Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1913-02-06
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE HOUSE OF DEANS.
Bv Annie HenrIchsen.

A torpedo. hurled with the AOii
strength OF a round, tanned ARM
struck the elephants SHE and eS-
ploded A shower OF toTpedoes TO-
lowed the first one. a dozen young
men and women pushed through tue
crowd at the curb 10 huri tnelr NOISY
missiles at the elephant Tho great
animal. the star attraction OF the cir
Gus parade, logged his way along the .
street undisturbed by the lombard +
menL
The girl who had thrown the hrst
torpedo was leading the bomoagders-
The crowd on the sidewalks was
laughing and cheering. The pranNs
OF tue residents OF tAe summer colony
CT I.akemore were the chief JOY Oh
tie permanent Inhabitants CT the Wiz
laxe.
Tie leader of the torpedo throwers
ran down the street Crashing heI
missiles against the unconcerned eie-
phant. A torpedo flew from her manu-.
II missed the elephant and eNploded
at the feet of man standlhs az '"0
edge OF the sidewalk.
Fhe girl turned 10 see where neg
torpcdo had struck. The man vas
looi,in.. al her with amusement aud
curiosity. Tier merry face sooeiec.
The box of torpedoes in her mana
droDrcd TO the ground. One OK tAe
men i'm her party picked IL up ana
handel Il TO her. But she shook her
head. turned from the bom0arded ele-
phaut and the man Watching AeI anu
disappeared in the crowd
AT one OF tho summer cottages
Grace Audrey met Ralph Norman
eve have seen each other before
Norman remarked.
"Indced?" Miss Audrey's brows were
elevated. There was suPercliious
note I'm her voice.
Il saw YOU circus day at the pa
rade" ,-.,.s,.-
Us # possible?' she asked indineF
emily.
Two weeks later Ralph Norman wa.
s.ll h. r.alenlore at the summer hotel
An morning he and Grace Audrel
had been sailing IN her beat NOT
man. who had been sitting in the ster'
OF the boat. LETT his seat 10 adjust H.
sail. a sudden puff OF wind struc'
the sail. Tie boat tipped TAR owe
and Norman was in the water.
Grace pulled down the sail and IN
boat stoned. But Norman was nc
swimming. Once ne rose 10 the sur
face. Then he sank again. GIae
.oupht nm the oars and rowed ~
boat toward him. AS he rose secon
time she saw that his eyes were close
She jumped into the water caes-
nim by the collar OF his coat anc are
him To the boat. VITA one mana 3.
held his head above water, Wlth (.
other She chung TO the Doat. fe't
On the shore had seen the acclaei
and several boats were coming I
ward them. -.
AN hour later Grace and Noymi
sat on the beach at I.akemore I'D
wore dry clothes, and Norman S neg
which mad been struck as he ielI ire
the boat, was bandased
you viii have 70 marry me- ~
man said decidedly. You saved Z
life. When a woman saves a MAJ
Bfe she always narries him.
loved YOU since the first time 1 s.
Won. You were throwing TORPEDO
al an elephant, and
and ven loved me because i v
acting like a spoiled tompoy.
girls face was white; her hands VI
clenched. "I shall never marry
Please-please don't speak TO me as
of your love for me. j cant s'aho
I wont listen"
That afternoon Grace Audrey va
cd through the streets OF sunni
homes. mast the villages and out 1
the country. a mile from ire VII.
she came TO a house which STOOD
from the road. 1t was a large, RAJ
ling house, with wide verandas. VI
grew over the verandas and tx
climbed 10 the windows. Majestic
trees spread their great branches
the house and made a thick shade
the green lawn. There was no
OF human life about the place.
. Grace sat down on an old benc.
a corner OF veranda. Long, go
Iances thrown by the setting sun
across the lawn. Occasionally d
bedtime chirp broke the silence.