The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26

q.
They turned into it.
1t was n pretty road. There were on
1t big comfortable houses. set at COM
portable intervals from each other. There
were lawns of velvet In front and beau
| 'iful gardens at the back Behind these
| 'nere were groves OF trees running I'm to
tho top of a low range of hills PeopIe
were coming out of all the houses. the
men In cool-looking ducks and hannels,
the women in fluffy muslins and delicate,
rustiing silks. They were all going In
inc same direction and they laughed and
'"iheo with each other as they went
think there must be some merry
making round here somewhere" Fred
ericka observed sadly.
dance. I fancy" Bennett said "oh.
there It Isl
me curve In the road had sunk away.
III 'front.' OF them was big house. set in
stately horse-chestnuts 1t looked an it
conhagration were proceeding within:
| "'efy one OF It's many windows was
bursting with light. The broad piazzas.
tue paths and driveway we're strung with
| '"Panese lanterns: and circles and
squares and trlanglcs OF them made geo
metric treasure trove Of the trees Rovs
mounted On ladders. were lighting them.
lhey looked like bubbles of fire. smeared
IN patches OF strange color. with tina
stranger symbols of the Orient. Even the
VIVID epleudors of the aftergIow could
not pale them. The lawns vera dotte5
win people There was steady stream
OF them proceeding up the driveway A.
very pretty woman. in floating rufffed
gown walking briskIy down a side path
10 meet a group OF young people. reached
the gate as Fredericka and Bennett an.
preached ap
ID that you, Hilda?" she asked.
ieaning her round bare arms on the wall
Top. Only fancy that Miss CASTOR hoe
I not come. sent over to the train hut
sue wasn't there. Edna said she w.s
i,''ie late In getting to the train but
she was sure she could not have missed
her' because sho met nobody walking from
.he station. Isn't 1t strange? We've
'eiephoned her. and telephoned her. bpt
we cant get anybody. We're awfulIv dis.
appointed"
fredericka involuntarily sripped BEN
. arm. Il am Miss Gaston," she
sad In her clear little voice.
On Miss CASTOR. how glad 1 am 10
see you. 1 am Miss French. Do come
right in You didn't come on thu, e.Is
train, did you?"
on yes. came then" Fredericka
p'unsed into her explanation. and
Wv oeeh all this time trying to find
out at what church the affair was to bs
heih' she concluded.
oh, l sec what the trouble is." Miss
French said. 81 didn't say church
s"'u AT the homie of Mrs. Church. This
Is Mrs. Church's house oh. I am 40
4
time Come right into the house. Won't
you come too, Mr. Bennett? Mrs Church
VIII be delighted to have you stay.
know. There's going to be dancing after
ward. You must DO nearly starved. both
OF You. Ill get you some coffee and sand
wiches Immediately. You've plenty OF
time You needn't feel worried one atom.
Miss CASTOR. It's not yet and Won
Shall have half an hour to rest. There
Is to be a violin solo and n trio OF songs
before You begin, anyway"
I'm going to stay" Bennett whispered
IN fredericka's ear. after he had formally
accepted the invitation. 81 simply must
go home with you now You've got my
expectations up so about meeting Bob"
Very we'll" Frederick murmured be-
whereby; do whatever you wish. I'm
prepared for anything now"
Later, however when she had had n
chance to wash her face and comb her
hair. she recovered her pose She re-
Joined Bennett In tho big dinins-room.
They sat cozly alone. opposite each
other, at tiny tete-a-tete table. The
room was dimly lighted The sound OF
! the violin came from outside, plaintiyely
piercing the ripples of laughter and MUIR
murous talk.
Fredericka had taken her long cloak
off. Her cheeks had turned pink under
the vigor OF her toweling Her eyes
shone happily. The light changed the
ourls at the ears to little spirals OF
bronze. She was wearing a yellow null
gown that stopped Just above her elbows
and rounded away from her slender neck,
displaying with perfdious cunning the
distractng dimples that lurked in every
cogn of vantage
Did you ever taste such sandwiches?"
she asked suddenly. 1--WE eaten six al
| ready"
That's nothing" he announced serene
ly. I've eaten thirty But that isn't as
bad as it sounds. 1t takes two to make
bite"
| There's only one thing that troubles
me- she said sadly. "and that is that 1
haven't story that will take"
I But after all there was a story that
tcok. Bennett. standing at the farther
end OF the huge glassed-n piazza, had a
chance 10 realize this. They were all
we'll told and we'll received Fredericka
had the sympathy OF her audience from
the moment the first clear word fell from
| her lina- uniiI no cOnclt,1ad .stzt
| SO they lived happily over after" But
there was ono story that made a pro-
nounced hit, story whose narration was
! punctuatcd with smiles and bursts OF
laughter. and whose close was greeted
with mirth ridden applause. 1t took with
| the very young. 1t took With the middle.
.. ~.