The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-05
by A. MARIA CRAWFORD.

copyright. 1911, by Associated
Literary Press.D
I am willing Ia wager You lunch
against a paper Of pins that you'll
have a cowboy for a 'son-in-law.
laughed Edith Douglas as she made
ready for Mrs Meredith ogden's dance
IN honor OF Robert Alton, a nephew
from the Southwest.
yealf lose" warned her mother.
One good lunch with you. even II
] have 20 pay fer IT, Us preferable 10
taking all my meals with "a Texas bad
man. Or. you needn't shake YOUR
head. Ills wonderful attractions viii
prove tc he the outcome Of Mrs Og-
ssen's vivid Imagination. She should
have been a writer"
Tvs rather funny. isn't Il; ths, she
ras practically married You IL her
nephew before Won have had chance
III icak him ever. II wasn't exactly
generous OF her 20 discuss the matter
80 freely, Tor il Will be trying in case
xoa Or not like the man
Like him Impossi bile Ii would
ne 700 much ike one If the many ro-
anances ! have written for the maya
zines They Don't really happen,
mother
a bell tinkled ana Edith caught up
a big white coat There is the gen
tleman of the orchids TheN look
pretty on the " bite gown Isn't 1t too
hsd that ! can't fanes q bald head and
Fifth avenue est2 5I5shmeut instead
Of writing foolish stories for olr
bread aud huter in fiat
Well. we're happy
Yes, and there is something in
that, Cioo0 night."
For weeks The arrival 81 Mrs og-
den's nephew had been eagerly auticl-
patea, Tor his attra cfions We're nu-
fnerous. according to his kinsN oman
who recounted them with mathemati-
cal precision 10 every eligible young
woman ~ her acquaintance. Bat she
constantly said that he must he the
man fer Edith pougher and stated
emphatically that she expected 10 do
everything in her power TO make the
match,
Edith noUeher and her mother had
been compelled to give MP their plan
tatfon home. and had moved to the
metropolis, believing that Edith would
find place there for her work as a
writer At first she had struggl ed
along hraNclY with very little encout
aKement. but eventually some short.
breezy articles from her pen coming
under the notice of prominent jour
nalist- she began 20 be successful and
soon acquired name for herself. The
old-tin1e southern charm Of blended
grace and dignity had soon Sun
rounded her with many friends. She
had several offers OF marriage two
or three that the world called brilliant
opportunities, but at twenty-eight she
was, still. single. She felt that she
could love, she often declared. but
smiingly added that the blind god
had passed her by.
Isn't he All | promised and more 90
demanded Mrs. ogden.
.All and more" repeated Edith
feeling the blood mount TO her face
and throat.
Il am gIRd to know you" said
Alton warmly Something in his
brown eyes held her gaze; they We're
Laughing down into hers. Ii seems
that we are destined 10 be friends hs
Fate and Edith smiled at the larg,
proportions Fate had assumed in thu
person Of his august aunt. Don't lie
z Fate prejudice YOU, At least, don
make a decision until ! have had {
. hearing"
Within week people were noddint
significantly when Edith and Altor
Z appeared together. but the girl wal
apparently unconscious OF II. She at
fribufed her interest in the man Il
the fact that in hearing the stories q
western life he told her she was aCCu
mulating valuable material for future
work.
one afternoon Alton had taken he
for "a drive and afterward she hat
asked him I'm for a cup of tea.
so you think my western storie
are poor. or, TO put II more tscJfuily
unreal -
II didn't say that" he corrected
.thu, did SAY that your western mel
) are TOO uiId Or foo fierce. You hav'
ssas 9ra the MAJ, Df The ag N,