The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-19
BY LOUISE oLNEY.

II squared shoulders. In
he Rather a begun by hard work
20 make a fortune. If In Die age
he had suddenly lost it. his daughter
thought che could begin at the foot
a. he a done. Regina Frank was
equipped with youth and health and
her courage was even better than
) her father had begun by hard Work
aristocratic mother she inherited a
thoroughbred strain. She was even
thankful that the mother died just
before h crash came.
This hot morning she came 10 the
Office prepared for nothing but the
usual routine which her years steady
work had mastered. And the I'M
usual happened.
Zsnt's real estate. office WAS quiet
enough and as vacations we're on and
business hopelessiy dull. Jared Fan
stayed at home that day n sent
his son to the office. Junior would
have preferred golf or ~dawdIing
aoout summer yerandas where pretty
girls were TO be found. but he knew
that after an elaborate college edit
] cation and several years abroad at
dads expense. 1t was necessary for
him to do office duty on request.
Therefore. he went, for the first time
in two years.
{ AIiG ne Saw IbEE I'M ihFNlhB AdS ~
all appearances almost Obvious to
his gay presence. lie could feel that
her steady brown eyes marked his
entrance, took stock Of him in gem
! eraI. and then attended To the days
correspondence lifting for another
look only when their owner heard her
self addressed.
She took a few unimportant let
ters for him, wrote Ia few important
ones on her own initiative, and got
him to sign them. and generally mind
ed her business with extreme con
c~entration. In which trait she was
like her father, John Trant.
Just before luncheon young Zant
wondered whether he dared try CON
~Versation with her. and irritably de
cided that he didn't know what to
say to her. He meant to ask dad
where he got her. He hadn't known
that girls like that worked In offices.
His keen blue ayes followed her every
line and color and movement with a
sort Of surprised approval. She
might have been a college queen
and with that thought he dawdled
out to lunch.
Along the middle Of the afternoon
came breezing into the office Maidie
Perkins. her fat mother and her fat
ter father. They had heard that q
picturesque, ~old-Iooking place on the
lake was for sale-the old Trant place.
Did Mr.. Zant handle it Old Per
kins thought so, and gave II side
wise look of admiration at Regina,
who made no sign until the young
man turned to her for help.
I'm only here for the day, YOU
) KNOW" he said helplessly. Miss
. the lady here viii tell YOU" He
/ looked al Regina.
w have the piace-its for sale.
Have you looked al it,
. Maidie began raring about It. her
q eyes on young Jared Lant.
a The dearest grounds and the
house so romantic looking!-can you
t let US see It? Does any one here
know all about it," They all looked
at Kegina-but Maidie. Jerry Fan
A turned TO Regina.
Gould yo go out with them? Dc
you know the place? 2" She gave {
queer little smile. Did she know tn,
O place which her father had built foi
n her. dear in every stone and brick
= every nook and corner
n Il know 1t WELL" she said. Il viii
go If you ike" Her steady eyes me
young Zant and all their deep BEAUTY
a was tor an instant his.
wv have the car out here~We ca
bring her back said Perkins. m.
4 daughter thinks she wants the place
and II Ii ism t too steep for my pile
. she can have tt-what do o wan
a for it," John Cant. Jr., turned t
Regina and consulting a card cata
logue she coolly named the price
= Then she put on her nat and glove
and prepared to go, At the door sh'
= heard Il little call, and waited 70
or 4vr
i" "Miss-Miss-you needn't COM
> back tonight" She gave him a lit
- tie bow az If II were she dismissini
y him instead of he her.
"By-gravy." he remarked whei
a she had gone. Then he repeated tn.
- elegant ejaculation; What's he
II name?-and where did dad get her
I Look out. my boy. or you are gon
" called over to the further corner o
the room for waters to come to hin
Walters had been young a hal
century ago, bat was now 8ithore,
up aud ~wrinkled, SNUG and dry-as
dust. Waiter was BALD and his lip
were pursed. and a pen was owe hi
ear, lie faced his employers youn
: son.
What's her nance" asked tina
worthy, and AT the old man's stare
added, 'Iha A6ang Lazy II tbs .@it1G
here, ] msan
. Miss Regina, Regina Trant. h
> submitted solenn0. Your fathe
y would never a sent the gal out I
- sell her own old home neither
~ must say that fer inn"
! what submitted the youn
: man. What do YOU mean"
Her father. old John Trant. bull
that there place on the lake for Mis-
e. Regina. she never speaks of H. II
V" lost everything-guess You were a
and her ma died. Everything wa
gone. He was honest and paid hi
e. creditors. she supports him nov
~ Ten make her feel bad to show thu
- silly gal around the place. IT 70
- had OF asked me-but she Will max
~ the sale all right-she's trne blue
she aln't afraid
~ She's a lady-unafraid, all right,
y, breathed Zant, junior. his eyes an
his imagination on fire. IN Y
right out there-and-and--f Will II
- ut up someway. You look after III
office. Walters. Phone ratned If any
thing comes up and say I'm out Q
business that would not walt
AT the nearest garage the youn
man got a car and went spinnin
down the avenues and out the boule
ward TO the lake. through the Jesse
wandering roads TO the old Tran
place. Az he reached the gate an
got out ne met the Perkinses Roin
10 their own car. Regina was nc
with them.
AWhere'a your-guide%" he aske
lightly. while Maidie's eyes suggcste