The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-08
a Page Planned to Please
BLOWING A GALE

, maiden hanging 10 a blowing. hap
ping clothes line, from which some
garment was escaping every instant.
At college the stuuenos are tAusht
t. hang out the wash only GA quiet,
placid days and this is an oversight
that the faculty should correct at
once. Ii brought trouble and eenfu-
sion 10 Miss Minnie. HAP and away
went napkin, FLAP and away went
a sheet Flap and away went a
towel. The gale was roaring, the
clotheslnes twisting, she WAS grit
ung her teeth and hanging on fer dear
life when Mr. Gregg appeared.
bid Mr.. Gregg. with lot Of damp
garments pressed to his beating
neart. stop and introduce himself TO
Miss Minnie Rivers, hanging ON To
the sNaylng lines with both hands and
feeling that sil Was lost lie didn't.
He threw etiquette and the conven-
tionaliies to the dogs, and brought
MS legal lore 10 bear on the main
issue
He saw at once that the lines were
stretched a6r ross the path Of the gale.
In FIVE minutes he had united them
from the posts and stretched them tbs
other way. and there was a decided
cvssion ~ the fiappetF flap. Then he
ran here and there TO gather up the
eStrays, which must go back 10 the
rinsing tub. He had only accom-
plished this when he noticed smoke
pouring from the open Kitchen door.
He entered TO find that the cook had
feft the hampers So as 10 make a
smoke house Of the place, but twist
OF the wrist made things all right.
College teaches nothing about stove
hampers. That is a thing To be
learned by rcd-syed experience.
As he stepped out doors again an
old hen and half dozen chickens
emerged from the coop to take a
sauntaS. The gale caught them up
and away they went. but Mr.. Gregg
was after them and they were brought
| back in good shape and with gentle
hand. Then he frightened one of the
| lines a little more. refastened sheet
| that wanted 10 be a -spangled
| banner. and with d careful look at
! the chimney of the house he lifted
} his nat and resumed his journey.
| Miss Minnie was looking after him
/ when the mother appeared at the
/ back door and said
Ny headache IL little letter,
| Whats happened
Why. it's blowing a gale, and lot
/ Of the clothes blew off the line"
And who was that young man 90
+
/ gale and helped me"
| college doesn't teach it Just that
| way. Tho girls pick it up after they
| have graduated. To blow alone
means to arrive In a hurry---to ar
rive in a gale--to arrive just in time
TO he of assistance to damsel In
distress
Did he nx those lines" asked the
mother,
! Yes
And pick up all those things?''
Yes"
And what did you do
II just hung ON and grinned~
Minnie Rivers. how could you dc
It! | didn't get fair sight Of him
but I'm almost sure that is Arthur
Gregg, only son and heir uf the
widow Gregg. WhY-~why. what'n IN
think Of YOU Nhat'il his prout
mother say I don't believe you ever
thanked him.
II know ! didn't" was the reply
II was hanging on to that damnsl
tahieeloth. with all my might"
And you are most twenty year
old. and your father and ] were hop
ing
And then the gale few the mothe
in and no more was said.
Three days later, when the wind
roared no more, and there was n
more flappety-dap along the clothes
lines. Miss Minnie and Mr.. Gregg sa
in the parlor and talked and laughe,
and i"ked like good friends. An,
that evening the wife whispered It
the husband.
Wouldn't II be funny II Cupid hat
planned il out"
can't tell about Cupid, was tn
answer. but you'd better hustle TO
! another cook If you expect me hom
every night"