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


a moment MIR. Black would see it. and fiv
company when you got him we'll cornered. and
his habitual fright had worn Off He was the
shyest, most frightened six-footer in the mem.
DRY of Aiken If you spoke to him suddenly
he bushed. and If you prepared him by first
clearing your throat he blushed just the same.
And he had crooked. embarrassed smile that
was delight to see.
AS stag fights when brought to bay, SO
Mister Masters when driven into a corner could
talk we'll and freely as the next man;
but on his own initiative there was.
Americans say, nothing doing Whether or
not the prettiest girl in Aiken rolled of
log is unknown; but such act would have
been no more difficult for her than to corner
Mister Masters. The man courted cornering,
especially by her. But given the desired situa.
ton neither could make anything of 1t. Mister
Masters tongue became forthwith as helpless
as man tied hand and foot and gagged
No. said little Miss Blythe, upon being
sharply cross-questioned by Mrs. Hotchkiss,
che practically never does say anything"
Mrs. kotchkiss dug little round hole in the
sand with her long black cane, and made an
insulting face at little Miss Blythe.
Some men," said she. cant say boo to a
goose"
If other countries produce girls like little
Miss Blythe have never met specimen; and
l feel very sure that foreign young ladies do
not become personages at the age Of seventeen
She had friends in almost every country.
dubbed city in America. Whenever, and almost
wherever, horse show was held she was there
to show the horses of some magnate or other
To the best advantage. Between times she won
tennis tournaments and swimming matches,
Or tried her hand at hunting polo (these
things i'll secret because her father had for.
hidden them) and the people who continually
pressed hospitality upon her said that they were
repaid a thousandtold. In the first place, 1t was
distinction to have her.
She was always goodnatured; she never
kept anybody waiting and she must have
known five thousand upODl1 well enough n call
them by their first names. But what really dis
tinguished her most from other young women
was that her success in inspiring others with
admiration and affection was not confined to
men; she had the same effect upon all women,
Old and young, and all children.
Foolish people said that she had no heart
merely because TO one had as yet touched it.
Wise people said that when she did fall in
live sparks would fly. Hitherto her friendships
with men, whatever the men in question may
have wished, had existed upon a basis Of good.
natured banter, and prowess in games. Men
were absolutely necessary TO Miss Blythe to
play games with, because women who could
: give her game" were as ivory-billed
woodpeckers.
Nothing would have astonshed her world
more than to learn that little Miss Blythe had
a secret, darkly hidden quality of which she
dreadfuily ashamed. at heart she was
nothing If not sentimental and romantic. And
often when she thought to be sleeping
the drea,nless sleep OF the trained athlete
who stores up energy for the morrow's contest,
she sitting at the windows In her night
gown, looking at the moon dn hers) and weay.
ing all sorts OF absurd adventures about her
self and her particular fancy of the moment
1t would be a surprise and pleasure to some
men. tragedy perhaps to others. if they should
learn that little Miss Blythe had fanced them
all at different times, almost to the boiling
point.
The truth is that little Miss Blythe had en-.
gagged in hundred love affairs concerning
which no one but herself the wiser.
And at twenty-three it was high time for her
TO marry and settle down. First because she
couldn't go on playing games and showing
horses forever and second because she wanted
to- But with whom she wanted to marry and
settle down, she could not for the life of her
have said. Sometimes she thought that it
would be with Mr. Blagdon. He was rich, and
he was a widower; but whereveS she went he
managed to go, and he had soms of the finest
horses in the world and he wouldn't take no
for an answer. Sometimes she said to the
moon:
I'LL give myself year. and if at the end
OF that time don't like anybody better than
Bob, Why Or, in q different mood, I'm
tired of everything do; if he happens to ask
me tomorrow I'll say yes
Then there came into this young woman's
life Mister Masters And he blushed his blush,
and smiled his crooked smile, and looked at
her when she wasn't looking at him land she
knew that he was iookng) and was unable to
say as much Boo to her; and in the hid.
den springs of her nature that which she had
anyways lonSed ior hapepned; and became, and
was. And one night she said to the moon: 81
know it isn't proper for me to be so attentive
to MIN, and know everybody is talking about
1t, but"--and she rested her beautiful brown
chin on her shapely, strong, brown hands, and
Tear like diamond stood in each Of her unbe.
heVably blue eyes, and she looked at the
moon, and said: But it's Harry Masters or
bust!'' - s
Mr. Bob Blagdon. the rich widower, had been
content to play a waiting game: for he knew
very well that beneath her good nature. LITTLE
MISS blythe had proud temper and was to be
Won rather BY tho man who should make, him