Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-03-01
CT,OTSTERED WAYS
The Story Of a Min.
ister's wise Who
Believed i'm a
Single Standard

with conventions and then David's
calm, sober words: barbed and
charged and bloody-so be careful.
So the night, with its moonlit
witcheries watched in silence, while
God bathed the foliage of His foot
stool in cleansing dew, a nightly
token of His lingering love, and the
world slept.
Ralph Bauknight parked his
smart sedan in front of his office on
one of Henderson's leading streets,
and looked admiringly up at the
triple windows on which his name
was engraved. He smiled rather
realistically as his eyes caught sight
of the glide. lettering: w. RALPH
BAUKNIGHT - DENTAL SUR
GEON.
He had wanted to be dentist
he was. He had wanted to be a pop
ular society leader-he was. His
folks had nicely seen to 1t that he
had what he wanted-everything
but Edna. eff I can only get her
out Of that darned parsonage once
more" he told himself, as he climb
ed the stairs, "I'll be able to talk to
her, as I've wanted to for some
time-I wonder if she has nerve
enough to come over tonight as I
asked her?" His anxiety was short
lived, for as he entered, his maid
called his attention to blue en-
velope placed uprightly on his desk.
He read: Ralph, I am in Hender-
son, but I'd rather not go to the
dance-you see Ralph, David doesn't
like dancing, and he's sure to find
out If I go. I certainly would like
to go though" 1t was signed-Edna.
So she was in Henderson. she
HAD come, he almost shouted aloud
as he tore up her note, she had
come to him. What a fimsy ex-
cuse, he thought, her note, she
knows she wants to go.
So eight o'clock found him park
ing his sedan in front OF the NC
Master cottage on Oal avenue. The
night was rather cold, and the
wind blew slightly. but not a cloud
married the diademed glory of the
skies. A light burned in the par
lor, and as Ralph walked, light as
air, along the white gravel walk
way, he thought of the many times
he had gone there, only to find
David enjoying previous" en-
gagement-but not so tonight.
Mrs. McMaster answered his
knock: Hello, Mr. Bauknight, come
right in, I was just telling Edna
thought you'd come"
Edna came in from the adjoin-
ing room, and Ralph thought he
had never seen her look so irresist-
IDLY beautiful She wore charm
ing gown of chiffon-velvet, from
which her shoulders rose superbly.
Hello Ralph" she said, as she
moved gracefully to where ne STOOD
Didn't you get my note?"
ayes, Edna darling, but you know
you want to go, you know you do.
Why you've even dressed" She did
not answer him, she knew she had
lost.
The last thread of resistance to
the mysterious lure of life had
snapped. She did not love Ralph.
but She craved a few more days Of
life in his world, world which
David had forsaken. AS she STEP
ped, warmly wrapped, into the conn.,
Portable luxury of Ralph's heated
sedan, she remembered again, Da-
vid's cold words, "barbed and
charged and bloody-so be careful.
Maybe so, she thought, but tonight
at least, she was going to see It
from RalpE's angelic the devil
with conventions.
The auditorium of the ElkS' Rest
was a thing of beauty this night:
shaded red and blue lights mingled
their softneSs with the multi-color-
81 a.,o,,;y0 ,our,c IN f,rodlfpa n CO.