The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-05
BY CLARISSA FACkIE.
Copyright, 1919, by the Associated
Literary PressO

| SeFeiai HlIes peIore 1t took sud
den. unexpected turn aud wandered
on through the deep woods to the
river and the bridge.
! Connie Stone rode drcainlly along
the bride path. her brown eyes liked
on the green perspective ahead. From
the highway came the sound Of swift
ly flying motor cars and tho rpmble
OF carriage wheels TO the accpmpani-
:nent of horses hoofs
1T would be lovely If il w.re not
for the noises from tho road" sighed
| Connie at iast. She 1.ickeG Brown
Ben lightly SO that they would reach
the turn i'll The path and ride toward
/ the river
| All. / with something might hap
! pen~-something perfectly ios ely" sne
sighed again. MY life Is so cut and
I aFsea-PieHty Of money and even my
future husband selected for me. If
Uncle Remus had only spared me
that. The very fact that / am bound
to marry Phil Barring has prejudiced
| me against him ! can't bear him
wtsh he would go away"
This unhappy victim Of match
making parents and worldly old
uncle and guardian suiked openly as
she rode along, for now her grew
ance against the world in general,
and Phil Barring in particular, quite
overpowered her delight in the fresh
morning air.
A saddle girth had slipped and
Connie alighted and bent to tighten
1t. AS she did go, standing there Ia
the green-brown woods only
stones throw Irom ehe highway.
she heard motor car jar to a stand
still close at hand and two feminine
voices engaged In conversation.
and we all think il was per-
feetly horrid Of old Remus Barring
to agree with the girls parents that
when Phil was twenty-five he should
marry the girl. No, I've never seen
her. but you may take 1t for granted
that she's a fright Adele. If she
were not her parents wouldn't have
been TO such pains to marry her
off"
And so Phil isn't quite happy
over it," asked a lazily amused
voice.
'Wretched' why-you know. my
dear. it's no secret that he's break
ing his heart over little me-and
there's that fright Of an heiress
standing like a mountainous wall of
money bags between as. or course,
Phil couldn't marry me without
some OF his fathers fortune--and
there you are"
Poor Elizabeth" derlded Gle
voice of Adele II you only knew
Phil Barring was free To marry. you
wouldn't care two pins for him"
"Adelet"
And SO he has poured out his
troubles to Sou?"
mo. He isn't that sort. and you
know it, Adele. Only he looks mis-
cradle and | understand the reason
The motor suddenly started nois-
lily and drew away from the spot
where Connie Stone stood. a Grim
soned palpitating eavesdropper. With
swift movement she pulled out
gold panit case and scanned her re- |
Election in the little mirror
she saw a blushing face framed IN /
mist OF Jet black hair. brown eyes |
with golden specks in them. a perfect !
nose and mouth and white chin !
with deep dimple.
IF she calls me fright. I won |
OR what she looks like exclaimed |
Sic Indignant Miss Stone. and she |
mounted Brown Ben and flashed |
down the bride path.
AS she rode along the leaf-strewn |
way she thought of her first meeting I
with Phil Earring He had returned /
from q long residence abroad, and
although he was IA very grave, good
looking young man without much to /
say for himself Connie had mistaken
his silence for awkwardness and she
was angry with him from the begin
ming.
When ne did try to be agreeable
and displayed some admiration for
lists cousin who was to be his bride.
Connie became contrary and erratic
In her moods Somehow she felt that |
his admiration was affected. He
was trying to play his part.
And all the time he was in love
with a horrid creature named Eliza
beth who shrieked when she talked,
Connie could have spared herself
any qualms-he was not in love with
her, lie was miserab BILE at the idea
OF his foreordained marriage, He
was unhappy.
II hate him" cried Connie as she
few around the sharp bend away
from the high road and into the still
ness OF the thick woods.
Here the trees grew gnarled and
inshapeIy bending down from the
ligh, messy banks on both sides 10
,orm arches overhead y scarlet
anager flashed across the road and
made Il spot Of gorgeous color
against brown tree trunk.
hermit thrush sang from some
hidden coVet and n thrill Of UNI
sditiiY happiness was III mis- tenueF
lotes.
Tears sprang TO Comics eyes for
his love and happiness that would
lot be hers
l ought to have had chance"
Her mutinous voice broke sharply ,
or ahead OF her there came the thud
# hoofs on the bride path. ,
She drew Brown Ben aside under
he trees the hoof beats became ,
ouder. Then a black mare streaked ,
'ast and disappeared IN the direction ,
whence Connie had come
Connie left sick and faint. The a.,
lack mare was Phil Baring's favorite .
mount and the saddle was empty I.
In another instant Brown Ben was !,
wing down the path and Comics !.
Yes were half fearfuliv searching for I
limp form in the road.
All at once she came upon 1t.
till gray clad form stretched beside II
he road.
Connie slipped from her horse and q
melt beside the form of her fiance
Phil oh. Phil" she cried broken
! as she slipped warm little palm
nder his cheek and endeavored to t
urn his face To hers. p
Slowly his eyes opened and stared K
: her in wide surprise. Stiffly he &
irr'e1. rose to an elbuw--a perfect !.
: sound and good elbow. 10 Comics I,
sat upright, stared again 4