The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-06-02
WAR and V|TCHERY

IL MI HNU ullUuuul l.
Gladys was superstitious.
But she was also young and pretty and
lovable, so this tritling folly only added
to her charm and made her men friends
feel brave and enlightened whenever she
betrayed her Weakness. AS natural
consequence of this regularity she was
always afraid to sit Oh Il dark vcranda
alone and would never think of going for
Il walk i'll the evening without fearless
escort. She wouldn't open al umbrella
IN the house, walk under a I$dder or pick
up pin that lay with it's had toward
her, and she wouldn't sit in a room that
had three lamps lighted ut once, though
she didn't object strenuously to one that
was more dimly furnished OF course,
she; was laughed at great deal for her
foolishness, but she shook her head wise
" and continued to carry lucky stones in
her pockets and to perform the many lit
tie rites known only to the superstitious
knowing these things about her, the fol-
lowing SOlllOQuy can be more readily un-
derStood.
II just knew something would happen
that would be unlucky aud now we've
gone and Quarreled. l saw the new
moon over my left shoulder, and because
he laughed ut me know only bowed to
1t seven times, instead of nine, before
made a wish. But he needn't have been
Ill such hurry about getting formally
engaged, for I'm sure I've been treating
him just as we'll as anyone else, and bet
ter, too. He might have known that
think more of him than anyone else and
ne might have waited until l was good
and ready. But he just thinks that be-
ca hn 81
girls want to kiss him he should have his
own way about everything. But, oh,
90 wish we hadn't Quarreled, for he
looked SO angry that I'm sure well never
make friends again." And the tears
came to her eyes.
The fact is that Gladys was flirt
without the slightest intention of being
fierce jealousy that her conduct cuused
m her circle of admirers. Before Lieut.
Holloway had accepted the position of
comnlandant in the military academy on
the outskirts of the town She had never
had any serious trouble with her retinue,
But when he appeared ON the scene he
promptly sbegan, after the manner of a
hero, to charge the citadel of her heart as
ne had the blockhouses in Cuba. Like
all the rest of the girls she had wor-
SHIPPED him for the dangers he had
passed, but her worship was the only one
that appeared to interest him. He took
4 -serlonslyr from the. beginnings and when
she WINS very much flustered and very
happy; but she could not expect to drop
all her other followers ut once. Iieut.
Holloway, however, insisted that they
be mustered out without delay, and that
meant that she must settle down as being
engaged, thing she had no intention Of
DONG Tor at least another couple of sea-
no In ,4A,Sk
have his own way he retreated III good
order and intrenched himself In a digni-
he'd military reserve. Whenever he
passed by her window, as he was obliged
to when going to the postottice, his head
was. carried a shade higher than would
of his shoulders would have satisfied
even the critical Afulvaney. He walked
with eyes 'front.'" though it is just pos
si1le that he noticed the fact that the
curtains usually shook as if they were
being moved aside trife by someone
who was. peeping from behind them.
A week of this mastery inactivity
lieutenant was showing signs of attempt
ing conQuests in other quarters before
Gladys realized that something must be
done, though she didn't exactly know
what. OF course, she couldn't send for
him. and tell him that she was now
really to become engaged, and if he
wouldn't come of his own accord, how
could a protocol ever be agreed to?
There were no open hostilities, it is true,
but neither was there n siege. The little
war of hearts was In danger of ending
Of hamilton, without Il victory for either
and with a defeat for both, so Gladys
thought it all over and racked her mind
for some plan that would restore the
status quo. 1t was then she remembered
that one evening when Lieut.. Holloway
was laughing at her superstitions he told
OF an old one that was very prevalent in
the time Of Catherine De Medici, when
people found it necessary to sway others
secretly to their will, He told her how
the astrologers used to make figures of
wax 7:, or any substance that would melt
readily aud then destroy the person piece
| meal BY piercing the efigy at whatever
part they wished to affect. While she
was thinking of this she was looking
idly from her window at the boys of the
military academy, who had erected a
snow fort, on the top of which they had
built a., square-shouldered snow man.
When they completed the figure, they
placed military cap on it's head and at
tached to it placard bearing the name
Lieut.. Holloway" Here was a figure
that would surely be melted in n few
days, and it was ready to her hand! OF
course, she did not wish to destroy her
hardened heart should be materially af-
fected, and what she should do at once
became clear to her:
On the following afternoon Lieut.. Hal
! loway was passing the snow fort on his
way to the postoff1ce. He stopped to
view the Notifications, intending to give
his pupils lecture on military engineer
n.y. and presently he noticed the placard-
rf H..
melting in the afternoon sunlight, and
while looking at it he idly noticed some
thing piercing it under the left shoulder
Just where its frosty heart should be-
stepping nearer, he pulled out an arrow
winch he at once recognized as one of
half q dozen that he had made for
Gladys little brother, and finding it there
perpdexed him. He knew that the little
man was one of his most ardent admirers,
and, besides, not wishing to do him in
jury, would not wish to lose his arrow
While he turned it over in his hand the
truth suddenly flashed on him. He re-
membered having told Gladys about the
superstition of bewitching efigies. and
the foolish little mink had evidently act
ed upon it. Laughing softly to himself.
ne put the arrow in his pocket and went
his way.
That evening Gladys was both sur
prised and delighted when the servant
brought to her Lieut.. Halloway's card.
But, of course, it would not do to let
him show that she was glad to see him.
Anyway, he was under the influence of
the spell, and being sure of him, she
could afford to punish him somewhat be-
fore consenting to make him happy.
Summoning all her stateliness she went
to the parlor and bowed stiffly in response
to her visitors CHEEKY greeting. He had
been thinking the matter over ever since
finding the arrow and was glowing with
self-satisfaction owing to the conviction
that she really loved him after all. OF
course, the evidence was solely circum-
stantial, but still he didn't feel that he
could possibly be mistaken. Is
II thought that you had forgotten your
old friends, she began. c.t IT, ~. &.