Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-30
IDA f. WILLIAMS.
THE PRET"IIER.

The little mountain train puffed up
to the small station. Several people
aliEhtcd from the little cars. and all
hurried OFF toward the line of BUSES.
"Bide-a-Wre Hotel. sir" announced
the driver Of a bus TO tall. mas;.rful
man with {; brown van dyke and
lengthy. heavy bundle He stepped in
and placed The huge load on tho roof
OF the bus as gently as IL IL had been
a baby.
After short ride. the driver drew
rein. and. turning. peer.d AT the man.
strong lined face.
'Bide- a-Wcc Hotel. sir" he ven,ured.
and he added, az the tail figure s,ooped
TO secure the precious burden. "Reip.
yer, sir"
NO. I thank YOU" 1t was a low,
pleasant voice. Trucking the bundl.
under mis- ann. he strobe into The LITTLE
hotel The clerk stared as he saw the
name the tall man registered
You aren't Monsieur I.ecoo7" he
Gue'icd. incredu!ouslv
Yes. with a gentle laugh
Observation-Disclosures and tho astound
ed clerk seized the small sunhurned
hand. shaking IT vigorously '.Iow -
such great artist happened to
Mountsinside?
The scenery drew me. 1t seemed
with another low laugh.
Guillaume Lecoq The news wa,
no'sed into every household in Noun
tainsidc. and all coveted his acouaint
hnce None secured It, though. at ars,.
excepting Mr.. Carter, the proprietor Of
Ride-a Wee Hotel. and his prettv
daughter, Florence. II was Florrv Gar
ter VINO showed him the canons and
forests. tho peaks and valleys Every
uaE she LOOK Min on long tramps TO
picturesque places.
On OF these daily d.,
as Monsieur LecoG seated himself be
f"re his easel to sketch an afterrIow
throwing It's pale tints on the clear
M",erS OF a canon. two girls came into
eiGht in the small field one on the cas-,
si"r ana one on the west. The former
wore ~ell-made muslin frock. SHRED
at inc neck, hem. waist and sleeve,
Her long golden curls were bound by a
Whlte rinhon, then allowed TO stray
over her shoulders. Her feet were .n
cased in neat tan slippers, and she
looked more like an Eastern belle than
d western one. The other girl wore
tan blouse and skirt, with blue rio
iler tan tam-o' -shnnter was stuck
1auntily on her head Her straight
brown hair was tied with an fll-mad,
Drown how. and plated on down 10
another. her feet were large and in
hieh. rough. sQuare-toed boots OF tho
pnt'oh variety. Both girls we're in
quest OF the same butterfly. and neither
saw the other until the pretty ones
irock brushed against the plain ones.
win an annoyed frown she hastily
brushed IL, and turned away, her fair
put low brow wrinkled with dis
pleasure.
Monsieur T~ecoq had turned. Both
girls were watching the movements OF
MS slender brush. with more or less
pleasure. Seeing him turn, they backed
o"ShfnllY away, then turned, and ran
In opposite directions.
Monsieur I.acoq turned 10 FIorry Car
ter with a queer smile
Which. Miss Florry." he said. "do
you think was the prettier of those two
girls?"
The one in muslin. of course" said
fiorry, with a short laugh
i think the one In linen was" said
the artist.
But Virginia Marshall is our belle"
informed Florry, giving a slight toss
of her black plaits.
The other" began Monsieur Lecoo.
was just plain Janet Grey" finished
the girl.
Was the prettier, because" con-
tinued the artist, resuming his oils. and
not needing the interruption. because
unselhshneSs shows in her ewes. indo
pendehce in her air. modesty in her
whole being, while Miss Virginia Mar
snail rs you say her name Is, shows
cohceit. selfshness and vanity in her
| every turn And In silence he pressed
iensth OF paint from q tube on tn.
paie.te' ana mixed it with another with
MS brush. VALERIE DE MII.HAU