The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-29
say to her companion. Don't you wish
that Human would stop fussing and

come and sit down y s d. 81 4
And US. when q woman is particularly
busy, 4 man generally does think sEc Is
"fussing" and choosing to do something
totally unnecessary, the "elderly party.
came to look upon it as quite natural
that Madeline should be his hourly COM
panion, and that she should sit in I'M
in mind and body, should toll and strive
for them both. Ex.sa.<.; III, n.
>. After Madeline had been with them
three months Hannah's lodger came into
Il fortune. 1t was not Il large one, but it
would enable him to live in case aud com
fort for the rest of his life. When Han
nah heard the good news, what she
dreaded most did not happen. He did
not suggest moving into more luxurious
lodgings; he seemed to consider himself
fixture In the old wainscoted room
floor; but he bought more pretty plants
and fresh hot house flowers, which
Madeline now accepted with blush and
prettiness that sent his blood coursing
through his veins.
. She knew that she had appealed ut
first sight to the human passion latent in
the scholar. rs Hannah had never done.
intellectually she was nothing to him,
but for that she did not grievc. AS ali
.hCiAcC-uui CoNupiiIlOH oHlS, WouuH
has no actual power over 4 mans heart;
but as Il beautiful woman she can use
him as it best suits her purpose. Han
nah's ledger paid his money in advance
now, and she felt as a mother feels when
her son grows into manhood and passes
out Of her care. There was no need now
to substitute new shirts for old ones, and
the elderly party" was conferring q
favor on her by remaining in his humble
lodgings. Her self-sacrifices for her be-
loved teacher were useless now. She
comforted herself with the thought that
he never treated Madeline as an intel
was more 4 man and less Of 4 scholar
when Madeline's blue eyes and bright
head were lighting up the corner of his
dark study.
One morning when Hannah was ironing,
with the table piled high in wcll-bleached
linen, the elderly party came into the
kitchen with Madeline. He walked
her hot face bent over the stcaming
shirt, and drew Madeline forward.
Hannah, your cousin has promised to
marry nc. She is young and beautiful.
and am only plain scholar, but l will
do my best to make her good husband"
AS if it had been thrust through her
body, with the point of a bayonet each
beating. Madeline. of course, knew
why her cousin had SO suddenly tainted
and the poor little bit Of triumph made
her heart beat quicker. but when she
looked up ut her lover his face was pale
with fear. She saw look of agony
in his eyes as he turned them to her for
help, which told her that she did not pos
ly as she thought, and the devil in her
was reused.
"Oh, you need not be so alarmed; she
has tainted through sheer jealousy"
For one moment he stood transtixcd; all
that he had been blind to for years was
made plain to him now, and in that mo.
mcnt he recognized the heartlessneSs of
the woman he had proposed to only ten
minutes ago.
Are YOU woman to tell 4 woman 3
secret and make light of it,"
Madeline was. frightened at the look
of scorn and contempt in his eyes, which
had always looked at her so gently. She
stood at bay, and watched his trembling
hands sprinkling Hannahs face with the
cold water she had used for sprinkline
the linen. 1t was kept in a small white
bowl OH the ironing table.
''1've not said anything that the whole
village does not know, Arabella included
that Hannah Fletcher has been waiting
to marry her ledger for the last ten
years."
"Then, by God. III marry her now.
love her. l tell YOU" He chafed the pale
cheeks. and rubbed the thin hands. give
always loved her. Oh, my God, what Il
selfish fool l have BEEN"
"You loved me but ten minutes ago.
For Il simple scholar you are wonder
fully quick at love-
Ten minutes ago | did not know :hat
it was Hannah | loved as a man ought
to love the woman he marrics. Your
beauty deceived me into believing that l
loved you. I had not given thought to
love unit! YOU came. l ask your for
giveness.'
Tears. which were always ready. came
into her blue eyes ut the harsh words he
had spoken, but she knew that they were
true. She had no love for the grave and
elderly scholar. he was to be her refuge
from work. and she loved ease She
stood for a moment or two and watched
returning consciousness CULVER over Han
n;h's pale face. and then she turned to
go.
''After all Hannah is growing old, and
she has been good to me; l will not rob
her Of her elderly lover"
A lover was waiting for Madeline half
a mile out of the village. He was Il pro-
vision dealer, and Madeline would have
preferred being the wife of scholar.--
The Queen.