Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-02-04


tel 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
The name was a rank misflt-As-
pasta Gay presupposed personality
lenrnedly light. Instead, poor Spasia
held learning In horror. and regarded
renl hearty mirth as q snare Of the
EVIL One. Consequently she found ex-
lStcncc so dull, drab and lifelesS her
natural sweetness fcrmented In its
vacuum to sour verging on bitter
ness. Very human. very timld. wholly
wanting In conceit, apparently she
was forcdoomed to tragic spinster-
hood-tragic because she had warm
heart withal tender, and filled with
yenrnings for her very own. A hus-
band. little children. snug place to
keep spotlcss and comfortuble-such
were her dumb desires--which she
would have gone to the stake rather
than admit. "a born old maid" said
her world. unsuSpectng--that Is to
say Its klndlier half The other half.
led by Jerry Dayton, sncered: "A
monument to mems Discrimination
what could anybody. even blind
man. find In her to nttrnct?"
Jerry was wicked-Spirit, tongue
and temper. Hated things and pco-
pie simply for the sake of hating Rich.
storlnily beautiful. avid of conquest
ana dominion. she chose to feel nf-
frontcd by Spasia's meek existence
Possibly the seed of affront had been
planted In childhood. when Spasla had
ventured to put her small niece's pic
where It had won first prize over sew
eral presentlnents Of Jerry. Jerry had
cried herself into spasms over the
hurt to her NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TINT
night. the prize picture WINS defaced,
nobody could tell how. But shortly
afterward Dayton footmnn left serv-
Ice to set up In business for himself.
Tongues wagged discreetly-behind
hands to be sure-but nobody got
further than saying the Daytons
would never let money stand between
their girl and anything she might
want TO do or have done
Ttmid though she was. Spasia had
texture-witness TINT when she was
left on the small place she kept on
living there. making enough through
her garden. chickens and dairy to live
deceutly and keep far from debt. This
In spite Of feeding. clothing and hOus-
Ing Black Maria and her blind twins.
Maria did the milking and marketing,
working out In spare hours for money
which. added to her modest wages
would send Bill and Jimmy through
the blind school when they were big
ger.
One fine day a bomb fell into this
islet OF content-the convalescent
wrath OF very pretty girl. Still very
pretty In nm elfln way, with infantiIe
curls beginning to crisp above a white
brow. and faint roses to show I'm hol-
low cheeks. The sometime prize win
ner. grown up. had been mighty near
death. She Ind overdone pitcousIy
after the manner OF fresh youth.
working by day In the art school, 60
Ing the pace OF Bohemia at night. Her
dead fathers gift Of artistry lay com
pellingly upon her; then too, she re-
scnted her SNUG stepfnther and the
small brood which seemed to have
crowded her out Of her mothers heart.
The mother had remembered Aunt
Spnsla In this PXtrenity--and sent
Leslie to her without the f0rmality OF
asking n welcome for her.
Spasia. doubtful through minute.
In the next took the girl to her heart
OF hearts. 1t somehow warmed curl
ously, and the queer pain In It Iulled.
But habit held her dumb-she could
only stroke the fairy curls ms she bade
Leslie good night-yet though she had
long ceased praying, she knelt that
night crying voicelessIy: Save her,
Lord. save her!"
Leslie was up very early--she had
run through the dewy garden, with
Dashdog at her heels. inspected the
cows, and shamelessly let out broods
OF tiny, peeping chickens. She was so
rosy and bright-eyed health seemed to
have come back magicaliy. But toward
noon she tainted dead away--and next
day and next stayed abed, claiming TO
be not III but merely lazy.
Halfway the second morning she
lay alone in the cold spnre chamber
opening from the porch, smiling ne.
tie and signing more. At n vigorous
knock, Impaticntly repeated, she
called: "Come in! Or out! Anntie,
I think. 10 lost"
Entered tall young follow. brown
and wholesome, good 70 look upon.
bringing with him the outdoor world.
Why, you are Leslie" he cried. com