The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-07
" Snn@a nd for
nc
Her ardy Coming
BY STACY r. BAKER.
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit
erars' Prcss.)

t1pp.FfEnt, 1911, ~ assotidted I'M
erary Prcss)
Cornelia Dean suddenly received a
letter from John Oliver answering
pertinent questions that had been
asked OF him twenty years before.
cornelia, stin a spinstcr-and n
most comeis' one---was surprised The
yellow pages. the faded ink. and the
date written ON the day following her
imperative demands. while the post
office stamp showed that the letter
had been mailed from Boston but one
day before.
Romance had long been dead in the
heart of Cornelia Dean, She had
loved John Oliver nobly and faith
fully. and when he had passed oat OF
her life as a lover none other had
ONE In. A flush on her pretty cheeR.
the little lady carefully opened the
letter. and read for the fifth tiner,
it's contents.
My dearest: have waited several
days--and mpatiently--for the letter
you wanted me Ia read and answer
before coming for your answer to my
prof,esal--anu new IL Is here.
Il know, dear that ! am practically
stranger To you and the good people
III Snceaville. bat In Boston. where,
as sou know. my father owns a large
dry geeas store, l am we'll known.
Ny reputation in my own town VIII
stand the test of investigation.
Now, to answer your questions.
Il. ! do not touch liquor. Have
neY err used intoxieants In my life.
-. Ne; If YOU consent to marry mo
we cannot live In Sneedviie, but
must make Boston our home, where
J will eventually go into business with
my father,
-. / viii give mp smoking. II YOU
wish me to.
- You know that | viii always
love you. There Is no need to ask
this. Ask. rather. your own heart.
Here. in great, lonely Boston, / am
waiting a note bidding me to come
10 you. You will realize how lonesome
! am. ana you wlli answer at once.
Always yours.
JOHN OLIVER"
1t1e ancient screen fell 10 the lap
of the little lady, and tears glistened
in her eyes as her thoughts wandered
away in reminiscent reverie. John
oliver, she could see him now. a
staiwart, manly youth. lie came to
WOO her. the most popular girl In
sneedvilis. She remembered herself
as she looked them mere wisp 81
81 girl. IL be sure. hut With that win
some prettin.ss that allowed her to
pick and choose from the ranks of
the best and most popular men in the
city.
Blue eyes aud wonderful head of
wavy brown hair that was at once
the envy and delight of her girl
chums. had been among the potent
gifts given her by the goddess of
beauty. and she had most careful
taste in dress. All these. and count
less other feminine attractions, had
won to her the Young Bostonian. who
was spending his summer vacation in
SneedvIlle.
He had proposed, but before she
would answer him abe had sent him
away until she could compile list
OF questions These he was To an
swer by mail. Shs did not wish him
10 plead his own cause.
Corneiia Dean sat for the greater
part Of an hour dreaming. When che
was again mistress of her thoughts,
"A great resolve had been made within
her. Cornelia had decided TO 60 to
Boston She had not been out of
town since the death OF her parents.
some ten years before.
"But--what shall | wear =" asked
Cernelia, speaking, as was her wont,
TO herself surely if-~if | find him
] must look as nearly ss possible like
the girl he know. Nothing that |
have now VIII do must be more
EIGFF dE~bb-0aiF4 bfEafF AfEE AJb 81
"f to-day. I am not 500 old. any
way, even II l do dress plainly. I
haven't gray hair in my head. "
At last the day OF her departure
came, and tho little cottage was
safely locked. tho key hidden In u
plant rack on the porch, and the
more than pretty little lady on her
way to the station.
The trip was frightfui one to the
~ fstl Tnrneffn
Of relief came TO her lips when she
found herself safely arrived. Boston
,ssvssa a ai@rFer eisy shan sste' Rad mag
ined. She began to realize the hope
lessness of her quest.
The address Of his John sold
home WAS burned indelibly on her
brain. She called there after depos-
hotel. She found herself in front OF
roofiess domieile, the ciapboards Of
Which were being rapidly stripped
from the scantlinEs. In CONSERVATION
she stood an Idle second watching the
workers reduce the building.
rs there anything / can do for
you -
Unccnsciously she had entered the
gate shutting the lot of this building
from the street. A man In the garb
Of carpenter stood before her.
IL" Cornelia hesitated. 4 was
hunting for the residence of the Oil
vers. They used to live here, ! be-
lieve?''
Moved" eiucidated the man.
briefly. This is the site of sky
scraper that the divers are having
erected. This plot is too valua bile
for n residence to OCCUPY It's right
in the heart of things. as you might
say
Hut can you tell me where tho
where John Oliver livcs?"
With his parents. / believe: but as
10. that. don't know. don't even
know where they have moved to.
Young Mr.. Oliver Is here almost every
day to see how the work progresses.
Can give him some message
Tell him that Corneiia Dean was
here
'Eornelia Dean repeated the man.
'O--then you're the lady to whom the
letter went
+.what---what letter." asked the
puzzled Corneiia.
''0ne OF my men found an old let
ter. sealed and addressed to you. un~