The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-09-23
THE FAIR PH|lANIHROP|SI

THE FAIR PA|lANInROP|ST.
"Whom do you think I saw driving
with Gerald Morton this morning?'
asked Mrs. Morris Of her great friend
the doctors wife, as the two ladies were
enjoying 5 o'clock tea and the general
gossip Of the parish together one after.
noon 3
| "Beatrix Harcourt," Mrs. Maynard an.
sWcred promptly. 49, !
| All, you saw her, too, then. I must
say / was astonished. 1t is well known
that young Morton bears the character
OF being the fastest man in the neigh.
Il have long ceased to be surprised at
anything Beatrix Harcourt does" the
other lady answered significantly. ''If
| MI. -Aenrlck does not mind do not see
why anyone else should trouble their
| heads about her eccentricities." 3:
Certainly not, Mrs.. Morris agreed
but, really. Rose, she was laughing and
| talking in the most giddy manner and
! Gerald was bending toward her until his
| face nearly touched hers - -.
-, and that is our future. wears wife!
wen, shall take care my daughters do
nard drew herself up with Kind of lofty
| Indignation, as some fresh visitors were
shown into the room l..A .<.....:;.
Poor Beatrix! Her numerous delin.
! quencles were the subject of many after.
noon tea sgossips, and had been ever since
she came to chichester, four years ago
She certainly was unlike other girls; for,
| IN addition to being 'blue stocking
and having taken her degree at Oxford,
she nad most unreasonable interest iii
the working classes-not a mere ladylike
| interest, which contented itself with call
ing at their cottages with few words of
good advice and a tract. All, no! she had
| always some plan, or "craze," as the
good people of. chichester called it, for
their benefit on hand-classes for the
young girls, ambulance lectures, concerts,
| teas, what not? g..
For the conventionalities of society
she cared not at all. She never attended
the afternoon teas; therefore she heard
no gossip. ..
She had been known even to take the
broom of the lame old crossing sweeper
| at the corner of the road and work away
III earnest until there was a passage fit
| for queen to walk over.
And in spite of all, the vicar of Hill:
chester had asked Beatrix Harcourt to
be his wife. Well, as the leaders Of so
ciety in chichester remarked with omin-
| GUS sighss wonders never ceasei
Nevertheless, it must be confessed that
Rev: John Kenrick was in no very en-
! vlable frame of mind, as a week later he
wendell his way somewhat slowly toward
his ladylove's abode.
The gossip which had begun In Mrs.
Maynard's drawing room had spread all
oyer the parish, until a version of it,
highly exaggerated and colored, had
Beatrix was leaning over the drive gate
which led to her fathers house, watching
for him as usual. and as he saw the glad
look of welcome brighten and sweeten all
her face at his approach he said to him
sell that his darling was as pure: and
sweet as the wild roses she fastened in
But Beatrix soon discovered something
was amiss, anu after the first greetings
We're over she asked, almost anxious
not look Well'' -
For fun minute Mr.. Kenrick did not
answer; instead he. looked down at her
as she stood with one small hand rest
ing upon his black coatsleeve; the sun
light falling with loving touch upon her
hair, which was cut short (another point
which met with the disfavor of the Hill
chester matrons),. and curled naturally all
over her head like child's. Her lover
sometimes :laughingly told her that she
had baby face still, and he was not far
wrong, for her expression was singularly
untroubled and, childlike, and vet there
was a depth of feeling in the honest Slue
eyes which told both of strength of chax-
acter, and purpose. -, ~.
Erik, it is. silly Perhaps but some
thing I have heard today has troubled me
greatly t-~,..>. r.. = -, ',Ss.:
''Aboutz me?" Trix asked gayly. "of
what fresh enormity am I accused,
Johny' and a sudden gravity crept into
the sweet voices II thought you said you
minded none of these things?' "
81 Ito not the vicar answered quickly
Indeed gently stroking the soft yet
better for them, butt is better to speak
out. Trix, have you been driving about
with Gerald Morton lately p ~,
The next moment Mr.. Kenfick would
have given much never to have asked. the
question, for Trix turned to him quickly,
whole world of scorn shining Iii her blue
eyes. 49,. = ~ >..gx',s y~-<e,s
"And SO, John, this means that you :; can
not trust ME, and you choose rather, to
be st,s any idle story people may tell"
Tel me there is no truth in it, Trix,''
Mr.. Kenrick said quietly, though his eyes
had clOuded with deep look Of pain be-
meath her implied rebuke, iHani nrbi,lise
you will never believe it, y ~ .'",,
But Beatrix had removed her hand. and
all the sunshine had died out of her bonny
face as she said YEARLY: .'N1r., Morton
has driven me over to .Castlefelds twice
want to ask me q = AK :. z *$"'
No, there was nothing else. Mr.. Ken.
rick felt it was almost sacrilege with those
pure eyes looking into his to breathe tle
doubts which now seemed to him so un.
worthy. 81 r. .5z@s' - & -:
But, alas! for the "little rift Beatrix
tried to talk Of other things, tried hard to
be her own bright, merry self, and yet was
conscious OF an unwonted sense of abso;
lutte grief, when at last the vicar told her
he was obliged to Co., +. - = !, RI
1t was month later, and Beatrix Har.
court was walking swiftly along the dusty
road leading to Castlefelds, CARRYING q
small basket containing some delicacy fol-
the sick woman she was going to see
The sound of wheels made her turn he1
voice said pleasantly: Miss Harcourt
are You again bound on the same journey
Now, do let me have the pleasure of Civ.
ing you a lift. 49,. s .Gs22$3
Beatrix hesitated one moment, then she
answered frankly: !" Thank you SO much
You know Jennie, that poor crippled
child told you about?S Well, / have
had a note from her this morning to say
her mother is very i'll and there is no one
to do ANYTHING for her" zs s
Gerald Morton looked admiringly down
| at the fair face beside him It was the
young man Of chichester who had given
Beatrix Harcourt the name of 'sthe fair
philanthropist, !" and it spoke we'll for the
girl that even in the fastest circle her