The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-21
KELLY VERSUS KELLY

Virginia Tracey's leads he could fol>
low his role In the story with oniY
occasional slips
The girl across the table looked au
him from time to time with vagu0
questioning That mute appeal wen0
straight to keilys heart and befora1
he led the girl from the restaurant
he had begun to doubt his own iden-
tty. Perhaps there was a HeleW
Ware in Omaha. and perhaps she was
engaged to a man named Kelly.
Thank goodness I'm MT the KelSs
/ dy." uttered the young lawyer a.
> he piloteed Virginia to seat in tho
orchestra.
During the performance Kelly BED
came satisfied in his own mind THAI
there was Helen Ware, that She
was engaged to Kelly and that vir~
ginia Tracy was to be bridesmaid.
| II am glad you are not the brides
he said. unconsciousiy voicing hi&
thoughts.
| Virginia cast startled glance al
him. then burst into laugh. THAT
is very complimentary speech"
| A dull color mounted to the roots
OF Kelly's auburn hair and virginia'd
eyes narrowed themselves into keen
scrutiny. !.
II only meant" Kelly fumbled for!
words that ! would not have had
this pleasure OF meeting you-then.
STILL" Virginia stated with q
| laugh In her eyes. "a man generality
has had the pleasure Of meeting the
girl to whom he Is engaged"
There are exceptions-to ain
rules" laughed Kelly. and slipped
from the dangerous subject.
After the theatre they had support
and then drive home through the
park. Somehow Helen Ware had |
dropped from the conversation
i At parting Virginia looked up witM
guilty flush. II will write tonight
and tell Helen how nice you havs
been to me-" she said. and with q
little nervous clasp OF the hand shd
was gone.
Virginia few with light feet up
the stairs to her room. Her cheeks
were flushed and she tried to escapes
from the memory Of the expressioni
in Kelly's eyes when he had touched
her hand.
; After a restless night she wac
, awakened by the postman's whistle13
There was a letter for her from
RI conquered tho lcntotions that had
| arisen at sight OF Helen's writing
, she broke the seal.
Dearest virgy: This IL Just q
: scratch to tell you that l am almost
I sure / gave you the number 500 in-
i stead Of 203 for Jim's Office. hope
you haven't written yet. as there are
probably dozen Kellys In each %
those great office buildings-
The letter dropped from Virginia'o
nereless fingers The whole awful
mistake dawned On her. storm Of
weeping burst over her. What had
| her companion Of the evening before
, thought Of her? There was no oues-
. ton in her mind save that. and virs.
ginia blushed at her own reflection
, when she realized It.
The question was answered befor0
9 o'clock, when Virginia descended
, for breakfast.
A dozen Of tho most exquisite pink
chrysanthemums awaited her. In the
box she found note. Kelly had
spent a restless night, being unable
to forgive himself for having taken
, so mean an advantage Of a Girl from
the West. His apology was abject.
, Virginia found room for q smile IN
, her eyes AZ she read Kelly's note.
, ''It wasn't entirely his fault" shd
. whispered into the biggest Of the
chrysanthemums. II hadn't put the
wrong address on. he couldn't posst-
bly, have done-what he did"
And what did he do?" Virgins
! Questioned herself.
I'll A quick little laugh followed.
, I'VE know-but we won't tell" thA
| flowers nodded.