Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-12

heard q group OF excited girls say,
rPoor little thing, her mother died
last week. and she is all alone"
Willis mind, working slowly.
evolved a plan. @rd Ike TO send her
home in a cab" no said to one OF the
girls. 1T seems to me that | am
partly TO blame. Everybody who
shops in such a crowded season IS TO
blame. I might have waited until the
rush was over"
The girl looked at him curiously.
You get the cab she said. land III
bring her down when she is better"
At the door OF the cab Willis asked
for her number, and he blushed and
stammered.
The next day he hunted her up. He
found her on the top floor OF a tene'
ment. looking smaller and winter
than ever, as she lay curled up on
the couch. One of the women In the
house was looking after her, but
there were few evidences OF comfort
She greeted him in a startled way.
Her life had not made her confiding'
IF you will let me look after you
a little" he said to her, I'D feel bet
ter. | hate to see little white thing
like you having to struggle. When
you tainted yesterday in the store IL
came to me that the world was pretty
cruel to girls like YOU.
Her eyes filled with tears. "Peo-
pie do not think" she said, very
much about US"
He did not shower things upon her.
Yet he saw to it that she had enough
nourishing food.
She did not dream he was r1ch
man. His clothes. his rough hands,
his hesitating manner. gave no I'M
preston of affiuence.
Yet she chung to him; loved him;
worshiped him. He was not "Slow-
Coach Willis to her, but wonderful
being of tenderness aud strength.
When at last he asked her to marry
him, she would have gone with him
TO penury. She did not dream that
his house was, in a sense. a fairy
palace. Plain on the outside, 1t was
like rose within
Spurred by the rapture OF his love
for her, Willis demanded from his
shrewd lawyer friend information as
to the keeping up OF an up-to-date
establishment. A stout maid was
hired to assist his housekeeper. He
bought a big limousine and an cleo
trio, and when he took the little white
maid home to his village they rode
in the big car wrapped in furs.
But you mustn't be so extrava-
CANT" she told him, thinking 1t hired
for the occasion. after this. or
course. just for our wedding journey
it is all right, but after that you
mustn't
He smiled in his slow way, and he
laughed a little as he carried her
over the threshold of her own room.
1t was the rose room.
OH" she said, and drew a quick
little breath. "Oh, is it fairyland?
mo, it is your home" he told her.
She fitted into It like jewel into
It's proper setting. She had city
woman's knowledge Of the proper
thing: and it came about that Willis
Lamphear's home became the center
of hospitality in the town. And VIII
lis took on new dignity. His wife
told him what to get and he bought
it. His clothes, made by city tailor.
fitted him and gave him an air of
man of the world. He was no longer
"Slow-Coach Willis" the townspeo-
pie were proud OF him and OF his pref
ty wife.
But there were some women to
whom Willis success was sour
grapes. Il wouldn't have had him
with all his money" they would say
spitefully.
But Willis wife knew that she
had won a prize she had seen be-
meath the surface into the heart OF
tha man