The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-13
The Richmond Virginian S Rss@saa zH Hsssss ::
"A Page Planned to Please
And Benefit the Women
sPINIsTERS OF SCARLET RIDGE

Hilda, turning from one to the
other undecided, heard voice from
the dim background, saying. Let
them in"
1t was Helen. in her blue linen
painting apron and with her easel In
her hand.
II heard what you said about
steam pipes and radiators she said
and laughed. mo other argument
would have been effective. but we
hate modern heating. so in the name
of ,our hearthstone we bid you well
come"
The three men said nothing as to
whence they came or as to where
they were going; they simply settled
themselves In the three big chairs
in front of the fire With the air of
wayfarers who have come to stay.
First. however. they begged that their
hostesses would remain. Hilda set
tied that.
we have our work to do" she
said. You are welcome to the IRE.
but you must not interrupt the duties
Of our day."
Then she marshaied Helen and
Harriet before her, and went out and
shut the door.
The three men left alone leaned
back in their chairs and laughed. The
third man. who was boyish, said
eagerly. Ibid you see the youngest
one? She 10 charming"
The man with the massive head
looked into the FIRE thoughtfully.
I'VE have bumbarded the castle
os" ne said, land have found prin-
cesses as beautiful as they were re-
ported TO be. So far. 20 good"
At noon Harriet came in, followed
By a maid, who carried a tray op
which We're coffee and sandwiches.
There was cake, too, and Harriet
admitted blushingly that she made
1t. She sat down on the end of the
old settee. at their earnest solicita-
ton.
"Hilda won't like it." she said.
The Apollo-iike young man whis-
pered. but We like it,
Helen came in presently to End
Harriet, and she, too. was persuaded
to stay. At last came Hilda, flaming
with Indignation.
is this the way" she said. that
men interfere with women's iinpor-
tant duties?''
Then the short man rose and rcint-
ed to the chair nearest the Are.
sit there he said. What .an be
more important on a rainy Afternoon
than TO talk with those who MED
~
the light of leaping Games"
Miida's head went up. but she
obeyed him as she had obeyed no
other man.
In the course OF the conversation
which followed the Apollo-like man
called his companions inadvertently
by their names. They were famous
names. and the three sisters gasped
that such men as these should sit at
their humble hearth. That such men
an these should have been Kept wait
ing at their door.
III we had known Hilda apollo
gized.
known what" was the demand of
the man with the massive head.
That you were great Hilda fat
tered,
He laughed. We are mere men
after ALL" he said,
When the guests had gone that
night, the three sisters looked at each
other. .
"They will never come again they
said. I'VE treated them too badly"
But they did come, and more than
that. they wooed and finally won The
spinsters OF Scarlet Ridge" yet the
wcoing was not as easy as ii sounds
in the telling, for when the man with
the massive head asked Hilda, she
said No. resoiutely, and Harriet
said "No" To the Apollo-like youth.
and Helen shook her head and would
have nothing to do with the third
man OF fame.
SO the three went away. but before
they went they said each to the wo-
man that he loved. When you want
me write one word, Come"
The sisters waited until Christmas.
and then Hilda said 10 the others
grame -fAcedfy. II can't i've without
him. Why should we, because the
men at our own family ynads sssY mia
cradle. think that there men too are
worthless"
And Helen answered. Why
But Harriet ran for pen and ink and
paper. and they wrote three letters.
and in each letter there was one word,
but 1t was the word that brought
them happiness.