Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-06-16
Modern Gas eSIilpai;y, | believe. Il

both concerns came to Radville. exam
ined the burner and retired. noncom-
initial. Then Bartlett sent il reIuisi-
ton for a model and supplied the funds
for making it. thus demonstrating his
confidence.
As for old Sam. he had risen to the
dignity of d frOck coat and felt HIM
self an aristocrat for the first time III
his life.
| don't remember just how soon 1t
was. but Ii was shortly after the FOR
nation Of the firm Of Graham 4 Dun
can that the young man received his
first invitation TO dinner ut the Lock
woods. He accepted Of course. wheth-
!. err he wanted to or not. fer there could
be no excuse for his refusing Il Sunday
bid. and the Lockwoo1s made quite an
event Of it. The Soules were invited
because they were Araminta Lock-
woods brother and sister-in-law. and
the Godfreys came over from West
erly to grace the board as representa-
tives of the Lockwood strain.
At the conclusion Of the meal, which
endured throughout two intermin&b!e
hours. the elder men folk Withdrew To
the garden and the lawn. Nat was let
to Josie. who conducted him 10 the
, side porch. out of sight Of everybody.
and planted herself in IL Eaggy ham
mock there. She was gay. even bril-
liant within her limitations. arch.
| naive. coGuatti:h. shy. prt&jant. IL.
turns, ani.n"ted hy sense of con
quest. She supplied the major part G.
the converSa ton. chnt:in" v:!uhly OF
the thousand subjects size ;ih!ilt M.
derStand. the dozen she did lii tn"
most ingenious manner Imaginable STA
laid herSpi f>open 10 Ndv;.:irpS. M:i one
but Il score of times. aul whan n
failed to respond according 10 III" rot!"
of Radvilp had thu wit to mask -.
chagrin. did she feel any. Nc:r pro-,
ably she laid his lack nf responsive
ness at the door of his &h"nrSs :"
quality ne WAS wholly wiihnuu n d
liked him the better for II.
1t was this day that sh" extract
from him his promise - '"Ia -" -.
He acccded through apathy aI"'".
81 don't care whether y"r -"
Or not" she confessed. with hook
But do want somebody 10 walk
home with me that like"
That's nice way Of putting it."
Duncan considered without emphasis.
"Roland Barnette's always walked
home with lie, but l think he's just
tiresome."
"Why% inquired the young man,
with some interest.
She averted her head. plucking OF
the strands of the hammock. "Oh, you
know" she said diffidently.
"Oh?" Nat was enlightened. '"Then
I'm sorry for Roland
"Why?"
81 can't blame him, you know" He
I couldn't help this. The time. the place,
the girl, inspired-indeed. incited-one
to banality.
"Why" she persisted.
"Oh. you know" He caught the In
donation Of her previous words pre-
cisely.
She had the grace to blush and hang
her head. but he received q thrilling
sidelong glance.
"Ah. Aren't you awful to talk that
way, Mr.. Duncan?'
"Yes," he admitted meekly.
"Then you will join the choir?
"Oh. yes" he agreed listlessly.
I'm so glad"
He thanked her. but avoided her eye.
1--WE might g we'll begin tonight"
she suggested presently, with ditfident.
downcast eyes.
"What-the choir" He was startled.
"Oh, l couldn't without rehearsal"
"No. didn't mean that"
"NoT
81 mean about Roland" She was
paying minute attention to the lace in
sertion Of her skirt.
About Roland"-
Eyes: mean You know what /
mean. Mr.. Duncan?"
II assure you L do not. Miss Lock
wood"
About not walking home with him
any more. don't want to. l wish
you'd commence tonight instead of
choir practice night. I'd much rather
walk home with you"
She nodded. It'll be a great pleas
ure"
! Really" She gave him her eyes
now.
REALLY" he assured her.
>"Ah, don't believe you mean that"
"But indeed | do"
1t was not until nearly o'clock that
he was given q chance to escape. He
had even. then to refuse infiexibly an
invitation to stay to supper
Minta Lockwood-an expansive wo-
man. generously convex-almost smoth-
cred him with appreciation of his
thanks. She held his hand in a large.
moist palm and beamed upon him,
saying. "Now't you know the way,
Mr.. Duncan
"Yes," Blinky insisted. blinking ro
guishly, drop In any time. Take pot
luck. We're plain people, Mr. Dun
can, but allus glad to see our friends.
Drop in any time"
Josie accompanied him to the front
gate, where etiquette required him to
linger for a parting chat