The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-29
BY A. HOWARD GUNTER.
Copyright. 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press)

Literary Press)
"Ambrose," remarked Mrs. Grant
wood, Jack Wilton is very clever
boy. He has written some poetry to
Genevieye."
Unfortunately. Mr.. Grantwood was
prejudiced against poetry, statuary
and the theater, for he knew that
these things had nothing TO do with
the hardware business, and he felt
that they were apt to be improper.
So he banged his fist down on the
table and cried: Poetry. Then the
boys an idiot"
He's very much In love with Gene
vieve." replied his wife irreleyantiy.
We'll, why can't he court her with
common sense and plain prose? Did
/ write poetry to you, Lily Mande-
ville?"
Now. dad" declared Thomas
Vaudeville Grantwood, who was a
stanch admirer of Jack Wilton, be
reasonable. You couldn't. you know.
but silly and chilly, and Vaudeville
with i'll and pill. The combination
Of words was against YOU"
Anyway. the verses were very
whose idea Of poetry was bounded on
one side by the Psalm OF Life" and
on the other by "Curfew Shall Not
Ring Tonight They began, soh.
Genovieye. for you to grieve- And he
brought car, too. when he brought
the poem. Genevieve told MIN that
the rats were taking the place
Mr.. Grantwood was moIlified at
once. Good, l always knew that boy
had some sense. could scarcely
sleep last night for the rats. They
marched around the room like sol.
diers"
AS donor Of the cat Jack Wilton re-
ceived warm welcome that night
from Genevieve's father, yet the
young mans usually cheerful countc-
nance was clouded. He had deter
mined to try his fate that evening to
tell Geneyleve that he loved her,
that life was nothing without her,
marks that he had carefully prepared
for the occasion. He had practiced
his speech in his room. had told hts
Aunt Sallie that 1t should be now or
never, and had left home with
astounding se1f-cOnfidence. But before
he reached the brentwood home he
experienced familiar and sad SEN
satton, his courage began to dwindlc,
Az the front door 1t. had susYk lyefoN
tho waist-linc, and when he was ush-
cred into the parlor 1t had ebbed en-
tirely away.
Jack Wilton was not afraid Of the
choleric Mr.. brentwood or the neu-
resthentc Mrs. Grantwood: It was tho
girl herself who held him silent.
Whether 1t was the smoothncss OF
her blonde hair. the whiteness OF her
stiffly Numbered dresses. the passion
less common sense shining In her
eyes; whether II was. any or all OF
there things the young man could 10:
tell. but certain II was that he had
never been able to make love. to
Genevieve. though he had several long
ana faithfully In her train. Many
frantic efforts he had made, but
Genevieve was neither sentimental
nor dirtatious, and her cheerful
friendliness COMPOUNDED his romantic
flights.
So now ne gazed in dumb misery
from the rug At her feet to the clock.
while Genevieve sang him all her lit
tie songs and told him all the jokes
IN the last instailment Of the "Wo-
mans Fireside Friend" II was a.
ready 1920. and at 1880 AZ Jack
Wilton knew. MIR. Grantwood would
be heard coughing violently In thu
dining room. and at that signal all
visitors must depart The time was
near ana yet he could not speak.
Meanwhile. upstairs, Tommy Grant
wood awoke with .. start at z slight
sound In his room. and there on the
table az great gray rat that was,
their nightly visitor. Remembering
. molasees pie that no had lovsd and
lost. Tommy was preparing to ding
shot at the visitor when little
form sprang from the darkness 10
the table. The cat was quick, but
the rat was quicker. and with start
led squeak It jumped To-. the door
and scurried d0wnstAfru, hto new cAt
hard behind It.
Mrs.. brentwood. lying In bed and
watching the clock. decided that lt
was time for Ambrose to bogin c0ugh-
Ing In the dining room. AMbrOees
she cr1led, but the words d3e6 ~ her
lips, for suddenly thera 80 = Strange
humping and humping A ~ ota1r1k
anc 4 huga rat, psar6na0 leW
cat, pushed into the r0ol1ks lley Fnsl.
both th4 pursued 49, t46 pslr1uess