Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-25
Daily Short Story
COMPLETE IN THIS ISSUE.
The Worm Turns.
4. MARIA CRAWFORD.

ing a risky kitten playing Win TSib MI
OF bright worstcd. one could alwavs
ball away. W 'No
, the affairs were usually soon over
aYd hitGrward Dick would chuc<le
up with him. 1t was evident chat shr
thought he was too Immersed in Tia
pig issues of life to him. cuddling lin
little thrill OF possession, . Iittlc III =
Tor the other man who was never tn
some sonny ih TO nnys her after Az But FOR
BOD brooks seemed bit different.
DICK and Jean were chaperoning a
FAY party at young Brooks hunting
fas iho guests ~ were paired off in r6matic
Moor .nV for b Inc Pretty artist Patricia
knowleIGed fact that the two had been
or sa IA f or months: But after a day
ohiy Tor the dashing chaperon
on the last night OF the house partv
tmss w Lerea having a bis, marshmallow
burned in the wide mouthcd firep lace
IN the comfortable living-room. Fob
sat on floor pillow at Jeans feet
her in reckless fashion. seeing Thai
Sne was We'll provided with nicely
S SroTnTd mp9 Icf on bits Of nak
waited on all the girls, moving from
Sr e to group with the charm and md
the artist was lovingly called. sat NJ
ono side Of the hearth in wide
winged chair; upholstered in deep blue
Inat matched the color of her eyes
once in while she touched a lkeisln
Weaving a magic spell with weird
hawaiian music.
disturbed over Jeans indiscret ions
,ries the Euise of light banter. he
fde an1 hs eh his ew or
Kept looking at Pats face. AZ her
s sSamed' or2ooding eyes that at times
old brass andirons. He feIi rrcat s
empowering sorrow for her 4 littIe
vWvSSe ai n. lared, out against Jean.
man. to take tho girls lover and leave
her alone alone; humiliatcd ilt a; crowd OF
abnu tFi nnS lie had no more feeling
mad about clumsy puppy thai had
'Ipt, ick s,t got - himself M in the way.
ne things that mean so much to a girl
re toasted marshmellows for her.
d ISMs" her opinion about everything
hcr teel her Importance In the crowd
once Bob got up and crossed the room
&c, speak to her and Dick was relieved.
as most even If he had forgotten his
r-like attitude. But in n few min
I pisk ,. InHc BOP vas back at jeans feet
Eearning look in her eyes. He leaned
over her chair.
can't YOU dig up warm coat some
m mn %, ana go down TO the spring with
sort Of night. I'VE a notion thar v ~,
and | will enjoy it," ~
,c Sne flashed him pleased look of
unnoticed by the hilarious crowd in the
r hp"n So she envei0ped herself in big
o o,uT coat PAT ana pulled a soft velvet tam
caught her arm and laughing, stumb-
ling, slipping, they ran down the rough
pain to the spring.
The moon rode high in the sky send
ing d2zzling light that silvered the
Ups ot me pines stretching away in
s Side uho Tfore !ine down the mountain
below, like ftfu fire flies lights
showed ,i,, dSnly in peaceful farm houses.
through the trees.
Fhey sat down on huge boulder
that shnt t",teH out at one, side Of the
ties; of the vagaries OF life and love.
DICK turned and looked at her there
DO you know. Pat. that I've never
ma chance to get acquainted with
YOU until tonight and yet I've seen a
lot t.r OF you for years."
you, 100. We have tastes in common
as people say, haven't We . She
i "a :1ss. unsteady There was noA the
voice.
Dick msrveled little at that won
dSSred about it. You can meet peo-
never really know anything about
them Then chance will throw you to-
Eether at some put OF the way place
IKE this and suddenly you'll wake up
10 the fact that you've been missing
something out OF life. something big
is it chance? wonder iSD 49, out
,,S :" 'hey argued about it. told each
N IA {r
standing. Finally Pat jumped up, say
ing that il was high time they were
going back to the lo6se.
SO they went up the rocky path to-
Erther and Dick noticed how firmly
Inc walked: how independent of his
for herself Most women-there was
Jean, he thousht-she would have
leaned on him, stumbled. caught at his
life could be if both were honest. really
mated in every sense of the word
"a noi not going in Just yet" Dick
Tor her Thank you for the pleasant
chat we've had. II is rare treat to
, IA 1od to a clever girl like you. | want
let me. Good night, Pat!"
pipe and lighted it. Presently the
whlried upon him. dropped down be-
side him. leaned against his shoulder.
,oa nmnins a. good time. all by your
Jean. her face just under his chin.
My. hut it's chilly out here Cuddlc
me up. want to tell you something
too funyy!" She laughed arly. like
the tinkliEs Of tiny bells. "Bob's i'm a
perfect stew about Pat. She went out
Of the room and stayed for the longest
lime, he said. 1 don't know, for
didn't miss her. When she came In.
he jumped for her. You would have
tnouSht ne owned her. body and soul
That Kind of man makes me tired
They're going to be married YOU know
in the early spring He asked her
where she had been: said he had hce:r
worried TO death. He simply fused
before all of us. ] think a woman has
right to do exactly AS she pieascs
ana You do. too. don't YOU Dickie how
cold"
on better go In to the tire then"
SAID DICK. quite tonelessly
lean stared at him. amazed, a sud
UCm lCAr ClllL oh Nc "a n