The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-18
BY Edna Heron.

Copyright. 1911, by the Associated
Literary Press.)
Amy Crosby was entertaining Ger
aid Blake. They sat on the front
porch of the farmhouse enjoying the
early evening breeze. Amy occupied
the hammock and in Farmer Crosby's
low rocker sat the young man who
had recently returned from the East.
Amy never tired Of listening to the
stories of the wonders he had seen.
She wondered now why he was ST.
lent.
Gerald" she said confidently.
There was no answer and this was
something serious for was she not his
fiancee and entitled to attention?
Slowly she turned her head. Ger
aids eyes were glued to an object
coming up the road.
by jove." he said sit is
Amy was staring her best at the
dainty approaching vision In a rose
hued gown and wide hat with roses
nodding above the brim
lit is what said Amy.
Its Annahel Leighton.
Il heard she was coming to- day;
her people have moved back here
You know" said Amy. But whats
she coming here for %
Visiting. / suppose" said Gerald
We used TO fight when we were
little tots. Gerald, and / haven't seen
her since and She was going to
add. Il don't want to-" but Gerald
Was out OF hearing. He had run
down the steps and to the outer gate
TO open it.
Amy watched them from her ham
mock. She sat very sttT now and
her eyes never left that rose coIored
dream who had held Geralds hand
so long In greeting.
She watched them pause before
they reached her side, you remem Der
Annabel Leighton 90
But Annabel broke In efusively
We were great friends. Amy dear,
when We wore our hair iii pig tails
and sat in the front seat in school"
1T was long ago" said Amy. but
she added Hospitality If weakly.
won't you come in"
Thank YOU. no said Annabel,
| Tets sit here"
She looked at Gerald and Amy sank
back In her hammock. She knew she
was staring rudely at the visitor. bur
she could not figure II all out. Why
did Annabel whose parents had NOV
ed away when she was little girl,
come to see her on her first return"
She had heard that Annabnl MAS lily
said that she was on the stage. That
very morning she had heard that An
mabel was expected to-day at her par
epts home. The more she thought
of IL the more hewildering II all was
Annabei herself was bewildering 10
look at. and her clothes were won
derful, The conversation went on
without her and Amy presently real
ized that She was unnoticed in the
presence III so nanch sPleEeis.s-.
Il must go and help mother. she
said rising
'You are a busy ANY, said Anna
bel without protest.
Amy hesitated a moment, but Gerald
was deep in conversation and did not
notice when she left the room. With
flushed cheeks and puivertng lips she
went to her own room and locked the
door
she did not come to see me- said
Amy to herself ITS Gerald and he
never noticed when / left The tears
would come and she lay down on her
/ bed and had a. COED cry Then her
head began to ache and she got up and
sat down In a chair. 1t had grown
dark but she would not make light.
Presently through the open window she
heard their voices. not distinctly, for
they were talking again in confidential
tones. Amy felt her cheeks burn like
fire.
Il think it will come out all right /"
Gerald's voice came clearly to her
ears. What were they plotting there
before her very eyes,
Eyes, You predicted that in Boston"
said Annabel. and Amy Almost scream
ed.
They had met then In Boston. This
solved part of the mystery. This was
: },a Eh M
all her own misery and self pity she
felt a burning contempt for the girl
One more sentence burned itself
into her heart as she sat at the win
dow, her fearful eyes staring out into
the night. Annabels soft voice reach
ed her on the evening air Love Is
the only thing in the world that mat
ters, Gerald" Annabel was saying.
After that their voices grew lower
still and later her mothers voice calf
ed her from her room. Amy would not
answer and after while she saw them
both go slowly down the path. Anna
bells roses nodding in the breeze.
The next afternoon Farmer Crosby
himself saw Gerald leaving the Leigh
ton home. That night he called on
Amy and she refused TO see him. Az
ter that on several occasions Gossip
told The. same story, He had been seen
with Annabel but the worst was that
Annabel would see no one else. There
was mystery In her visit TO her child
hoods home, said Gossip. but to Amy
il was all as clear as day.
She returned to Gerald the engage
ment ring: she sent back his letters
unopened and steadfastly refused to
see him. 1t was a month OF torture
but she tried to face her duty bravely.
To-day she brought her book out to
the back orchard. sat down under
tree and tried to read. The sun was
going down and the words were jump
ing about In unwarrantabIe fashion
when she looked up and saw him COM
ing. In another moment she would
have been safe beyond his reacn put
he caught her just In time.
This won't do Amy" Gerald's words
were brave. but he nearly auailed be-
fore the look OF scorn In her eyes.
why do you come here?" the angry