The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-30
6 StQE.IIES|ik|I SII!] E.,II!! ,. 3! .||!,,I 'I!;|:'l 0Ae 2lAna Cxhsrenes. of NrS1ni6 rfAx ia tte MoHe,


 Virginia Fairfax, rebellious daugh- ter of one of the first families of Vir- ginia, tells her chum, Naomi Sander son. of her intense feelings against the rigid sixteenth century conyen- tions of their little town and the tyranny of her grandfather, who adopted her when her parents died. Virginia confides to Naomi that she intends to run away from home to es- cape the tyrannical rule of her grand father.
 Virginia" came Aunt Virginia s voice from the foot of the stairs, tell Naomi her mother wants her to go to the store for a can of baking DOW der right away"
 Come with me, Virginia" begged Naomi T want to hear more about your plans. Oh, Virginia, l wish I had the courage to go with you" The little sinking in my stomach made me understand that it did take stamina, but drew long breath and whispered to myself that I would find the courage to go.
 T am going to the store with Ma omi, Aunt Virginia" l said as we passed through the kitchen, where she was cooking waffles for grand fathers luncheon. Since Nanny Jimmy died grandfather insisted that Aunt Virginia must bake his waffles, for, he maintained, none of the ser wants could do it properly. So to gratify the old mans gormandizing whim, Aunt Virginia had to stand in the heat and bake waffles while the colored servants lolled about the house.
 Do you wonder that I have de- cided to go away, Naomi? Look at Aunt Virginia in there. She Is almost overcome with the heat and there S grandfather sitting out there under a tree with a pickaninny welding a turkey feather fan to keep the flies off him. I'd tell him that l would not do that if he were eaten up with flies" l famed in sudden anger.
 But what happened after your grandfather sent you from the room, Virginia?" asked Naomi, bringing me back to the story of grandfather and me, Did you hear any more about your mother? l do not see how you have stood 1t thts long without hear ing about your family?
 "oh. Virginia, suppose your father Is the wayward son of wealthy par ents. I read the loveliest book the other day about a girl who married all unknowing into an English family. Her husband was a drunkard when she married him, but he reformed for love of her and his older brother, who was the heir, died and she became the wife of lord. She went to live at the castle. Oh, 1t was the loveliest story. Perhaps you are the daughter of lord"
 Tt Is more likely that my father was a gambler, for grandfather thinks so much of his family tree that he would never get over the dis grace of it If mother married be- meath her. It must have been that, for nothing else would make him so furious when he speaks of her.
 After grandfather sent me from the room I came upon Aunt Virginia just outside the door l don't like to say it, but l think she had been lis tening.
 Although she tried to detain me brushed past her. l felt as though l could not stay in the same house with my grandfather another minute. went clear up to the Birch Woods Naomi. I did not even stop to put 8 saddle on Streak walked"
 Why, that was four miles, Vir- ginia."
 "Yes, but distance meant nothing to me. felt I must walk and walk and walk away from everything that