The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-16
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.
fCopyright, 1912. by the Associated

6Copyright. 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press)
''If you were Ill, said Betty. fret
fully land tied to chair. you'd un-
derstand a few things that you are SO
terribly stupid about
What. for instance said her low
err, with sort OF dreadful calm
ness
But Betty was not warned You d
hate To see other people going off and
enjoying themselves You wouldn't
think you were selfish because you
wanted little remnant OF the time
OF the person who had sworn TO love
you--for better, for worse.
Gregory sprang to his feet. Bet
ty,' he said. you're unjust Haven t
been with you every day-~every
hour that could spare--and now, be
cause I want to take a run around
the cape with q party Of old friends.
you conclude that you're badly treat
edit isn't fair and 1t isn't just But
m going to stay here---so YOU ueedn't
worry / couldn't enjoy the trip
now"
bettys big eyes blazed in her pale
face. Il won't have you here. she
said. tensely. m you want TO go.
you may-and--pleas don't come
back today, Gregory"
He stood for moment looking
down at her, You mean that?"
Yes"
Dearest
Betty turned away her head Don t
cali me that" she said. It's easy
enough to say pleasant things
Do YOU think ! don't mean them -
II don't care whether you do or
not" eoolIy: please go, Greg
He went slowly down the steps Of
the porch. tall and striking In his
blue serge coat and white trousers.
his yachting cap and white shoes. Bet
ty loved the ground he walked on,
but when he looked back. she was
gazing indifrerently out over the har-
Dor. "I'n be back In an hour. he
called.
family He stepped into his boat,
started his motor and was off.
Betty lay back in her Invalid chair.
On the table beside her were the
roses Gregory had sent A book he
had ordered for her lay in her lap. the
Persian pussy cat he had brought to
cheer her loneliness slept comfortably
on a blue cushion at her feet
But these things did not make Bet
ty happy She wanted him to be tied
to her side. She was lonely. blue,
jealous,
Greg's pld friends were On the
yacht anchored out there near the
clubhouse. He had gone to Join them.
In that group was girl with whom
Gregs name had been connected be-
fore he met Betty. Greg had denied
that there had ben an engagement.
But Betty felt that there must have
been something serious in the way
OF a love affair, for what girl eonld
help loving Greg? And there was
reason to suspece that Gregs heart
had been involved. for Helen Thorne
was a noted beauty and Betty was
little and thin. and just getting over
an operation for appendicitis,
And there isn't any romance In
appendicitis" mourned little Betty.
and gave herself up to the clutches
OF the green-eyed monster.
Her mother came ont presently.
where's Greg?" she asked.
Gone" sucoinctly.
I'm so glad" said Mrs Bradford.
~has been 80 devoted, Betty-and
men are usually 10 fussy about being
tied DOWN"
II hope he'll never como back"
said Betty,
Betty"
II told him So Betty went on. "I
wouldn't have cared, mother, II he
had simply gone for q boat ride
but to think no could be happy-to
be with other people--when / wasn't
lhsre" Bstty's eyes we're overflow
Ing