The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-02-05
A FIRST AFFECTION,

in GrOsvenor square. Il waltz is just
over, and two of the dancers have sought
the protecting shade of the great exotic
plants in the conservatory at Plantagcne1
house. They are both remarkably gool
looking, and apparently are devoted tt
each other. This has been their thirC
waltz tonight-a fact that has been no
tice1 and commented upon more or less
spitcfully by the dearest friends Of the
handsome couple. They are Miss Sybi
Grey, Lady Plantagenet' niece, anC
Capt. Arthur Malet of the Grcnadiers.
II don't think YOU care for me, Sybil
as YOU used to do"
love you with my whole heart. But YOU
know that as we'll as 40, and you arc
only trying to tease me-"
Il am not, indeed. Now look here
you know my position-only $500 year
besides my pay-and you won't have
more than f2OO yourself. and perhaps
will have to wait twenty years for that
It's not a very rosy aspect: but, any
how, it's best to look matters in the face
If you are content to rough it, so am 1.
Il am more than content, darling
do you mean to tell me that if you
had the chance of making a really good
sameT'
Nothing shall part us, Arthur,
swear it,"
My SWEET
And then among the multi-colored
Chinese lanterns, and to the tune of the
splashing fountain, they continue to coo
to each other, as is, l am informed, the
wont Of true lovers.
If ever there was a fairy upon earth,
it is Sybil Grey. Goldcn-haircd. blue
eyed. wild strawberry lips, tiny hands,
tiny feet. tiny waist: she is very daill-
ty little maiden indeed. But this is not
all. She is as good as she is pretty
No evil tempers. 10 rebellious instincts
no eccentric tastes has her fond mother
ever had to correct. She was sweet
baby, she was sweet child. and she
is a sweet girl. More than all, she is
deeply religious. How humbly does she
confess her sins. not only now and then
but every Sunday morning in church
How unselfishly does she devote her sun.
niest afternoons of the season to selling
things at q bazaar for the good of the
poor.
For all that she is not yet married
although she is the daughter of Il tlistin
guishcd clergyman Of the Church of Eng
land, and the niece of Lady plantage,
net.
But she and Arthur Ialct love one an.
other. All! my friends, world tossed and
world-staincd as we arc, how can We
fathom the pecularitics of Il virgin
heart:
ooh, here you are. are you:" cruelty
breaks i'll the voice of Lady plantagenct
Il have been looking for you every.
where. Sybil. Let me introduce Gen
Grant"
Horace Grant returns to his chambers
! in St. James street that night, or
Arather. tomorrow morning. a doomed
man. For veal or for woe, he has met
his fate. Until now he has had a won.
derful run of luck. He has come in fol
every war from the Crimea to the Sou
dan. and has played his part bravcly
therein, so that, at the age of 81, he is
B. c. He is a tall. well-.ooking man
possessing an iron constitution, and is
still blessed with the full complement
of arms and legs. And only the other
day 4 distant cousin was good enough
to disregard the claims of numerous
family and leave him 100000 year.
True, Sir Horace Grant was foolish
enough to settle half of his fortune uDo1
the considerate testator's widow and
'cnl!dren probably very unworthy PEG.
p!e). but 100000 a year is, after ali, q
nice income
And. greatest luck of all, according tc
him. he has never been led captive by
any one of the many charming women
he has met. Not that he is misogynist
by any means; simply because his life
has been so happy throughout that he
has felt any change must be for the
worse. And now he is head over ears in
he finds at last that there has been some.
thing lacking in existence. Now he feels
that his life will be blank unless he
can persuade this vision of brightness
and youth to share it.
1t Is hardly necessary to say that he
takes every opportunity of seeing his
charmer that presents itself, and makes
many opportunities when lover less in.
fatuated would be losing time. Right
up to the last day of the season does he
dance attendance upon her. Vast sums
does he disburse for her at the tiorist's'
Cnnumbe-ed miles does he travel in he,
service.
And one day--thc day before Lady
Planta genet starts for her seat in War
wickshire-Gen. Grant asks Miss Grey
to become his wife.
Of course she accepts him at once,
you will say. Only so or so; general
and X. C. B.; 10000 a year: she would
be more than human, especially in the
refused him.
"My dear Miss Grey" says the gen
eral, Il have your aunt's express per-
mission to address you. I'm not good at
love making: it's not in my line. But |
can feel as much as, and for all I know
u good deal more deeply than fellows
who are more glib of tongue than I am.
And | love YOU Miss Grey, as truly as
man ever loved woman yet; and l want
YOU to be my wife. Your aunt tells me
that your parents will consent. What
do YOU say:'
And the general, pale and anxious
hangs upon the young girls reply, and al
together shows Il very different spirit to
that which he exhibited on the memor-
able day, when, at the head of his troop,
he galloped toward the Russian batteries
But Sybil Grey's pure mind is, as yet,
untarnished by the ideas of modern socie-
ty. She does not jump at the offer at
once, as would so many of her dearest
companions. She tells the general that
honored as she feels by this display of
disinterested affection, she is, neverthe-
less, under the painful necessity of re.
ferring him TO her father.
I'm matters such as these. affecting
ones whole life, am sure it is wrong to
act upon impulse or to give way to the
promptings Of affection or regard. l feel
that it is wiser to allow oneself to be
guided by those who have brought one
up and necessarily have ones interest at
heart. SO, dear Gen. Grant, will you
please speak to papa:'
+ y
''Sybil, it will kill me- -.
Bear up, my dearest, bear up brave.
" answers the fair child, for, indeed, she
is little more, though she has gone
through her long, weary seasons in Lon
don. Remember that / love you, and
shall always pray for your welfare! But
remember also, dearest Arthur, that !
an, commanded by a higher authority to
honor my father and my mother. have
told them that l prefer yoll--ah! how in
fnitely! But they say~it will bring their
gray hairs to an early grave if l do not
accept the generals proposal, which, com
bined as it is with deep affection, honor
able achievements, and most generous set
Elements, is the only possible means Of
assuring the future of one, SO dependent
as poor little me! You would not have
s. L. a. =. -. y