The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-03-26
4 NEW YEARS. RESOLUTION,

| AHSl laule one stormy uiOFul1lS ueilT Tic
end of December and directed fierce
scowl over the shoulder of a friend who
sat opposite him., at something at the
other end of the room.
| The scowl was so fierce and 50 I'M
usual on the handsome face Of Lawrence
| Henderson that his friend and room
mate, Frank Carney, turned half around
to see what awful thing was disturbing
Lawrence.
His casual glance at the back view of
the restaurant revealed nothing that
should put anyone in bad humor. In
| fact, it was rather pleasing sight.
The linen on the long row of tables
was spotless, the pictures on the wall
were not at all bad, the walls were still
decorated with the Christmas holly, and
to cap all of this the waiter was just
coming from behind Japanese screen
bearing tray laden with the breakfast
for the two friends.
Carney turned again and looked at
Henderson and saw that the scowl was
still there, but that it was now directed
| toward his knife and fork.
An ordinary case of Indigestion"
thought Carney, but he said nothing,
and proceeded to help his friend to a
portion of the steak that the waiter had
set before him.
Henderson nodded his head in ac-
| acknowledgement and then looked over Car
ney's shoulder at the back wall and
scowled again.
'What the devil is he frownins at ?"
wondered Carney. He turned to get
another look at the offensive wall, and
making no greater discovery than be-
his breakfast and paid no further atten-
ton to the somber visage of his friend.
Frank Carney was not an observant
person or he might have seen the cause
of the scowls. Though even had he no.
tlced it, he wouldn't have seen anything
i'll it to provoke.
The cause of Mr.. Henderson's anger
was nothing more nor less than a calen-
dar, and that calendar showed there
1894. ~ '' - '' se''1
Three days was entirely too short a
time for Henderson to complete certain
bust mess that he had on hand, that must
be done before New Years day, and that
was the reason why he scowled ut the
back wall of the restaurant.
His anger at the calendar did not.
however, prevent him from eating a
hearty breakfast, and it was fully an
hour before he drained his coffee Gun and
remarked that he was ready to 80 down.
town.
They buttoned their overcoats and left
the restaurant, but not until Henderson
nae hred one long, angry glance at that
objectionable calendar. AS thew stenned
into the street a furious gust of Wind
swept the fine snow into their faces and
forced them to pull their coat collars up
close to their eyes. Then as they walked
to the car Henderson's hat:blew off, and
Wnen ne recovered it after brisk 100
yards chase he was in the humor that
ina IKE: murderers of good men and true.
This was the chance that Carney had
been waiting for, and he sgripped Hen
derson by the collar and said:
you?" '''' afen
"Yes,' replied Henderson, II am. and
50 let's get to the elevated quick"
mo: sir,' replied Carney. You don't
YET Wltnln nifty yards of warmth until 1
Know what all of this frowning means.
You scowled at your breakfast. at
me- at the waiter and particularly at
the wall of that restaurant. Now. as
your roommate and nearest friend. I
have right to know Just how near
crazy era t.y you are. Was there any cause
Ior those scowls, or was it merely a
sign OF growing insanity?'
Henderson struggled unsrccessfully to
tree himself: Carney was by far the
stronger, and he held him fast.
On, come off, Frank" he growIe1l. at
length; Leave me alone"
-Wlll you tell, or won't you?" asked
Il won't. So stop this nonsense and
come on ""0
Carney saw that it was something that
M ms friend wished to keep to himself. SO
he released his hold and thpv woikoG
on together. As they took their seats in
| the car Henderson turned to his CON-
paniOn and said: ~'A'
"t'rank, think after all I'll tell Won
Tn , was the matter in the restaurant.
was scowling at that calendar
"Scowling at the calendar?" said Car
ney IN surprise, well, you are crazy.
Well, well, well, Larry, Won must @st
announcer roommate at once. don't
KNOW how soon you'll become violent.''
III you'i stop talking for about ten
| all about it," e' 'ou
IL am as silent at the grave" sa;d
Carney, and then Henderson began.
You see" he said, '1that calendor m.
minded me of the fact that there are
out three days more Of this year, and
maze vow one year ago that l would
90 certain thing within year. l have
| short. 40 'eis
On New Years day one year ago
resolved that 1 would propose to Faith
Wallace before 1895, and that's tho
thlng L haven't done and the very thing
| tha a.; l must do to keep my vow.
| Inc reason never mentioned this be-
1ore was that | knew you were in love
it might make you feel bad" and Han'
derson gazed at his friend as a doctor
would at one who had but few mo-
ments to live. 'o
Carney did not look like man who
had received slap in the face; in fact.
ne looked as though he was trying to-
| Keep from laughing.
| They sat in silence for few moments,
said: 'o" 'oHe'
Larry, if that's the resolve you made
! 60 by the board. You should have
spoken to me sooner about this, because
then could have told you that you stood
no show. It's too bad that you should
be disillusionized, but, old chap, it's better
| it out yourself"
This speech, though offered in friend
~ spirit, instead of consoling had about
the same soothing affect that the tradi-
| tional red rag has on the traditional bull.
of all the conceited idiots thar ever
met he said; speaking very slowly, ''yeu
take the lead. Why, to hear you talk
any one might think that you were the
only man on earth and that Miss Wal
| lace was anxious to marry"
""All right said Carney 'Tet the
thing drop. This is the first time we've
ever mentioned it, for knew that YOU
were in love with her, and we never
could have been friends if we had harped
On this girl. so avoided the subject.
Your. New Year 8 resolution was doubt
less very good thing, but don t ap-
prove Of it. ALPS fair in love- you
know. 50 60 ahead, and may the best
! man win.
"Here's my station" he said, rising.
BE sure you keep your vow. can't
wish you JOY, for you see made little
New Years resolution myself" $500,
Carney left the train and hurried to his
office. His thoughts were not on bust
hess, however, but of the secret that
Henderson had just revealed to him.
It didn't worry him any, for he thought,
as he had intimated to his friend, that
he was the only man that Miss Wallace
cared a snap for. s>= <,>s :.
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