Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-22


Masters. now seated near the other end of the
table. she lifted shy eyes: but he was looking
at his plate. and crumblihg piece of bread.
1t was like saying goodby She was silent for
moment then, smiling with kind of reck.
less gayety, she lifted her glass of champagne
and turned to the host.
TO you!' she said.
Delight swelled in the breast OF Mr. Bob
Blagdon. He raised his hand and from neigh.
boring thicket there rose abruptly the music OF
banjos and guitars and the loud. sweet singing
OF negroes.
Aiken will always remember that dinner In
the woods for it's beauty and for its gayety
Two OF three men, funny by gift and habit.
were at their very best; and fortune adapted
the wits OF others to the occasion. So that the
most unexpected persons became humorous for
once in their lives, and said things worth re.
Numbering People gather together for one OF
three reasons; to make laws, to break them or
to laugh. The first sort OF gathering is nearly
always funny. and If the last isn't, why then.
to be sure, it is failure. Mr. Bob Blagd0n's
picnic an uproarous success Now and
then somebody's whole soul seemed to go into
laugh, In which others could not help Joining,
until uncomfortable snorts resounded In the
hollow and eyes became blinded with tears
And then suddenly, toward dessert, laughter
died away and nothing was to be heard but
such EXPLANATIONS For heavens sake,
look at the moon!" ibid you ever see ANYTHING
like it?"
Mr. Blagdon had paid money to the owner of
Red Oak Hollow for permission to remove
certain trees and thicket that would otherwise
have obstructed his guests view OF the moon
rise At the end Of the vista thus obtained the
upper rim OF the moon now appeared as In a
frame. And. watching in silence, Mr.. Blagdon's
guests saw the amazing luminary emerge, as it
were. from the earth like bright and blame.
less soul from the grave and sail clear. present.
~ and upward into untroubled space: q glory
serenes smiling, and unanswerable.
And 1t became cooler, SO that women called
Tor light wraps and men tied sweaters around
their necks by the arms. Then at a long dis.
lance from the dinner table bonfire began to
flicker, and then grow bright and. red. And it
was discovered that rugs and Cushions had
oeen placed inot too near the frey for people
liquors, and that there' we're logs to lean
against, and boxes of cigars and cigarettes
where they could most easily be reached
Some did not use the rugs and cushions that
mad been provided for them, but stroled away
INTO the woods. number of slightly intoxi.
Gated gentlemen felt 1t their duty to gather
about their host and entertain him. Two mar
ried couples brought candles from the dinner
taDle and began best two out of three at
bridge. Sometimes two men and one woman
would sit together with their backs against
the men would go away ito get something" and
would not return. -
1t was not wholly by accident that Mister
Masters found himself alone with little Miss
Blythe. Emboldened by the gayety of the din.
ner, and then by the wonder Of the moon, he
n 1,n had the courage to hurry to her side; and
though there his courage had failed utterly.
his action had been such as to deter others
from Joining her. So, for there was nothing
else to do, they found thick rug and sat upon
IT, and leaned their backs against log.
Little Miss Blythe had not yet asked MT
Blagdon to drive her home Though she had
made up her mind to do so, 1t would only be at
the u last possible moment of the twelfth hour.
1t was now that eleventh hour in which
1eroines are rescued by bold lovers. But Mister
Masters was no holder than mouse And the
moon sailed higher and higher in the heaven.
Isn't 1t wonderful?" said little Miss Blythe.
"Wonderful!"
Just smell It'll"
"Umm."
Her sad. rather frightened eyes wandered
over TO the noisy group Of which Mr.. Bob
Blagdon was the grave and silent centre He
knew that little Miss Blythe would keen her
promise. He believed In his heart that her de.
cision would be favorable to him; but he was
watching her where she sat with Mister Mas.
ters, and knew that his belief In what she
would decide was not strong enough to make
him altogether happy.
And he was old enough to be her father!n
repeated the gentleman in the Scotch deer
stalker, who had been gossiping Mr. Bagdon
smiled, but the words hurt-"old enough to be
her father"
Then his eyes caught little Miss Blythes.
but she earned hers instantly away.
Ihis Will be the end OF the season." she
Mister Masters assented. He wanted To tell
her how beautiful she looked
DO you see old Mr. Black over there?' she
said. He's pretending not to watch u.s. hut he's
watching us like lynx /. Did you ever
start a piece Of news?"
Never" said Mister Masters
1T would be rather fun" said little Miss
Blythe For instance. If we held hands for a
moment Mr.. Black would see 1t, and five min.
utes later everybody would know about It."
Mister Masters screwed his courage ND to the
sucking point, and took her hand In his. Both
looked toward Mr.. Black as If inviting him to
notice them. Mr.. Black was seen almost in.
sta anti to whisper to the nearest gentleman.
There" said Miss Blythe, and was for with.
drawing her band But Masters fingers tight.
ened upon It, and she could feel the pulses
beating In their tips. She knew that people
were looking. but she felt brazen unabashed
and happy. Mister Masters grip frightened: IL
sad: My master has a dozen hearts. and
they are all beating-for YOU" To return that
pressure was not an act of little Miss Blythe's
Will. She could not help herself Her hand
said to Masters: with the heart-with the
SOUL. Then she was frightened and ashamed
and had rush Of color to the face
Let Co., she whispered.
But Masters leaned toward her, and though
ne was trembling with fear and awe and won.
DER ne found a certain courage and his voice
was wonderfully gentle and tender. and he
smiled and he whispered "Boo!"
Only then did he set her hand free For ono
reason, there was no need now of SO slight a
bondage; for another. Mr. Bob Bagdon was
approaching them. little pale, but smiling
lie neld out his hand to the LITTLE Mice rIytho