The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-08-23
AFRIBNDLY hint

ball.
In corner Of her desk were the with.
cred remains of the great bunch of roses
he had sent her upon that memorable o.
casion. She kept them because they were
associated with such an important event
as her debut, not because he was the
&iver, for he had very little share in her
memories of the evening. A smooth.
faced boy in reSimentals about that time
occupied her thoughts, and it was his
whispered nothings that made the dance
SO delightful, and not the kindness of an
old friend.
But the lad had had his day. and 50 had
many others in their turn, each interest
ing her for 4 time and then boring her to
death; but Farnham had always held his
place. She said he rested her She
talked to him Just as she likcd-and that
IN itself Was comfort. Instead of study
ing to please him, us she did with others,
she was perfectly natural. being grave or
say with him as her mood dictated.
J., Such a thing as his falling in love with
her never crossed her mind, and if she
Ead known that while she was chatting
to him in her airy fashion his brain wac,
busy with all kinds of romantic fanci.,s
about her, she would have Immediately
dtcIded that poor old Geoff was not quite.
himself. But she never guessed it. SO
their friendship continued unhrok2n until
she declared the date of her debut to he.
.ost III the mists of ages. She told him
inns one evening, and he looked ut her
30 oddly that for Il moment she paused
IN ner speech to speculate about him:
II she mad seen that expression on any
other mans Fate she would have under
stood it. hut it was puzzling on his.
ny Go YOU look at me like that :"
she asked; rs there snytling the matter
with my hair"
mo. nothing is the matter! I don't
at air. NUNS
How rude, to tell me so! | supnose
your thoughts were miles away. | don't
suppose you were paying the slightest at
(rnf,on to what | v:ls saying"
10 be perfectly frank with you.
was not. but YOU need not be yeNcd with
me, because l was recalling something
you said to me long ago
Something brilliant, no doubt"
TIC smiled: 1T was such Il character
lstlc speech he said: $50 exactly what 7
might have expected from you, that i
nave never forgotten it,"
lhen YOU have been disobeying or
ders, for told you positively that YOU
were not to remember anything | said "
1T happened this way" he went on,
YOU had just come back from New
York and had brought with you all man
ner Of souvenirs-photngrp and books
ana German favOrS, and | don't know
what all beside. and one night you very
kindly offered to show them to nc.
w hrn came to one picture you blushcd
i little. and | asked, Is this the lutkt
fellow? Has the heart you have so jcal-
ously guarded found it's master at last: y
and YOU answered with shrug of your
shoulders, Bah! that man-he loves me
too well. He let's me see just how much
am to him; he would bore me to death
in week. ~
WELL, she cried. opening her eyes,
and is that all? Have you been treas,,r-
ing up Il foolish speech like that? Why,
have said ever so many cleycrcr things
since"
But none more characteristics he re-
piled.
DO you know she said, 1T is humi]-
iating to reflect that after being rs mnch
with me as you have been, you should
know me SO little: 1t argues that am
either very stupid or very reserved"
II do not know you:' he cried "Why,
| know you almost as we'll as myself
Do YOU suppose l could have studied you
i'll all your moods, as | have done for
years. without having gained some
knowledge Of your dispostiOn?'
She laughed slightly And have Won
ly think am worth it. Did you find me
Interestingly"
''Absorbingly So And one thing that
L have discovered about you will surprise
You. People call you tickle, do they
notT'
''Sometimes.'
'Well-you have impressed me as
being unusually consistent! l thought,
when first l knew you that you were
the coolest girl had ever known, and l
think so still. You have never given me
any reason to change my opinion.''
Cold: she repeated; Il cold! That
just shows how well you have analysed
me!'
Il am not the only one who thinks
that he said. Look at those roses"
pointing to a cluster of brides in the
vase at his elbow; 1.-THE man who sent
those meant you to know that they were
appropriate; that as they are white. and
cold and passionlcss-jnst so are your
And do You know she cried, when
| opened the box and saw them my first
exclamation was one Of disappointment:
White roses! how yexing, why not red
ones? They at least mean something
they convey all idea. but these!-and /
pushed them away"
Il heard yesterday he said. irrele-
vanity. that you are going to he mar
ried. [ wondered if it was true"'
"Who is it now?' she laughed. '"Thc
Northern army officer or the South Caro-
lima physiclan?''
rs it true?' he asked.
DO you suppose" she said holding
out ii ringless hand, that l had so far
forgotten my good resolutions as to
promise to marry anybody, that l would
not wear the badge of my servitude?'
hat is well put, the badge of your
scryitude! No, think until the fatal
words are said over you that you will al
low no man the pleasure of publishing
his triumph ahroad!'
, 20 wise, wise young judge she cried, chow
"Oh, it is all very well to laugh" he
said; lit is an easy way to dispose of a
subject, but you will never convince me
that you have any feeling - nothing
Would you like me to persuade you!'
she said i'll her soft voice.
There was, a moments silence, then he
turned from her roughly: No; it is. Der,
ter that | should think of YOU as / eli,
now: for can be bitter against you and
that is protection. d
She looked IN at him dazedly. Hitherto
no suspicion of the truth had come to her,
but. it flashed over her all at once: and
with great rush of pity and regret. ( IA
II am going now." he said, rising. al
! stayed l would make fool of myself;
and it frets You to have people make fool,
OF thenlsel Ives, doesn't it? And yet they
are not always to blame. You have 1,
faculty for drawing them out, for leading
man Oh to reveal his tenderest and most
sacred thoughts Why do you do it:
When it is all told you are not apparent.
~ touched. What especial object have
you in vieW|' + :.ss s.s. - ~
For |, moment she hesituted. then d
soft answer trembled on her lps. but
and reminded her hat this was not tlle
met hid 10 pursue: IL would only mi sleal