Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-06-24
VIRGIAIA's MISTAKE
BY OLIVE RoBERrs BARTON.

When Virginia saw the stranger she
shrank back into the recesses OF the
limousine. Another OF fathers ell
gibles for me TO be nice TO-" she
thought.
But after her father had opened the
glass door and stepped back to permit
his companion to enter the latter
changed his mind. I'm sorry, Mr..
Grayson, but II has Just occurred TO
me that was TO do something for my
aunt. II almost escaped my memory.
/ am very sorry indeed TO have to re-
fuse your invitation"
You'll not meet my daughter" re-
turned her father In his blunt. brusQue
way, that brought the color flying to
her cheeks.
He added, And she's worth meet
ing!" Virginia could have cried.
u know Miss GrAyspn 10 unusually
charming. and am disappointed more
than ! can tell you. Perhaps you win
ind It In your heart to ask me again"
The men shook hands, babe each
other good evening, and her father got
into the car.
why, virgie, / didn't see you. Say.
that's too badl wanted you to meet
young Shaw, the chap that's Just gone
Why didn't you yell?"
II was afraid he was another ELI
gible, papa, DEAR" mischievously.
you know can't be nice to them!
It does them good to be jolted out OF
their selfconceit once in a while"
This one isn't conceited. He's q
sensible, steady, self-made man. They
call him the Copper King. He made
most Of his own fortune in the West,
whence he has Just returned"
Does he dance" wickedly, touching
q match to her fathers gunpowder
temper
mol" he exploded. "Just so mans
got springs in his legs. you don't care
whether he's got sou in his pocket"
"And just so g mans got a few
bonds in brine, you don't care whether
he's as ugly as an ant eater, as old
as Adam, or as stingy as old Scrooge!"
she retorted. your friend from the
West seems to belong to the last va
riety. Look at his clothes!"
He'll get over that. He's only been
here two days and he's been very
busy. Someone has stolen some jew
els from the aunt with whom he is
living. He has been helping the po-
lice."
"Oh!" was Virginia's only comment
to this, but she couldn't forget that a
mere man from the West had not
seized the opportunity to meet the
Miss Grayson.
That evening she accompanied her
aunt and uncle to the opera, then to
supper at q fashionable restaurant
where there was dancing.
Virginia passed from one eager
,artner to another. Then she found
herself dancing with q young man
Who seemed to have wings ON his
eet.
Slender and 1.-THE, he was without
loubt the best partner she had ever
lad, and very good looking. Here was
! man who came up to her ideal in
very way. Good looking, well dressed
nd q splendid dancer! What did her
ather know Of men? Her thoughts
urned to the Westerner with amused
contempt, and even as they did 30 she
ound herself looking into his eyes.
He was sitting alone at q side table
her and her partner with
n odd expression. Virginia colored
THE man is positively
ude," she thought. the way he is
taring at US! He never takes his eyes
q US for an Instant"
Later another man Joined him-then
mother. The three then kept their
yes on the dancers, and as soon as
he music stopped one of the trio
anne over and spoke to her partner.
Ie excused himself hurriedly and left
18th the man. The other two fol.
wed.
well, Of all things!" exclaimed vir.
lnia. This is the most mysterious
fair ever experienced in my life."
She went to a tea the next day with
or aunt.
There she met the man-not her
polio Of the night before-but the
an from the West, who had evidently
I'd time to consider his appearance
} the smallest detail. Nothing could
ave been more nearly correct, noted
irginia's critical eye.
She was introduced to him at once
Id the tete-a-tete that followed over
leir teacups was interesting in
resting that Virginia was full to
when she got home. ~
"FSther!" she cried TO that aston
he'd gentleman. Il met Mr.. shaw,
. man from the West today. ana
- grand-just grandi And what's
q difference II he doesn't dancer
". do you know" coloring guilty..
. helped the police to track the
lief that stole his aunt's diamonds-
L.