The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-07
PEA RIDGE AFFAIR
BY M. M. WILLIAMS.


Hit beats my time whut In the ma
ton they can do" Sister 10 Brown
said to her gossip, Sister Willy.
There we're seven Sisters Brown in
| Pea Ridge church, differentiated &C.
cording to husbands past or present.
! Sister 10 was q widow. with an only
and beloved son. by way of make
weight to a houseful Of daughters.
Half the girls had married, the others
had embraced the policy Of watchful
waiting.
! Octavius, son and brother, was SEN
eitive over their methodist much so
that he fought shy of asking men
friends to the house. He was indeed
shy over most things-the reverse,
quite, of his masterful mother, who
felt herself able at the slightest notice
! to second the plans and expound the
purposes of anything from the state
! legislature to divine Providence.
| Hence, with her wisdom admitted at
| fault, the case must be desperate. In
| deed. II looked so 20 Mrs. Ware and
Leda, her daughter. Rather helpless,
| both OF them-because Aunt Susan
had always taken care of them. Now
| she was dead and the bank had failed,
| so there was only their place TO de-
| pend on. 1t was small place. with a
good house to be sure. but only gar
| den, a paddock. bit of orchard and
few acres in grass. It would hardy
| yield living to an industrious farmer
able to work 1t early and late. What
could It prove but an expense greater
than rent to couple Of women who
| had neither strength nor knowledge?
Oddly, nobody thought of matrimony
ss ar ark Of refuge. notwithstanding
Leda was pretty and amlahle.
| Leda was properly penitent. Both
women cried no little over their help.
! lessness, and SGT at home through
| Christmas and New Year, trying not
| to be hurt by the unusual largesse of
their neighbors.
I'VE are not starving-yet," Leda
said. choking. as she put away the
third batch of pies they had received
In one morning, besides the loaf OF
gingerbread and the wedges Of plum
cake. "Only I hope they will spare
us broken bits Of food, nanny. It's
all wrong-not being grateful-but
somehow I wish they had at leas,
waited"
Don't fret, daughter. Our turn will
come" Mrs. Ware said, but with a
sinking heart for all her brave words.
To comfort herself she went out and
lifted the sash Of the smallest pit. 1t
was sacred to early bnlbs-ionquils,
hyacinths, narcissus. She forgot her
troubles instantly In her JOY at finding
at least dozen unexpectedly In flower
-jonquils and Roman hyacinths. Ex-
cit>ily she shipped each blossom ran
inside laying them delicately together
and calling, lie, LIE! Come take
think It's TO pay her for her mince-
meat-it isn't--she sent 1t just as we
| would have done, being as poor her
self But she has TO stay so close at
! home-and loves flowers. Make haste.
child. And hurry back. I want you
to help me lift the heavier sash"
| Miss Allen was the dressmaker.
Leda, hearing Miss Allen was busy.
did not see her, but sent Ia her gift by
| the GRAND girl. Indeed She was busy
| upon her knees, shipping and pin
ming and squirting at very fine frock,
draping a very fine lady-Mrs. Carr.
| of the Glen, who had ordered the freek
I from the city, and upon getting 1t had
/ changed her mind as to how she want
ed 1t trimmed In parts.
Flowers this time Of the year ),
| You're extravagant. Miss Allen" she
said with a certain goodnatured hau
| teur upon seeing the cluster. When
their source was explained, she looked
thoughtful. II wonder-could I get
some for my table? You know we
have a dinner party Saturday" she
said. Those l order are always so
| fragiIe-they wither while you look
at them"
"I'll find out" said Miss Allen.
She did. And thus began the rift
in the cloud for the Wares. They had
enough to live on year. by very close
pinching. By the end Of 1t they had
violet frames full or flowers, pItfuls of
early bulbs, and roses allow in the
green house. Mrs. Carr was interest
ed In them, holding them her discov-
cry. therefore her protegees. AS such
she took 1t upon herself to make a
match betwixts Leda and Octavius.
Mrs. Carr had house party at the
| New-Year holidays. Therefore she
took all the flowers the Wares could
cut, and asked further that Leda
should come up and arrange them
about the rooms, when a gay voice
, sounded at her elbow, mo fair Miss
Leda," said Linly Carr, nephew Of the
house and heir presumptive. whats
this hear-that you're going to takS
Ocky Brown? l don't believe It! l
won't! Tell me it isn't SO. -
! at is not-Ocky can run much fast
er than l." Leda said suddenly, dim
ping. Linly had come near to being
her sweetheart back in the happy
days. He bent near and nearer, look
Ing into her eyes, down at her roughed
fingers, her little. coarsely shod feet.