The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-25
And Benefit the Women
RACHEL AND LEAH

u growing unbearable---at seventeen a
gfrl shotild know better than to be
sauC,y- Syhilts had taken cast-off
clothes. studied IN cast Of BOOKS,
waited on cNcry body. and eaten at
the second table. unmurmurlng. OF
late she had grown restive--the
frotks we're TOO shurt--Mahei was
several inches lower Than she. Then.
too. she had developed quaint and
ready bitterness Of speech, an In
siEat that was critical, and worse
ssl}L 81 reckless regard Tor the truth.
Therefore whom Mabel asked tart
sy1 We'll. Miss Smarty, where have
rNa been all afternoon H' she answer
cd with a lovely nush. hut .iear-eyed
ay3 Flgh-headed. oh. our riding
uHtr Lon Hampton. He saw me UP
l0 tht'4pp.e tree. and said he give
me a drive FOR three red apples"
just as you are Ny Mabel
Easpea. slaneiug IT Sybilla's faded
srge frotk, seuffed shoes and bat
tered hat
sybula smiled softly, nodded and
mUrmured, Il don't believe Len no
t!oed what had on--he was too
husy looking at me
Il never heard such insolence.
Mother. she'll be the talk OF the town.
People have said always YOU couldn't
raise a forward daughter, hut I'm
afraid"
They won't keep saying III" sy-
biIla interrupted. Wrong, honey
Len says I'm as shy as I'm sweet,
Nab, did he ever say anything nicer
TO you?"
I'm send YOU 10 school day after
Tomorrow" Mrs Ray groaned. IL
your poor father does say it's no use,
you've got to go
'T'hanky, mA'am~-I've wanted To
this ever so long" Sybilla countered
uudauntealy. Not for what books
will teach mel can get that at
home-but So as to rub off the an
giles, and make me sweet and attrac-
tlve--like Nab"
: Shee nded with a laugh of genuine
amusement that had yet a sound un-
like her usual bubbling. Still, she
had her way about the frock after
all, melting her father to exercise
husbandty authority for once. and
send his wife TO bed betimes.
All next day she was singulariy
gentle. singularly willing-not once
did she say briery thing. nor fai
OF doing the most exacting duty.
Rested and refreshed. Mrs. Ray did
marVels with the pink silk. When II
lay complete upon the bed In the
spare room. Mabel surveyed il with
a happy smile. and even said to Sy-
billa;
"syb--when your time comes, I'm
going to see to it that you have new
things-and real pretty ones. Ol
course. IN be married then--but
shan't forget how nice you can bs
when you Try
"Thanky. maam." Sybllla said. hei
eyes dancing But isn't 1t lucky.
never cared for clothes If I did car,
it would spoil all my fun tonight
I've nothing to wear to the hop bu
my pink organdy-and I've had to lie
down every tuck In IT.
You must have your joke Mahe
said, smiling indulgently.
! Sybilla also smiled. If you taxi
It that way~-I'm glad" she said. 50
thought maybe you'd be mad a
Tucker over my going, but when Lei
asked me why, ] just had to say yes.
Mabel started at her as If para
) lived. 'You---you don't mean to te
E me you're going with Len Ham pton?
-tshe gasped. Why II was sure
Il know" sybiila nodded. "Bu
don't you mind, Nab. | won't eve
: eheep to him what you thought. He
going 30 take us both. and Mrs Dea
into the bargain--his car is bi
l enough, YOU know. though we don
' actually need chaperon, how we'r
2 engaged on, say, Nab, viii it b
too much out of the picture If / wea
T my diamond ring with the pink or
e CANDY"
Mabel said nothing In fact. jus
: then II appeared to her there va
: nothing left to say. But when mex
= Sunday Peter Benn preached abou
, Leah and Rachel she. OF all the con
; gregation, understood him best