The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-20
VIA THE AIR ROUTE

, In dollars and cents intinated the
youth, ignoring the verbal buffet Il
will pay you at once
! Eben had plenty Of money. He
had come to this out-of-the-way place
| from New York to experiment. He
| had the money behind him to pay
for the havoc wrought by his ground
ed gliders.
II can't sum UP my loss" as you
| term it," answered the girl. Il don't
know what my loss is---in dollars and
cents. only know that you have
scraped up several beds OF flowers,
wrecked fence. and carefully erased
most OF the lawn
But. really. t."
| 81 tell you I'm not clever at quick
calculations" she interrupted. IF you
insist upon paying for this you may
come around next week and I'll try to
have II all figured out for you. Now
go--and take that hateful thing with
YOU" Like a little queen she pointed
| imperative fingers at the disconsolate
acceptance. and Eben put ciumsily Off
down the road. hauling the eontrap-
ton behind him.
Eben came around the next week.
| He moved down three small trees In
the coming and smashed shed. The
girl came hurriedly out through the
kitchen door. the light of battle in
her eyes. I'm surprise at YOU" she
said. Doing It again."
1T has become habit with me"
murmured Eben, politely. And now
that / am here Just hand me my bill
and I'll pass along. That Ia, II you
er--really run this place. You look
altogether too young TO be managing
farm"
| II own it. however" assured the
maid, Grossly, but l won't for long
If you keep smashing things. Yoa
| have me all mixed up. / can't tell
| how much you owe me-now."
| Eben again went away. and CRATE
| fuiiy-gratefully. because the maids
inability to sum up the damage uone
/ gave him an excuse to call again. He
| did. And conventionally! Not out
/ of the clouds.
Several months passed, and 1t de-
| veloped that the girls name was May
| Greyson, and, although she lived
alone and operated the farm with the
| help OF hired man. she was city
bred. Her well kept land had been
left her by doting uncle. She was
an orphan.
Eben and the giri became great
| friends-~and more than friends Ono
day the air skipper proposed. To his
surprise he was refused. Hum bled
! In heart, he left the mouse.
You have q reckless, restless
spirit" the girl had given as excuse.
This would be bound to make me
unhappy. IL like you. Eben, but l
! cant marry you.
Eben didn't insist. He went away.
He Etrove TO forget the girl. Fate
decided otherwise.
On bright day in August, Eben
broke from the usual manner OF his
coming and fell through the roof of
the Greyson domicile. Also. he broke
one arm and three ribs. Further
more, he WAS unconscious for some
length OF time. When he came back
TO mundane things he was on low
couch. and a hurriediy summoned
doctor was investigating the extent
of his injuries.
IT was after the doctor had gone
that the one maid in all the world
for him came and kneft by the couch
and whispered:
II was wrong, Eben, When--when
I refused you the other day. You are
veritable gift of the gods. Three
times you have come to me from the
skies and / arm afraid that IL I don't
marry and reform you you will be
battered beyond hope"
Eben had enc good arm remaining.
This crept up and around the maid
by his side.