Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-09-13
A DEAD
ClVEAWAY
By ESTHER VANDEVEER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

whom we rented asked us il we woulf
object to keeping her parrot. 1 told
| her L would make myself personally
responsible for the bird, called Gin
| and she need feel no anxiety about
him whatever. She was much relieved
at this, for it would b Re given her a
great deal of trouble to>'take him with
her. and he was very valuable bird.
Two or three days after the owners
departure and our entrance to the
premises young man called ut the
young lady member of the family of
whom we rented. The maid told him
that they had all gone away. but could
not tell where. SO | went downstairs
to give him the Information.
He told me that he was an old friend
OF the BarrOws family: that he had
been out of town and was much disap-
pointed that they had gone away. be
cause he had counted on having them
In the city to visit when most persons
were away. AS it was. he should he
very lonely. He had especially counted
on using the library. He said all this
so promptly that 1 felt it incumbent
upon me to say to him that he would
be welcome to use the library when
ever he liked. He thanked me very
much and departed
There is an unwritten. unspoken
language between the sexes, and Mr.
Binder was talking 1t all the while.
especially with his eyes. l knew per
fectly well that he cared NOTHING
about the books. but wished to make
my acquaintance. And l doubted not
that he knew l understood his real
purpose. Had not felt toward him
something akin to what he felt to-
ward me there would not have been
any such understanding between us.
Several days later when was dress
ed for the afternoon Mr.. Binder call
ed and asked for me | went down
to see him, and he told me he had
taken advantage OF my kind permis-
sion to read in the library. / knew
very well that he had called to see
me. But | told him to make himself
at home among the books and return.
ed to the upper floor. As | expected.
he soon called for the maid and tod
her to ask me IL / would kindly come
down and help him find book he
wanted. l consented, but the book
was not in the library He had made
sure that 1t wasn't there bef1re send
ing for me-
He began TO talk about books so in
terestingly that l sank into seat and
listened TO him / was charmed with
his knowledge OF any subject he
upon or l suggested. The re-
suit was that the afternoon passed
without his reading n wCrd. devoting
IL all TO conversation with me, though
confess he took the first opportunity
to switch Off from literature and had
the art 10 set me to talking. In 9th
er words, he was not only good talk
er, but a good listener. And | some
times think that n good listener is
more entertaining than IA good talker.
Mr.. Binder called three times dur
Ing the first week to use the library.
Two Of these visits we're taken up
with me. Then one day he said that
my kindness TO him, . stranger, need
ed some acknowledgment and asked
me to go with him To the theater.
accepted, Of course. During the even
ing he read to me a passage from Il
etter from Miss Barrows, Thank our
tenants in my behalf for permitting
you to use the library, but l hope Clip
Will not be disturbed from his Gus
-Omary habitatiOn."
The meaning of these words about
Clip was that his cage usually hung in
the library. l told Mr.. Binder to as
sure Miss Barrows that Clip had not
been moved.
The result Of Mr.. Binder using the
library was what might have been ex-
pected from the irst-a love affair be-
tween him and Inc. And confess 1t
was very strong love affair He told
me that the moment he bad seen me
1T the time of his first call he knew
hat | was the woman he wanted for
wife. And he blessed that meeting
because he had intended to marry n
whom he supposed he wanted
md had not known what love WAS till
he met me.
That was the summer of nv life. I
gave myself up to the enjoyment Of
new born love, and when the season
rev to a close and our lease was
about to expire / mourned our antici-
'ated departure.
The library was used for the living
Dom and the day the Barrowses ar
lived we all went In there together
Why she did 1t l don't know, but Miss
8arrows asked Mr.. Binder II he
couldn't call that day for n ) O'Clock
ga. He came and before he left !
vas made aware Of her object in ask
ng him. While Wa we're all i'm the
.AOIn fAcknth nt. AIicn