The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-12

caught at her hat to save that.
Stevens saw heavy mosor-tram
close upon her. knew that SHE did
not see 1t, and reaching her at
leap. jerked her backward just In
time. The shock sent Aer against
him. but he helped her right herself.
He shook her little, he was SO
frightened, SO angry at her careless
ness.
Watch where you're going Do
you think | want TO see you killed y
She WAS a little dazed and white.
He gathered up the letters, went with
her to mail them. and then, asking
no permission, walked BACK 10 heF
office building with her.
"You--don't seem to know how to
take care of yourself" ne said on
leaving her. I'm sorry WAS
rough"
She nodded, and he saw her eyes
fun Of tears. and his glance fell on
her white forearm where his angry
grasp had left red mark. she
turned and left him,
Stevens was wakeful that night.
He had been brute. Because ne
had happened TO save her from can
ger he had forced himself upon her,
talked roughly to nor, a tender slip
Of "a thing On the whole, he had
misused his opportunity, and mated
himself One thing, was certain, ne
would now go slowly. He would not
weak unless she wished II. ana NJ
would somehow get an Introduction
| to her, go to see her. And-another
! thing he vowed to do. He would
/ make the sober little thing laugh !
! He longed TO hear her laugh. She
always was so very serious-~even her
smile was grave. II she would let
| him come to see her he would take
her sonewhere--not to dance, put iof
| n walk or to good amusement
park.
| Again every morning she was or
his car. but beyond look OF recoghi'
! ton she came no closer 10 MN
Then. one evening, ne was "alhii'e
| about downtown, when around 9
corner he suddenly came upon hei
! with Maude Bailey. whom he Knew
very well He spoke in answer Il
Maude's smile. and walked with then
a little. wouldn't she introduce him
He was so taken by surprise ina
he didn't ask IL, and in another mo
mcut the girls turned into store
land ne was left on the sidewalk VIII
GOOD NV In his ears. Evidently
| Maude had taken their acquaintance
for granted.
Thereafter he was miserahie DC
cause of the girl. What move should
lhe make? Maude being something o
a tease and tomboy, he dared no
TRUST her with his secret-she woult
make fun Of him, perhaps spoil nj
chance.
But again Fate interviewed, ant
gave him the role of protector. ii
was going early one summer evenin
to tinker again at the httle mouse
which he was soon going to NOV
~
ly arranged In it. He was walkin
around a corner where the car line
cross. when he saw her coming 10
ward him, walking slowly. bare
headed and leisurely. At the sam
moment he gave IA cry, but 100 iat'
An old man, evidently deaf. wake
directly before an on~comlng ca
Stevens gave jump for the girl
turned her face against his breas
put his hands over her ears. sh
. should neither see nor hear the no,
tror,
He freed her. and led her ava
: telling her what had happened. Sh
: was very quiet and went with hii
: willingly, while he still held her arm
Can | go~~where you were g.
! ing" he asked
! Just for little walk she salt
! II like these little homes~~and there
. q bit OF woods farther on. It's IN
Z the country | came from. she locke
e at him shyly, and he said nothin
, about his little house being aero
! from the wood. But they would pa
1t. She should see 1t.
You've always been~-doing thin
J for me-" she said, Mr.. stevens sa'
8 ing me from "a fall or from beiI
kilIad-~or seeing something dreadr
a and" She blushed deeply,
a This Is my-~little house" he sal
t I'm just working on it. Won't W
e take a look at IT." He had stopp'
d BY his own gate Hts glance was In
"A ploring. She silently went up Il
< grassy little yard. and let him III
. lock the door. She stepped in,
e was really very pretty and coy, b
I no woman's touch revealed Itself, 81
surveyed things grayely. And the
4 she gave him one wish of his heart,
she broke into sudden ringing laugl
e ter. like child's laughter. In d
/, light he stared at her for the reaso
y "It's~-lovely. but II all looks so G
i sct4 like ii man" She laugh'
D again.
. Then he did what he fully intend'
! not to do what he had intended
WOO her gently into letting him do
/ he caught her 10y both unresistii
4 hands.
q oh" he said. II love yo
> Couldn't you love me, and marry ms
IL would be a--mercful thing. Al
r that would be exactly Ikea woma
4 wouldn't it, He found her leanil
q against him.
g Yes" she said. grave again. "th
e would be Very-much-~tike -~~me.
A would be different II | hadn't-knov
v you so long" This time the man WI
Y the one who laughed.