The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-07
BY SUSANNA GLENN
Copyright. 1911, by the Associated
Literary Press.l

Jason Parker pushed back his chair
from the table. and looked about the
room critically.
Come to think of IT,. he observed
slowly. things don't look as they did
when Mother was here"
Look pretty we'll considering how
busy We are outside ali day. an
swered his younger brother William.
That's just the point. VIII We're
used to il. and So We don't notice
what rut we're getting into. What
we need Is woman in the house
I've felt 1t for long time. And 1t
appears to me that, seeing you are
the younger and the handsomer or
us it's your duty 10 get married. Ever
think about it9"
Never" answered William.
Well I mean what l say. III give
/ you six months to find "a wife. and II
| you do not, I'm blamed il / don't get
married myself"
Go ahead" said william
There are plenty Of nice girls to
| choose from" continued Jason.
| There is Mary Bushnell neat, pref
! ty. and smart as steel trap. ! guess
| things would shine with her here
| When | do get married. William
! interrupted CURLY, Il shall choose my
own girl""..
| "oh. to be sure: l just mentioned
her as an example, You'd better
/ think over what ! say.
| To his annoyance. william found
| that he did think! But not OF the
! capabl Mary Bushnell
Il can see what would happen to
us II Mary was to come here he said
/ to himself as he hoed corn in the
| lower lot that afternoon. she gave
me- her opinion the other evening. She
/ believes in modern things and means
| to have them, / guess Jason Will
| have to do the marrying If any Is
! done!"
But" whispered a persistent voice,
| Mary Bushnell isn't the only girl
| who would make good farmer
| wife. DO you mean TO say you IN
tend to let a girls white hands, ana
| bright hair that Is combed as farm
women do not comb theirs. blind you
| to other charms?" continued the
! voice, maddeningiy She mas me
| clothes and Il lively time there IN
| town, The Judges family trust her.
and depend on her as II she belonged
TO them. What would she care about
| YOU and your quiet oid-fashioned
nome up here among the hills
William groaned at the Impossible
ity of 1t. How had he come to lei
q slip or girl like Lucy ANcuu'ha o.
such a hold on him.
"pye JUS, got to forget 1t" he said at
last, but I can never marry any otnei
girl"
When William Parker walked.
few days later, into the Judges Side
porch and rang the doorbell, his hear
beat tumultuously.
The door opened, and the pretty
little maid stood before him.
"Oh, Mr.. Parker. you have brought
more eggs; / am so sorry to tell YOU
we shall not need them.
The eyes she raised to his filled sud,
denly with tears.
What is the trouble?" asked Will
liam, in his direct manner.
Tho girl stepped out, closing the
door after her.
sit down." she motioned to chair
I've Just got TO talk with someone
and you-have always been 80 kind.
William sat down, dumbly.
1T really isn't anything 80 dread
full" size tried to say cheerfully. III
simply means / am out OF a. place
The family have gone away for Mrs
Russels health, and the house Is tc
be closed to-day"
But there must be plenty of othel
people who will want YOU" stammer-
ed William.
There are no other houses like
she explained, smiling at hiy distress
Il expect to go to work In the fac.
tory o-morrow-you know have m.
mother to care for"
But that 10 impossible" cried Par
ker. II
| There Is a place I could 60 to. IN
the country" she continued, strangely