The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-20
ARgR to T1,np ic1oo nioio+ S for
THE BEGGAR MAID

stood. hesitating near the door. She
was very pretty and she looked
frightened.
Mr.. Chairman" she asked. may
l speak In this meetingg I am Edith
Ellston, owner Of the Heathe Hall
dairy"
The chairman. a white-haired man
of sixty. smiled assuringly. Certain
ly you may speak In this meeting"
he decreed. Come UP here and sit
down with US and tell US why you
don't want the company to buy your
land"
AS she walked up the room Joab
Coates eyes followed her wonder
ingly.
She sat down near the chairman
and smiled with frank embarrassment
at the directors. She did not glance
at Perry McCune. In the big leather
chair she looked very small and very
young.
Mr.. Chairman" Joab Coates was
on his feet. He was q middle aged
man. tall and thin. with q hard mouth
and merry eyes. Before Miss Ellis
| ton speaks / want to say something
more. I'm ready to change my mind
about splittin' UP the Heathe Hail
farm. l don't make no fight on d
| little, curly headed. pretty girl who
| trytn' to make her Twin out Of cows.
l thought she was a cross tempered
sour. ugly old maid. Judgin' her that
way Just because abe beat me on b
contract. II she wants to keep her
land and run the best dairy In the
county I'm ready to help her. Our
! line VIII take somebody else's land"
! The board broke into a cheer OF
laughter and applause. For the first
time Edith Ells,on looked at Perry
McCune. He was neither smiling nor
| appla uding. In his eyes was look
| that made her own soften and brough,
| TO her lips a sudden new gentleness
| Mr.. Coates" she said whom she
! could be heard, Il came here TO fight
| for my dairy. Rut-hut now--now /.
| too. have changed my mind. 1 am
willing to sell my land to the COM
| pany and my thorougtlbreds to you.
/ II you want them. have decided to
go out OF business. The Hall I shall
remodel and use for q summer home"
You made a good bargain with the
| company for your land and with
Goats for your cows" remarked
Perry McCuns as they left the direc-
tors room. May l inquire, as your
attorney, what you propose TO DC
next"
Marry you"
"What?"
That lis my intention" She
stopped and faced him. They were
alone in the corridor Of the ONCE
building. II have always wanted to
marry you, Perry. / loved you BEFORE
my fathers failure and death. Blu,
| you did not ask me then to marry
you. You waited till / was IN trouwe
and then you eaid.
/ -" Beegar maid. your king deigns
to honor YOU with permission tc
serve him as his wife
IL YOU did not use those word.
you used that meaning. You did not
| say Marry me. because I love yor
and want YOU Your attitude shock ed
| from me. ! believed. all my love fol
you and all the hopes I had had thai
our life together might be a tender
beautiful. perfect thing.
| But today you realized that tn,
hegsar maid WAS entirely capable o.
becoming successful business
woman. You acknowledged. withou
words. when the directors were ap
p,auding Joab Coates change o.
mind. that the heggar maid had sue
ceeded and that you didn't really III ear
10 DO superior or to flaunt YOU
money. And because Of what ! saw
in your eyes and understood. I an
willing 10 give up my cows-don't
Perry. dear You must not kiss me-
mean you must not herein THU
public place,