The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-22
by TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyright. 1911, by Associated
}itorary BRASS


As the three girls dropped into low
wicker chairs on the hotel porch the
tall dark one in the MILDLY blouse
said:
why, even her slippers spell
fl-i-r-t."
The eyes Of the others went TO
the balcony above. where, beneath
the rail, showed row OF shoes.
Such knowing slippers. too COM
mented Elizabeth Morse. who was
big, with their low, fiat heels and
dnT finish. No one with a large foot
would dare wear them, Bee"
ITS her childish manner that
takes with men" Beatrice continued,
scornfally; Just look at them. Judge
Clsybourne's patent feathers are hob
nobbing With Major Moore's riding
boots. and Teddy Dudley's tan ties
are next to" She floundered and
stopped.
"To Bohbis Howelrs white canvas
sneakers" The third girl made the
remark lightly. But the color left
my feelings. Eee- Fobhie is a back
slider. l cant count on his devotion
any more
Well its all her fault" the hig
girl consoied; "al the men are crazy
over her"
'I'sn not sure that its her fault"
Nsry's fair little face was wisIul. II
think tho woman tempted me- excuse
81 rather weak, don't YOU Adam
needn't have eaten the apple. And,
by the same token. Bebbie needn't
adore II he doesn't want 10. We
shouldn't blame her, really,
"oh, YOU Beatrice threw Up her
hands in despair. you always find
excuses for everybody. You are an
archaic idealist"
Am II" Marys slim fingers caught
ct the arm of the chair tenSely. m
not sure. Bee
There vas IA moments silence, then
the fat girl suggested Let's play
some more tennis
Mary shook her head. TITS hot
and TN tired.
The other two went OFT together,
and when they were out of hearing
distance Elizabeth said, hufhly, Hot
why it's the first morning she has
missed since she came. But then
Bobbie used 20 make the heat bear
able lie was always hanging around
her at the courts"
And now he sits up aloft with the
little widow. ! cali IL pretty shabby
of Robbie--to shift his devotion so
eoon--and Marys q dear
Back on the porch. Mary, like a
Peri outside the gates Of Paradise,
watched the telltaie feet on the floor
above. and caught the echo Of gay
laughter. And ths sound beat upon
her heart until she could have cried
out with pain.
Outwardly, however, she made a
very composed little picture, in pale
green linen, with her fair hair blown
by the salt breeze, her small white
face like a pearl.
Hence, when Robbie Howell leaned
over the balcony and saw her. he
cried: ooh, Mary, come up"
Radiant. she rose TO her feet.
Then she dropped back into her chair
for another head appeared-an en-
chanting bronze green coiffured head
handed with "a black ribbon.
Yes, please come up" supplement-
ed the little widow.
Mary shrugged her shoulders. Toe
hot I'm going upstairs and coo
Off
Still smiling. she found her way
TO her little room and threw her
self face downward on the bed anc
wept And the reason for her weep
ing was this: When the little widow
had leaned forward over the bal
eouy she wore in the front of hel
black gown n white flower that MARY
had stuck that morning in Robbie
Howelfs huttonhole.
When the slippers and the tennis
sneaks came down the stairs fhe
white flowers vas In the lady's hand
Please take it, she said. and held
Il out TO him.
Why"
Because you had no right TO give
A. to me. And / had no right II
take it But this must be my ex
cuse. that / did not know then tina
II would hurt someone else. But
know now
How do you know ?'
"Ah," her calm eyes met his stead