The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-04-22

Plutus. 1t would delay matters, any
how, if she became engaged to me.
Meanwhile, I might find some one else
| for her.
.Why not?' she asked coolly.
Every we'll; l will speak to Amanda
about it, | said slowly. "But there
must be no drawing back on your part"
l had Il sudden iration-bcing a
man of quick thought. II should like to
have. your, consent i'll writing. TO be
candid, | do not trust YOU
very we'll" She sat down to her
escritoire. what shall write?''
II consent to the marriage of my
daughter to Frank Austen" 1 dictated.
she wrote it accordingly, and signed it
with a flourish.
NJ, name is the same as my nephew's.
III have him up to town, and if he
doesn't fall i'll love with Amanda he's a
fool: That. was my idea
Weli, now IN talk to Amanda" |
SAID feeling rather uncomfortable And
Amanda is 1s and stands 5 feet 2
Amanda has golden brown hair that will
get loose and tumble about her cheeks
and forehead. Amanda has big, dark
eyes and long eyelashes and cherry ripe
lips, and the dearest little tlimples in the
world. Amanda has soft, white hands
she: generally gives me both-and tiny
feet whose rush could recognize blind
1old. She came in quietly today, and
there We're dark marks under her eyes.
ooh, Cousin Frank!' she criet-cousin
Is my brevet rank-''you won't let her
make me-marry that horrible man!'
No" said I. Mandy, my dear, l
won't" Then | kissed her. If only
We're sure that she wouldn't disarrange
''You kind old Frankv' She took hold
of my arm and squeezed it,
but your mother insists upon your
settlng engaged to someone, my dear" |
said, ruefully; somebody who is fairly
vel Oft; Are you in love with anybody,
NANCY! Tell me, that's a good little
She opened her eyes wide, and looked
at me honestly. ooh, no, Cousin Frank!
OnIy-only-l think perhaps should like
to be-some day.
. But there isn't anyone yet? Truly ?"
Truly. No one at ALL
well, look here, Mandy" I said,
sheepishly, ''your mother insists that YOU
shall be engaged to someone, and I can
only find one person.
mot Mr.. Plutus! 1 won't!' she cried
NO, no! Not anyone who will annoy
you, dear, or whom you dislike'
Whoever - She looked Up at ME
Just till you find someone you ike"
l apologized, turning as red as a poppy.
She held on to my arm again and looked
down on the ground. Then she laughed,
How very funny"
Would you mind, Mandy?'
"NoIo, she laug he'd again. II think
it would be ratler-fun. You would have
to take ME out a lot, wouldn't you? TO
' "YeNe pl''t Oh, yes, of COURSE" What
evtr would become of the Cerebral Con-
But wouldn't it be rather a bother to
your ~ ~
mot more than to YOU"
ooh, it wouldn't be any bother to me"'
J she cried, excitedly. ''We'd 20 to the
Tower, and the stores, and the CRYSTAL
palace, and the Zoo, and the exhibition
and have tea in the gardens-and the op-
some of them she explained. "You al.
ways do take me to the academy and
one or two places, don't you?'
Il shall like to take you to some. nv
DEAR l assured her. II always enjoy
myself when | do. But you know I am
finishing my book just now.''
"Oh, yes! l won't worry you, Cousin
it, couldn't IT, 1 almost groaned aloud.
Amanda on Cerebral ConvoIutions!''
I'm afraid it's rather too dry for
that"
II might learn the typewriter, and CODY
it,, she pleaded anxiously. A man is
o oh,y to9l after all. however much he
denly bent down and kissed her, and she
blushed like ton.
II won't let you blunt your finger tips
with a typewriter I said, gallantly.
BUT you shall copy some pieces for me-
tlI you ind some nice young man, and
your engagement ends.'' 1t was best to
|, | rIQ0r
"Ye-es," said she, thoughtfully, 7'but-
on, Cousin F. Frank, suppose 1 didn't find
'Then I shall have to marry YOU N.Y.
self 1t would be better than old Plutus,
"0h, yes: But l shouldn't LIKE
couldn't bear to think that you had sacr-
, feed yourself to me. / should be such a
bother, shouldn't I?'
L looked down affectionateiy~ on the
, rumpled hair and inquiring eyes. II
think-l think, Mandy" L said. gently.
! i could put up with You very we'll But
another in a different light that it's
rather late to change. You see, dear, |
have grown into a. filgety old bachelor >
You're not really old; and you're new
3 much" 5:* ~ - - ! r =
& Ia merely paid for her schooling and
II i
,Eom--poor old Tom!-that I'd take care
Of his girl. 4 r -. ...--.s =
.That's nothing to do with it, Mandy p
I said, slowly. You see. I've Il lot of
/ interests which you could never share. =
! She shook her head doubtfully. "And /
like to rush of: when I'm not working, to
mems recreations--to play cricket. TO
watch football, e--'' s 3 ,,E~, ,lls.9
4 Il like watching football" she OBJ
. served cagerly. s 5s
"I'm used to having meals when /
please, and going, out when I like, and
coming in when like OF course,
couldn't do that ! if had wife. It
wouldn't be fair" s4 & .sl S#:ssS s
/ TT would be q little lonely for her.
said Amanda, Wistfully. 1T
so. continued. resolutely, resisting
an absurd impulse to kiss her. again.
!. ! though think sou the incest little
I woman in the world, dear 'yhe smiled
z Just like the sun coming out .'it would
!. be better for YOU TO find someone younger
u aud less Yotehety 81. ''. She tapped the
Isround rapid ono tle foot.