blu,
when the children moved away and
on one side moved In an elderly gen
tleman. grouchy and snuffy. and In
the other, a loving young couple took
up abode, his uneasiness returned
The first Disguised him with pic
ture of what he might yet be: the
other--there were evenings when they
made him feel lonely. But he would
forget all this next day through office
hours,
The young wife on the one side OF
him was rather pretty in soft, de-
mure way. And she loved flowers and
green things as well as did J. Gordon
and thus they sometimes came close
each across the dividing fence from
the other. She was very modest. He
learned only that she was Mrs. Mum
ford. and 1t was born In her to love
country quiet, or near as she could
get. and digging In the ground
Ono morning he saw her, from her
top veranda step. stoop and kiss her
husband goodby. The husband at the
time was well hailasted with big
Ivalise in each hand. Business called ],
Gordon from his villa during the two
days after.
Upon his return. gazing with some
concern upon the damage done some
of his growing things by great
goose. he was startled by CHEEKY
laugh from the other sida of the fanca.
and looked up to behold Mrs. Mum
ford, merry eyed, smiling, radiant In
pink and white. Never had he seen
her SO beautiful as now, and so
friendly and merry. What q change
the departure of her husband had
brought about in her nature. Then
she began:
THAT goose has eaten all our late
straw berries, the hired girl tells me-
Isn't 1t awful? We found out why the
woman. down the avenue keeps 1t.
She's an old maid. and SO afraid OF
n burglars. but more afraid OF dogs
say they all have hydrophohia, but
/ geese never do. Can't inoculate them
with 1t In any way. And goose. you
know, always sqGawlS If anybody
comes about the house. See? It's her
safeguard against burglars. Poor
thing. IL were so afraid Of burg
lars, I'd marry a-well. great, big,
brave man."
/ Her laugh was catching. her smile
irresistible. and ]. Gordon found him
self planning little tricks with her on
I that goose, TO the vexation OF Its own
4 err. Over half the time they held II
for ransom. which ransom the poor
woman would send by her maid. and
which money Mrs. Mumford would
send back
And how she sanx and how wal