The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-08
BY A. MARIA CRAWFORD.

BY A. MARIA CRAWFORD.
Copyright lalc by the Associated
Literary Press.)
| The cotilIIon was over and they
| found a table cozily screened with
palms and orange trees In full bios
som. There was a mound Of lilies Of
the valley on the white cloth.
1T looks as II we must be filchins
somebody's happiness, exclaimed
Betty, for the decorations around
here certainly Indicate the expecta-
ton of a bride and groom"
Gossip, that thing We all despise.
yet to which we all listen. maintains
that you are cast for the role and
that Gregory Rhodes is to be your
leading man..
Il know IT," laughed Betty. slipping
! a spray OF the lilies through the tur-
quo!se and diamonds that held the
iaces at her breast. Its a funny
thing how anxious people are to
marry me off to somebody. You re-
member how Aunt Martha tried to
persuade me to take the honora bic
Charles in the mountains two years
ago
Indeed do. and since that time
have never cherished any love for
her You and had such great times
together that summer. Lucky thing
| for me that you found my coat yes
!, terday."
| ct was a curious incident. ! didn't
| have time to tell you all about 1t. l
was running sister Heiens electric
down a quiet street and there In front
of me saw box. ] stopped. picked
II up and imagine my surprise when
| read DR.. Robert Lattmer. Townsend
building" :,
The messenger must have dropped
IT, God bless him..
"Of course / don't know thing
about this town. no l asked ponce
man to direct me to your ONCE build
ing, l was curious to know whether
or not you were the DR.. Latimer
knew. Why don't you eat?" demand
ed the girl. See all these gooo Things
that footman brought.
Il am so glad to look at you again
and to hear the sound OF your voice
that l have forgotten my hunger ;,
when | went into your ONCE and
saw ALI those patients lined UP
knew that l couldn't walt my Time
! for | was due at luncheon IN less
than an hour, so when your attendah.
opened the door and called Next.
gave him my card and asked u
! might see you for just minute
.:And l heard your voice and came
out in a hurry. 1t was a great tn.ns
for me to have you OF all people "nu
that surgeons coat.
what il a surgeons coat
* white coat ! wear when l OPP
erata IN my Office. / dare say l look
like butcher
Helen -. says you are eminentiy
s,cce.~fuI and rank with the best old
surgeons here. ! am so glad. ! nave
40 often wondered about YOU
II wrote 10 you several times after
I left the mountains
~ never received the letters"
NO, he said, because was
afraid to post them. Your SISTER naa
married and come here to i've, ana
everywhere turned r. neaso Y Tan.
vol, and Gregory were engaged. ana
knowing that broken hearts are be-
yond nv skill to mend. l tried to for
get you"
Betty looked pensive and the young
surgeon resumed: III II had not
been for my worldly knowledse oI
what a girl in your posttion wants
these days, I would have asked you
to marry me that last night IN the
mountains. You remember now We
walked up TO Paradise Rock anu
SUDDEN STORM Came ph A1A w >~~ss
refuge under a big tree!
The Jewels on Betty's breast
flashed as the iaces rose and fell
with her uneven breathing. Yes.
she answered softly.
When the lightning played about
US and the thunder doomed ike
giant cannona through the mountains,
you were frightened ana III held
you In my arms" ,
Il was not frightened then.
He looked at her curiously. Betty"
he said. If you had only known how
much greater was. the storm going
on In my breast. ! wanted you 80.
and now
II wish had known" whispered
the girl Just as Gregory Rhodes came
through the opening in the palms.
"Weu, you KAYE mo a deuce Of
slip tonight. BETTY. but see you
found the place intended for you
anyway"
DIR. Latimer pushed back his chair.
"Oh, sit down, Doc. I'm not stop
ping. | was Just lookinG around to
fnd out II Betty had what she want
ed. I'll be around to your ONCE to-
morrow to interview you profession
ally. need treatment. Betty Tilted
me this afternoon"
why. Gregory. you have always
known that I-I-" stammered the
embarrassed girl.
.You did Il nicely enough. ~ NICE
l don't mind talking before Doc Lat
iyner," said Gregory. with HIS air OF
easy familiarity. Hes one Of my
best friends. had this place. al
hxed up. for expected to peDposs