Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-05-01
|'CQ y T$T III, 81!

and devilishly fascinating chap like
Henry Van Tyle!"
But let him have his little filtration.
1t will run its course. 1t better had
else there would be trouble back in
town, with Julie!
"For heavens sake, you can't leave
the man flat, and moon off by your
self around those beastly mountain
shacks?" Chotty Wilbertree, her
mouth agape, stared in establishment
at Virginia: Didn't you promise him
last night you'd go horseback riding
with him this morning."
"Yes-but the nurse just 'phoned
i can't let her down. She's all tied
up on sudden diphtheria case. She's
frightfully overworked, poor thing!
told her any time she called, I'd
relive her on her rounds"
you're a fool, Virginia Randolph!
You let chance like this slip through
your fingers! Where on earth can we
meet men like Henry Van lyle, I'd
like to know? No, you shan't put
him off. I'll entertain him myself
till you return"
In her acknowledgement linen
breeches and soft shirt, Virginia rode
off through the woods on her errands
of mercy. A little bird of happiness
was singing in her heart. 1t was fill
ed with the hours she had spent last
night with Henry Van lyle on the
porch.
Every look of Henry's came back
to her as her horse carefully picked
his way up the mountainside. The
morning airs caressed her face-as
gently as lovers touch-Wasn't life
wonderful?
But her high and happy mood was
dimmed before her round was over.
"How did Martha make QUIZ" she
inquired of middle-age mountain
woman whom she met on the path.
The laconic answer came: "She
died this morning." The woman point
ed to the east window of small
shack. ashes in that room. Those
ignorant young girls think they can
have a good time and escape disgrace,
and this is what comes of it. She
didn't escape nothing-when her Dad
dy gets her Teller, there1l be some
shootin'.
AS she rode along, the terror and
tragedy that this thing called love
can bring into human lives saddened
Virginia.
About an hour and a half later, her
ministrations at an end, she rode by
the open door of an old crone, for
tune-teller A woman of the neigh
berhood was going in. She invited
Virginia to join her.
"Come on in, Miss Randolph, and
see how things will go for you'll"
Now like all girls in the midst of
love-affair (for Henry had made a
definite impression on her heart and
imagination) Virginia was-though
| HSCPIlCal VI 1OI CSAHC-CSlAILIS aIuL oA-
ly curious.
In she went. The fortune teller
was crouched before low fire on
which small green branches had been
placed. From under her grizzly brows
her eyes stared for a moment at Vir-
ginia like live Goals, then back into
| the Smoka trance1ika
what do you see, Aunty?" asked
Virginia, feeling rather creepy.
The crone began, in monotonous
voice: "You have just met your real
lover, he is tall, dark and handsome,
he is young, 1 see money in this
smoke, see silks and jewels! Your
man, he loves you, l see eats, and
drinks, and ships, and hotels, and
travels. l ses kisses. And it looks
like 1 see baby, maybe. Things all
mixed up!"
At this point, the smoke broke GO
ing upward to one side. An express
ion of awe and terror fixed itself on
the old DANES face and abruptly she
ceased talking.
well, Aunty, go ahead-what's the
trouble?" said Virginia.
Things is all mixed up, honey"