Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-02-08

tndt. Events mao come along naturally,
and he hadn't expected any elusive
thanks, but he was nettled a bit by the
naughty indifference shown by the young
lady. Two days later, while he was 60
ing over to Jayville in an auto he had
hired for the season and was running
himself, he came upon scene by the
roadside. Edith and her aunt were out
in the judges auto, which the girl had
managed on fifty previous occasions, and
all was going well when wheel dropped
into hole, and the two were thrown out
The passengers had just picked them
selves up and ascertained that they had
suffered only bruise or two, when the
soldier came whizzing up. Of course,
he stopped and offered his aid. The aunt
looked to Edith, but Edith turned her
shoulder and muttered something about
walking home and sending the chauffeur
after the machine. Then Aunt Susan had
to say: "If you would only be so kind,
sir |" and the captain, with the help OF
two farmers who came along, righted the
auto and found that it could be run home
under its own power. Aunt Susan was
profuSe in her thanks, but Miss Edith
only slightly bowed her acknowledgements
81 thought you had some manners
about you," exclaimed the chaperon as
they were homeward bound. "After all
his trouble, the gentleman deserved more
than the icy bow you gave him."
"Auntie, when you have seen as much
of the world as have" sagely replied
the nineteen-year- old girl, "you will know
how to read men better. That gentleman
simply wants to flirt with me, and shall
not encourage him in the slightest"
The red spots on the aunt's cheeks en-
larged and became more vivid, and her
teeth made grating noise, but what
could she do about it2 She had laid
down the law and must abide by it. OF
course, the captain discovered the iden-
tity of the proud and naughty girl. He
was bound to do that. When gentle
man has been repeatedly snubbed by a
good-looking young lady he is just as
anxious to learn the name OF the snubbeSS
as he would be if he was in love. He got
into the habit of going to the depot every
day. II the ladies took the train, he took
it also. II they did not appear, he re-
turned home. He also rode out in his
anto, and when he did not meet them, he
returned home with the feeling that he
was an il-used man. Even when he
journeyed up town in the same car with
them, Aunt Susan simply bobbed her
head in doubtful recognition, while Edith
looked straight past him or over his head.
When two weeks had gone by, the cap
tain went off TO golf club for the day,
and did not leave for home in his auto
until nine o'clock 1t heightened his
journey by four miles to come by way OF
Judge Eldridge's manor, but what did he
care about the extra distance
He was approaching the house when
he was hailed by a man at the roadside
and few words passed between them.
The man was told to come on, but ne
continued his way The captain and the
auto turned in at the lodge and made for
the front door, and the machine had not
yet come to halt when the soldier was
bounding up the steps and flnging open
the front door. In the sitting-room, to
the lett OF the hall, sat two women, tied
to their chairs, and in the dlning-room
beyond three men were packing up the
household silver and pauSing now and
then to sip of the judges best. There
was just moment OF hesitation, and then
the soldier appeared before the trio. He
had a revolver in his hand, but he used il
only as club. He struck right and left,
and he struck hard The fellows went
topping over before they could under
stand what had broken loose. Then the
women were united, the cords used to
bind the others, and when all was finish
ed the soldier inquired il he could be OF
any help. Aunt Susan coughed and gulped
and choked up and could not answer.
Edith looked her full in the face and ask
ed:
"Auntie, may flirt enough with this
gentleman to answer his question ?"
"You may ilirt-you may fall in love-
you may elope-you may get married" "
was the sobbing answer as the dear old
Puritan laid her head on the table.
The Judge and his wife just now are
very friendly towards the captain, who
has had his leave extended, and Edith
has lost so much of her haughtinesS, and
so seldom snubs the man in blue, that
she seems much like her old self.