The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-06
CAPTAIN COBB'S COOK

! sparkling. She had on a white shirt
| waist and a white linen skirt. and "a
| white apron was tied about her ex-
ransive waist.
| why, yes he said, as one who has
! suddenly walked. Il guess she's real
/ pretty
shes asked me 10 stay here y itn
| her said the invalid, and help
/ till can get something else to do"
1t came to be a common thing
after that for Captain Cobb to call
on Sarah, and Violet Dean--for that
VAS the invaHds name. For years he
had lived next door to Sarah. and
while he had talked to her over the
fence, he had never called. An early
love affair had left him woman
hBter. but now he felt that there was
safety in numbers. Surely sarah
Couldn't take his calls TO herself
toilet grew prettieer as she grew
stronger. and the captains eyes rest-
ed often upon her. She had an APP
pealing feminine manner. which drew
him TO her. Sarah was not appealing.
! but she was a fine woman.
The loneliness Of his house began
- be appalling TO the captain. For
the first time IN his life he wondered
/ Why he had not married He Won
dered, too, why he had not 40 9ne-
recognized Sarah's competency and
beauty. He had a feeling that SARAH
could do without him. but that Violet
could not. If he asked Sarah TO
larry him. Violet would be let alone
and he was sorry for Violet.
Divided thus between pity and
love. he delayed his wooing, Then
came a. day when the heavens fell
Violet and / have decided" Saran
told him one September day. ''to
spend the winter in the city. She
knows OF good boarding place where
they'u let her help with the linen
recm. and ! can board. and then
We'll be together
The captain let them 60. lie had
TO. He wanted TO keep Sarah, but
he couldn't throw Violet out on the
world like that.
He took care Of Sarah's cat ana
he" flowers, and wrote TO her about
them once u week. Violet usually
answered the letters. Sarah saws
she's busy sightseeing" was the ex-
cuse she gave.
One morning there came a letter
In Sarah's writing. 1--WE got 70 Trll
you something that In, afraid w9n'e
please YOU she said. 1t turns oat
that Ni"lets husband IS alive
thought 10 was dead, but they were
leti them come together, But they
have made up and now she is the
hanpiest woman You ever sam sa1
she ought 10 have told us--it wasn't
fail TO you not TO.
The captain puzzled over that sen.
terce. Then he took the next rrat1
for the city.
What made you think Id care 50
much" he demanded
you were in love With her." size said.
the way YOU kept coming to SEQ
her"
The captain groaned Its you I've
beer in love with, ever since YOU took
Violet in, and made ms feel what a
brute I was
But you never used to coma"
Sarah faltered. and think Violet
Thought you cared for ner--tf1a,'s
why she begged me to come to the
city"
"violets a nice little woman san
the captain and / ana sorry ke-
her, But you're my kind and she
amt. Now she couldn't stand I'M
against my temper for minute,
Sarah. But you wouldn't let any man
boss you, and that's the kind OF N
woman for me, I've had my own wav
for so many years. that I'd be a ter
ror to meek woman
Sarah smiled. You don't know
how meek I'd be If I Was in love"
she said.
Are you in love-" the captain
asked. anxiously. DO you think YOU
could love me, Sarah"
And Sarah, her good face all ROSY
with bushes. laughed little and RS
piled: Has it taken you all these
years TO find It out. captain"