The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-23
The Richmond Virginian S Richmond s sf zs.ss, a.
Spinsters of Scarlet Ridge

other undecided. heard voice from
the dim background, saying. Let
/ thera in"
1t was Helen. in her blue liner
painting apron and with her easel IN
her hand.
! Il heard what you said about
( steam pipes and radiators" she saio
and laughed NO other argument
would have been effective. but we
/ hate modern heating. SO in the name
TOT eur hearthstone we bid you well
: come
The three men said nothing as to
[ whence they came or as 10 where they
! were going. they simply settled them
selves in the three big chairs in
front 81 the fire. with the air cf way
farers who have come TO stay. First,
! however. they begged that their host
esses would remain. Hlda settled
that
! We have our work to do she
| said. You are welcome To the fire.
! but you must not interrupt the duties
| OF our day
Then she marshaled Helen and
Harriet before her and went out and
I shut the door.
The three men left alone leaned
hack In their chairs and laughed.
The third man, who was boyish, said
eagerly Did you see the youngest
one? She is charming"
The man with the massive head
looked into the fire thoughtfully.
We have bombarded the castle
gates" he said, and have found
princesses as beautiful as they were
reported to be. So far. so good"
At noon Harriet came in. followed
by maid, who carried a tray on
4 "A v.~T. l,g.a
There was "A cake. toe. and Harriet
admitted blushtngly that she made
it. She sat down on the end OF the
old scttee, at their earnest solicita-
ton.
"Hilda won't like IT," she said.
The Apollo-like young man whis-
pered. "I3ut we like it,"
Helen came in presently to find
Harriet. and she, too, was persuaded
to stay. At last came Iiilda, flaming
with Indignation.
lis this the way" she said. that
men interfere With womens i'm
portant duties"
Then the short man rose and
pointed to the chair nearest the fire.
sit there" he said. What can be
more important on a rainy afternoon
than to talk with these who need
you This is day to forget care In
the light of leaping tlames.'
Hida's head went up, but she
obtyed him, and as she had obeyed no
other man.
In the course of the conversation
which followed the Apolo-like man
called his companions Inadvertently
by their names. They were famous
names, and the three sisters gasped
that such men as these should sit at
hut httF, b In haa ~ "a
as these should have been kept watt
ing AT their door.
If we had known" IIilda apollo
gized
Known WHAT was tho demand of
the man with the massive head,
That you were great" tida fall
tered.
: He laughed We are mere men,
( after all" ne said.
When the guests had gone that
night the three sisters looked at each
other.
They will never como again" they
said. We treated them too badly
! But they did come. and mpre than
: that, they Wo0ed and finally Won THE
/ spinsters Of Scarlet Ridge" yet the
/ Wooing was not as easy as il sounds
in the telling, for when the man with
! the massive head asked Hilda. she
! said NO" resolutely, and Harriet
/ said No to the Apoilo-lilSe youth
/ and Helen shook her head and would
1 have nothing To do with the third
man of fame.
! SO the three went away, but before
/ they went they said each to the wo-
! man that he loved when you want
me writer one word. Come"
E The sisters waited until Christmas,
and then llilda said to the others
/ shame-facediy: II can't live without
/ him. Why should We. because the
1 men Of our own family made us
4 miserable. think that these men too
/ are worthless 90
And Helen answered. Why"
! But Harriet ran for pen and ink and
I pa per, and they wrote three letters.
| and In each letter there was one
word, but it was the word that
brought them happiness.