The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
ODD THING ABOUT It.

"You needn't bubble over my words,
she answered impatiently. There was ,
| pause.
ment. Here again l ought to have pre-
tended that had just woke up, and an
nounced myself.
II hate him.! Vera observed inconsist
| emily.
so" said Maud, heartily, do L."
| could not we'll proclaim my presenc,
after these remarks.
AT least, | think | do
I'm sure | do said Maud, positively
Il consider him HORRIBLE
"Oh, Maud. You know he isn't"
He must be, or he wouldn't be 80 rud,
to you"
That is no excuse at all. Look at tn,
way he contradicted you about those Tus
can vases, or whatever you call them"
Il contradicted him first
why shouldn't your
''BecauSe-he was right
(Which made it all the more annoy
ing"
Yes" said Vera, with sigh.
wished l had let her nave her own way
Never mind, dear. You refuted hin
about those silly pre-something-o r-othel
things"
Moo; l didn't, really"
"Oh, but you did! Papa and everyone
laughed about it," Confound them!
'.Ah, butt was sorry, and he knew
it,"
Nonsense, We"
Didn't you hear what he said to Sil
Garrin O'Brien about them afterward
Ii you remember"
II don't! l don't understand a WORD
of their gibberish, and didn't want to.
Quite right, Miss Maud: women shouldn'
da bible in antiquities. Then they wouldn't
quarrel with antiquarians.
completely
Then why didn't he say it at the
timer
"Probably he thought me beneath ar:
gument" AS mater OF fact | had
for once. made an effort to be magnani
nous, and spare her Feelings.
He is great deal too SUPERIOR .
stated Maud. l felt myself blushing.
He really knows Il great DEAL sug
mind not to quarrel with her any more
"A lot of Anticipated rubbish of no use
to anyone" scoffed Maud. | could feel
that she was tossing her head Jack
calls him the 'lumberroom'!' Jack is a
young ass!
.. II don't agree" said Vera, holly
NO, ne Ism [. t1eS very nearly en-
gagged to Maud.
"A charming and intelligent fellow,
was going to say
NASTY little story-teller,' l thought
they. were going to quarrel, but they
didn't
well, Ill admit the learning of your
Mr.. Norton" snid Maud. when they had
done laughing. "but-'
He isn't my Mr.. Norton,' Vera OBJ.
jected. There Was further pause. II
Maud had gone l should have felt in
clincd to come out and place Mr.. Nor.
tom at pretty Ecra's disposal, but Maud
didn't go.
DO you really like him, old Ve?" she
asked
Only just little"
"Yes-almost sure"
II can't see what you like in him.
protested Maud, impatiently. He's 40,
at least" Thirty-seven only, Miss Maud
Il don't care if he is. He looks Young
He's full of conceit." That really was
4 mistake.
"Oh. Naudie! OF course, he can't hell
knowing that he knows thinSs!'
"Itubbishy antiquities! | beg your par
don. dear old girl, for attacking your
Subject but they are. Anyhow. I don t
believe he knows half so much about
them as you do
That said Vera. els utterly absurd
do not deceive myself upon that point
l have been studying antiquities for
twenty years. She has dabble,I in them
for two. Her friends had persuaded her
that she was an authority. and she had
posed little to me. l had been impa-
tient and tactleSs in pointing out her
harmless errors. That was the beginning
of our quarreling. Afterwards we dis
agreed upon everything that we happened
to discuss. We had discussed a good
many things.
Anyhow contended Maud, "he
doesn't know much about anything else
except, perhaps, chess and billiards.
He rows we'll, and dances splendidly.'
IF he does things as we'll as he thinks
he does" said Maud scornfully. You
will admit that my situation was embar
RAISING.
You are rather hard on him, Maud.
think" So did I. won't you admit that
he has any good points,"
''Oh-,he can talk! He's very amusing
when he comes out of his shell. | rather
like to talk to him myself Indeed
But don't believe he has bit of senti.
she laughed Neutrality-suspicious. you.'
you are ridiculous" protested Vera.
He wouldn't dream of such a thing
Obviously Miss Vera understood me nc
better than other antiquities.
"Perhaps he-Why don't you leave of
squabbling with him?"
''He won't let me. He generally begins
by asking whether l am ready for our
usual quarrel
why don't you say 'no?"
Because he ought to say it, 1 re-
solved that he should.
Then YOU will find him deadly dull"
IL don't think l should.''
'Whatever would you talk aboutW
"Oh-the usual things"
"My dear We, he couldn't! Just fancy
him whispering soft nothings in your
ear" Maud laughed. Personally l
didn't see anything to laugh at. "And
You blushing and looking down"
Don't be so sillyv'
whilst he imprinted chaste salute
ut is time to dress for dinner" said
Vera, frigidly. She walked towards the
door.
HE has ginger moustache," said
Maud, as a parting sfot. This remark
was absolutely untrue; it is golden al
most.
He has notr' Vera departed.
Maud hummed queer little tune to
herself for minute. Then she sighed
twice-presumably for Vera. Then she
shrugged her shoulders oncc-I fear for
me- 1nel Sue Welt out also. After q
prudent interval | followed
AT dinner Vera and | were neighbors.
| avoided antiquities, and told her anus
ing stories, just to hear her laugh She
looks very pretty when she laughs. She
also looks very pretty when she doesn't.
After dinner our host, who is proud Of
his scenery, suggested that we should 20
and see the moon rise over Tall hill. I
managed to escort Vera and to lose the
others.
''Shall we have our usual quarrel ?" she
asked, when we had perched ourselves
upon big stile at the foot of the hill.
mo-" replied; Il don't want to quar-
rel, please"
Don't you?" she said, brightly.
aren't you afraid we shall be dull?'
Not in the least; but IL you are"
"Oh, no. We can talk about-let me
see"
The usua! things?' I suggested. She
looked swiftly Of me, and gave. little