The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-16
AT THE SWING

her living-the college course was
provided through the Will OF an sl-
DERBY relative who had left a million
to missions But she was also O gov
ernor's granddaughter. and entitled
to lss a crest when she could afford
it. Amy would have given her string
of pearls for crest. She was bent
on having one. II ever she got away
from the neighborhood, where folk,
knowing her pedigree. would only
laugh at Ii.
She was glad and sorry to have
Leslie as a guest; glad because her
presence gave reasonable excuse for
the mild festivity: sorry In that she
felt herself, to a degree, hampered by
! hospitality-it would not do to eclipse
Leslie, either In clothes or charms.
Hence the white frosk, fine and lacy
10 be sure. hence, also. the con-
spicuous absence Of the pearls. Les
lie had begged her to put them on.
saying:
You set them off 20 it's shame
to leave them in their case
Instead OF them Amy had only .
little gold chain. twin to that about
Lesiie's neck. Otherwise there was
no likeness between them. Lssiie's
limp organdie was palpably faded.
her slippers bit scunsd. her rib
bons crumpled. Further. she had
done her hair in her usual severe
fashion. There the rain had helped
, O bit. brining the Dose elnds Of 1t into
curl. and 40 framing her mobile face
her best. Amy's hair. yellow as
wheat. was smooth. and beautifully
dressed. modishly dressed to be sure,
yet not In such wise ~ to deform her
fine small head.
Make haste and marry a duke
this head deserves strawberry leaves
at least Leslie had said. touching
the golden softness admirinsIy.
Amy had smiled--she did not Aepirs
she deserved them. Alter all. Leslie
was good sort When she herself
was safely married. she would set
about helping her friend to q like
happy estate. Just now such a thing
was out Of the questions. 80 she had
asked young Danforth by way Of bal
ancing Leslie. He was her stand by
they had grown up together upon ad-
Joining farms, and though gossip had
/ been matching them sincs he put on
Aang threstseea, sire had never thought
Of him as lover.
Leslie might do worse, from q
worldly point Danforth II not rich
was comfortably off. withal energetic
But Leslie would never in the world
look at him--he bored her. Amy
knew t. though Leslie had been al
WAYS too courteous tn=Say N. Some
What willful.=-@@ also high =heatEd- WAX
Leslie. She might have had half the
mission million. IL only she had
Yet now she stood laughing and talk
ing with Danforth, as II he were the
one creature in the world she cared
to entertain.
Amy stared at her. frowning family
then her brow clearing magically.
she said mentally:
III Is coming out beautifully
Lenox Carlyn will think they are
sweethearts, II not engaged"
Lenox might have thought %, but.
for certain prior happenings--the
fact that d year ago -Lealle had bean
his betrothed. But since she gave no
sign OF recognition. he accepted the
role of new acquaintance with what
grace he might. Clearly. he could not
say to wholly new acquaintance:
II WAS Jealous idiot! Fcrgive. Q
forgive me-"
Lenox said 1t in his heart over and
over throughout the high tea. More
than ever, he said It when. after tbs
meal. they went in the twilight again
out on the lawn.
1t was wide and level. richly turfed
and set sparssly with plant trees
remnant from the primeval woods.
There AS n swing In thu biggest Of
thctn---a tall oak, but Dranchy. 1t
stood apart from all the rest. the big
hOughs spreading many yards on each
side. From the stoAtsst 0gxthS hot4hs
hish hsmpsn caplse 4an91sd . . xhe