The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-29

~ ebAEH8Hk ~ ny fA8~'''
Literary Press
Bessie Allen ran breathlessiy back
10 her new boarding place and
snatched up her fancy work bag lying
on the bureau Mrs Clinton. the
heavy landlady. met her coming out
OF her door and stepped aside wiping
her face beaded with perspirauon
from the hot summer morning
Why. Miss Allen, / thought You
were gone."
$50 / was. but came back. For
got my crochet
Crochet Mrs Clinton cried. over
come with curiosity. What on earth
do you do crochet for You must
have an easy Job.
No. / crochet on the car 10 and
from the Office, laughed the girl
Ny land Don't YOU know you'll
get written up In the papers Who
ever heard Of such fool thing 20 do
should think you'd want TO be rest
ing yourself Instead Of spelling your
pretty eyes on such nonsense.
1t isn't nonsense, called back tho
girl from the porch. II love H.,
That's Why 1 came out here in Cam
den to live. Two hours day on the
ear gives me a lot Of time 10 stick
to my knitting
But don't you feel silly ?" Mrs.
Clinton pulled down the steps and
! folloee ed her strange roomer out 10
the Salk. They'll ba guying you on
the car"
No. as this is the end of the line
, l get the front seat and hardly any
; one sees what I'm doing. Good by.
Mrs, Clinton" And she left the
sCandalized landlady gazing after her
unconventional self as though she
\ We're neither fish, flesh nor good red
: herring.
! she really did not care what the
. landlady or anybody In the bag. hard
= city thought She had come here be-
cause she had no home since hci
a mother died and she must earn her
a living whore best she could. She loved
: home and home things-Ake crochet
, and with characteristic good sense
q she resolved 70 Keep close to this
r things she loved every moment out
q side Of business hours, Ii was the
a only way she could be happy. for the
, daily grind Of money getting in g
y cruel world was cross To her home,
yearuing heart.
As she took her place in the front
of the car this muggy July mornin.
young man followed and slid Int
II the seat behinhd her. He was tai
. and good looking with gentle CLEAN
a in his blue eyes that argued a mine
N@NANN
n up, He watched intently as sh
- settled herself with graceful adjust
n ments Of her dainty white linen dress
q crossed her diminutive white can.
- Vassed feet and withdrew s3ar threat
y and hook from her bag. swirl,
Il her fingers flew. creating cobwei
~ something that fascinated him Hi
= eyes never left her during tho hour.
. ride.
:, She was 80 easy to look at fror
~ the tip of her sheiI-rike ears and TN,
T. little eurls at the nape' OF her neck
brown against her white skin. tina
l. he could only divert his gaze few
!: Inches 10 a momentary glimpse al
8 her face she turned 20 the w1ndo.a
"A inrreq9sntly TO see whore the .sal
n stood. She was not stunning ius
Ia dear and iovable. Tier sweet uncop
3 seriousness Of him and Of an abau
il her gave him protecting feallng AM
"a he found himself resentinx an un
/, couth workman who pushed forwart
Ia and sat beside her Morton for al
x his immaculateness would have hest
y tated 10 do that himself
l. A pang OF joy shot through hiu
J. as no neared his corner to see he
l. hastily fold thread and hook into ne
~ bag and push the button. She got 81
J. at his corner then, CasaaIariy. h,
.e rose and waited Ia Mis- SCAT Tor her /.
Of pass She must have been console u
To or his presence for the last hour 10
H. she booked up and smiled IL was
Ia raing smile Mundane. people .svessat !,
1T. have said II existed only in his I'm
s. agitation. But her great brown eye
II had swept UP straight TO his an,
~ Rested there hong moment while
~ sweet surprise awoke and Elowed
b away back In their hmpid depths
joy Hooded his wholss being. and a
he replaced his hat he followed ha
- oat or the GEAR ana watched her turl
-. into the building opposite his rea
estate orfics with conviction TIA
he had come into his own
After that he watched for her a
j lunch hour. loitered on the corne
for her car at night. bat Try AS h
might. no could only see her ia 81
/ mornings He Was up badtimes 4
bestow more serupuious care on hi
always immaculate person, lilo foua,
a nnieal dissatisfaction la All mia
scArts and Invested la many new
| ones which naesssitafed correspond
Ing hosiery fie MAS Respondent. 10
he WAS IN love.
Every morning they sAt tAus~--an
first. no see0na. ia the~car And al
WAYS he waited gop her o. risa ani
pass cut before him aud best0w tn
smile Ills only change ~ expression
| was Ia MS ans@ efthS smile and IN
| grace OF his gesture a. ne raised Il.
hat. His whole being went iats sha
salute. 1T WAS eloquent, regal as
| king GO his queen.
Ii was beautiful bat It was wear
inR Try as he might ne could ae
progress In his lav0-makins III
| thought she seemed glad 20 kna'
| him, but she was shy and alw aS
aiaue He learned where she live
and worked and what her name wal
| Her aGauiaite personality ALLIED In A.
| the details she was the ioveltes
| thing he had ever seen.
Then one glorious autumn day
| happened She had beer aittln
alone. more intoutiy occupied wtt
81 hsr oxcchetinx than usual when sue