Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02
RUNAWAY cnuIsrmAs SEEKER.
YOUR EDITOR.

were red from weaping. her lips We're
set In a firm red line. and her hands
were working nervously AS she pull
ed at tassel on her dress.
The aforesaid usually meant that
BETTY brighton was deciding between
Two things--right or wrong (what
She considered right was often cone
sidcred wrong By others). However.
this time she wasted only few mo-.
mcnts on her decision. and. turning
away from the window. she walked
slowly over to n large rocker in which
her young aunt. Miss Louise Brighton.
was reclining before an open graf.
nre
"Anntic." she asked. how long does
II take 10 80 from New York to 81"
Louise looked UP from the book snc
was reading. II believe your mother
mentioned II In her letter" she an
swercd Wait. let me see" Louise
reached Into the pocket RI her skirt.
and. drawing cut letter. scanned
the FIRST page. "Ah. here IL is" she
said, and about the middle of the
page she began to read aloud: Moth
er is not Improving or getting worse"
Mrs Brighton had written: however.
Mr. Brighton and | would-Ist ;hink
a.. leaving her until the crisis is past
, even 10 spend Christmas at Home. On
the other hand. II mother Sirovcs.
We VIII come home. even IL ii is
Christmas Eve. for IT does not take
over three hours To reach home from
B.. ! know that Betty will be souly
disappointed. az. OF courec. we uid NOT
| think we would stay over Il few days
when We heard that mother was Ill.
| ana now over & week mas passed since
we arrived.
The mails are SO irregular tnat
IL we decide TO come home. We will
{ do SO and not try to write and let
! you know. for you are net likely to
| receive the lottcr In time. and. of
! course, we do not need any one to
meet us"
| There was quite lot more 10 the
letter. but that was all Louise read.
only three hours?" said Betty.
,houghtfuily; well rs only O'Clock
now and II mother and father cecide
| 10 come they should he here at what
, timer" Louise, who was deep in her
novel again replied absently. II think
the train comes In at 3 o'clock
An hour passed during which Time
Louise stu read and Betty walked
reS,lcssly from one window 10 an
other III they como home said
Ee,ty to herself. they should reach
home at about quarter past three"
She did not allow t!n/ :or the train
being late: such "a thought, had not
entered her mind at all.
quarter OF an hour elapsed and
lct,N without "A word went quickly
out OF the room and up the stairs to
her bedroom. Her aunt did not even
see her go. for she had reached the
most exciting par, OF her book
once in her room. Betty hastily
gathered "A few dresses into small
grip and pu; on her hat. coat and
gold piece, which she had received
as q birthday gift. wen; into her large
coat pocket. together with Il pair of
gloves and her tooth brush. To Betty
So seemed a large amount, and for
her plan WAS sufficient. In some re-
spects Betty was decidedly childish
for her IL years. ard, although It
would have seemed TO most people 4
very much wiser course TO have con-
suited her aunt first, II did not seem
so to Betty. She felt that to buy Il
ticket to B. take the long ride
alone on the train and finally sur
prise her parents by appearing ut her
grandmother's home would be very
delightful. For that was Betty's plan.
TO spend Christmas, in spite of her
grandmother's illness. with her par
ents. And then, too, she had n feel
ing that her aunt would not consent
to her plan. so she had said nothing
to her about II.
Having completed her preparation
she drew on her gloves and tucked
the IS into her left hand glove. where
she could feel il by giving very
slight pressure with the finger OF her
right hand, which she did three times
in the course OF the next two minutes,
with n great deal of satisfaction as
she thought of the mission the money
would perform.
In her haste Betty forgot her gifts
for her parents, which that very
Christmas Eve morning she had
wrapped with such pains-taking care.
The gifts for her grandparents she
had sent tsoine time before her grand
mothers illncss). so that they might
receive them IN time LOT christmas.
Betty consulted the timetable before
she left and found that she had half
hour TO reach the station, purchase
her ticket and board the train. which
left at 4 o'clock.
Before leaving the house she
walked softly to the library door and,
finding Louise asleep, n note which
She had intended to push under the
dor. she put in her aunt's lap instead.
a short time later Betty sat on a
bench, her ticket clutched in one
hand while her grip and umbrella lay
on the bench beside her.
Betty had no difficulty in reaching
the station. for she asked an old lady
the direction and the lady responded
that as she was going TO the Grand
Central herself. Betty might go along.
So now Betty sat,and idly watched
the incoming stream OF people. The
train was ten minutes late, and be-
sides that, the lady of the street car.
rs Betty afterwards called her. by
good luck was to take the same train,
and she promised to scci that Betty
reached her station safely. beyond
that she asked Betty no questions. OF
which the child, was very glad. 1t
was only ten minutes to four and