The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-29
This time Melville bit his under lip as
he MT his nnnkin on the tahla hosida his

ooh, Austin, you'd better not &C.," ven
tured his wife. mildly. - a. za
He nude ITO answer but strobe to the
door and passed through. Richie re-
stunned the salt scraping, and Mrs. Mel.
held her breath. !
At first there was only tho rolling Of
Melvilie's deep voice. then the sound Of
a sudden scuttle. Mrs. Melville gave a
smothered scream. und started up. "Sit
down.. commanded Ritchie. pushing
back his own chair, but keeping his seat.
IA momentary scraping of boots and Chi
nese slippers in the kitchen; then Il series
of thumps down the back steps and the
scratching Of gravel, also u low; bf6keh
murmur from the yard.
II guess" remarked Richie, calmly.
that I'll 90 and see who's underneath"
Mrs. Melville did not attempt to move
again. but she watched the second lieu
tenant anxiblsly. He strolled to the
window and stood there; 6ne haid iii his
trousers pocket, the other stroking the
mustachios
"Well?" vcntured the young woman,
finally.
Richie turned around and came back
II guess Melville's doing about what
he said he withdrawing Sing
head"
Weak cries like those of little child
came up from the back yard,
lis that Sing?' asked the lady of the
house.
1T doesn't sound much like Melville"
At the end of couple of minutes,
Melville went past the window and in at
the side door, and Il little later he came
into the dining room by the front en-
trance and resumed his seat The shut
tle of Sings slippers could be heard in
the kitchen. The adjutant, despite his
smoothed hair and newly brushed coat.
wife wisely refrained from speeth.
Richie was holder.
Has the police party got to come
around and pick up the pieces?'
"No; guess he's WHOLE
is he little more rcasOnable?"
oh, he's doing the lamb act now"
Tell us about it, AUSTIN" begged Mrs
Melville.
Il just old him he'd got to stop his
- nonsense and behave himself OF
course didn't want to say anything ugly
to make him madden. He muttercd that
he'd go, or something like that. and he
flung the dish-towel in my face. l was a
little riled at that, but l don't think I'd
have done anything except kick him out,
if l hadn't remembered the dinner
S Snew ne had to be pounded :. into staying.
Mrs. Melville flew into the sitting room
il few hours later.
Austin, he's vamOOsed!
Melville stood up, put down his news
paber, and Knocked the ashes from his
eigar;
"HoW?''
,t;x Ss ill., d. dst #: out for him and
So Mrs. Melville watched and waited
time heard The shGffle If FEET; aid fGflas
tramping of boots oh the torch. Sing
glided into the room, followed by his
master. There was a guard at the door.
Here he is. Try the force of gentle
persuasion, Matty.'
Mrs. Melville was coaxing little
body: she could have moved anyone but
Chinaman. Sing remained obdurate.
'No.' he grunted, "me no come back"
."'Just to get dinner, Sing; you can go
'f SYc'"
She looked appealingly at her husband.
Then you wont come back and get
dinner. tonight, Sing?" asked Melville.
"No."
"Guarl, take this man and nut him ia
choppjng wood in the SUM-"
It was rather a stretch Of official and
military authority. but even the com
handing officer, who was to dine with
the general. realized the urgency of the
case.
An houf Of Woo -chopl,ig Under guard
IONA sun. brought Sing into subsection
He appeared downcast. persljirihg. gasp
ing a nd penitent. at the door of Melvil1e's
quarters:
Melville"
mo; yoli cah't SEE her; she's lying
Eyes. Me wantee: slice Mis- Mei3liie
..'She no want you back, Sing"
An r(Sht; ; / 81 tt1ie her: She MS
Melville disappeared and brought back
his wife. Her face was contorted into
an mnrelenting frown:
"Mis' Melville, me come back
mo: l no want you come back"
"Mc cookee good dinner. Alice samee
| heap good. Sun heap hot. makee me-
head hurt" moaned the child of the ORR
ent. ''No breakee plates no more"
"All right" she consented, reluctantly
81 keep you today. maybe"
zled inspector-general rs he sat beside
his brilliant little hostess at the table
aht lbBk4l its lahgth at the guadh ar
ray of yet uhbrbkeh dishes. II can't SET
what you all make such fiiss abbu
these Western stations for. OF course
they're a little far from the railroad. bu1
you have pretty good society. YOU dress
we'll, exactly as they do in Washington
so far as my masculine eyes can: tell
yo1i i've bh the fht CT the laid, tN jiidE,
FROM what 1 see before me, and yoii cer
tainly have excellent domestic SERVICE
Mrs. Melville blessed the happy thought
which had made her place the genera
so that he could not see the guard stand
ing over the Celestial cook out in the
kitchen. as the door swung to and fro.
"Yes,' she assented, "still there ar,
| some incOnyeniences.'
''You seem to have oyereome them.'
1--WE ,hhve-ttiiii )or!lrly:" She ANSWERED
| --SDn Fra nciSt.n rrhi,ont