The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

Literary Press.)
Booth Adams was In Europe when
his widowed mother bought her
country place, and about all she
wrote him in regard to it was the
price paid and the fact that 1t MAS
four miles from the village OF Smith
town. Two months later, when he re-
turned to the States and wrote his
mother that he would motor down
on q certain date, his sister Kate
answered the letter. Her informa-
ton was a. little more particular. She
wrote:
Its a lovely place and you will be
charmed with 1t. Stop at the railroad
station In Shutdown to meet Il young
lady who Is to visit me-
Until tho young man was gliding
over the turnpike on his thirty mile
run he was calm. Then he began to
think OF the young lady he was To
meet. Would she be at tho station
when he arrived Was she coming
down from the city on one of the
six trains day. Which particular
one? What was her name? Would
| she be expecting Ia he met? When
! IL young man Is asked to meet n young
/ lady there are some little points he
| should be posted on
Mr. Adams had started at an early
! hour in the morning The young lady
might not start until a late hour in
the afternoon. There might be two
ladies there to be met and 1t was
! on the cards that he would mix them
I up. Even If there. wore only one
Young lady she might ask him TO
! Identify himself before taking a four
milo trip in his company. What seem
ed mere trifle at first began to
grow In bulk
train had just left passengers at
4 Smithtown and rolled on when Mr..
Adams motored up. There was d fat
man walking UP. and down the plat
1eszE;A tnere vas tall, lean woman
sitting on a long. thin trunk: there
@as young woman looking out or
the depot door and tapping her foot
in an impatient way. She was
good looking Young woman and wora
a fashionable travelling suit She
i was Just such young person as
sitter kate would invite dow A. Ia
spend month. She gave a start
as she saw the auto and then came
forward. Mr.. Adams was about TO
raise his cap and introduce himself
and mention sister Kate when the
young lady said:
That's my trunk over there. I
have been here two long hours
Didn't they know by what train
was coming?"
II don't know"
Some mistake somewhere do
hate waiting around an old depot. TN
sit with you. Sure you got the right
trunk"
"Oh. yes
Well. move along then"
There We're no less than three
roads leading away from the depot
Mr.. Adams didn't know which to
take and he didn't believe the girl
had ever been there before but It
came over him to keep TO the right.
and away he went. No objections
Nere made but. after two or three
minutes he was asked:
You are used to autos, are YOU ?"
Fairly So"
Il met with an accident through an
Incompetent chauffeur, and / don't
want another. It's pity that so
many Of them drink"
Yes. It is"
Are there many guests at the
house ?"
II don't think there are any as
yet?"
Mr.. Adams hadn't been quite sat
l ,slitedl ABOUT the, .10unRa iady, and4 low
ne was sure that there was a mis-
take. II was time to ask questions
ana settle doubts. but before he could
begin the auto struck a stone and
skidded. 1T did not get away from
him, but 1t frightened his passenger,
and she screamed out and exclaimed:
You must have been drinking"
Not drop. Miss
Then you are not competent
driver. wish | had started out and
walked"
Mr.. Adams was very red in the face
and very much perturbed, but the mo-
| ment for explanations had passed. He
proceeded with the utmost care. but
this was not a turnpike. 1t was
farmers road. Despite the chauffeurs
| vigilance there were bumps and
| jumps. and at each one came a repri-
mand from the girl. At length she
said
II am simply afraid OF my life!,
That must be the house yonder and
/ will walk the rest OF the way"
but Miss began Mr.. Adams.
when he was cut short with:
II don't care to get smashed UP
| again, and so will walk"
| 1t was an awful cut on Mr.. Adams,
but he had to stand 1t. He must land
! the trunk If not the girl. and 30 he
stopped and pretended to tinker at
the machinery until he saw her reach