The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-03-02
CAPT. STANTON, Y. c,

| as capt. Stanton.
Yet, truth to tell, he was not happy,
and under the apparent circumstances
this was strange.
You do not know how proud I am of
you, Cuthbert," said the girl. sitting in
said it calmly, not enthusiastically, as
some women would have done, but then
Edith Trevanyon was not as other wom-
en-.
people make too much of these
things" answered the captain. ''They
and are not SO heroic as is believed. l
was absolutely astounded when l found
that | had been recommended for the
Cross
will you think me very unkind when
say that | was astonished to hear that
You had got it?'
SURPRISE
Il have always looked upon you as
such lazy individual, Cuthbert. To
find you at the right place at the right
moment is astonishing. Still, it is rather
pleasant to know that l am going to
marry a hero"
my dear Edith, don't make any mis-
take. Because man plays mans part
for ten minutes in his life, he is not
necessarily hero. am not one l as
| sure YOU"
They had been alone in the room, now
others entered, and their tete-a-tete
ended.
Edith Trevanyon had been the reign
ing beauty of two seasons, and when her
engagement to Cuthbert Stanton was an
nounced, people wondered somewhat.
| His family boosted Il peer at the head
of it, but the captain was by no means a
wealthy man, and his chance of coming
into the title was of the remotest kind
| possible.
True Edith Treyanyon had money. So
it was generally considered that Capt.
| Stanton was 4 lucky man-and a wise
one, too, his friends took occasion to add.
| Still Cuthbert Stanton was not happy.
On leaving his tiancee he walked back to
his chambers, his brow puckered with
thoughts.
It's got to be done, and I'm hanged if
| wouldn't rather face those. yelling dey
lis dozen times than do it,"
He sat down at his writing table, lit
cigar, and took up his pen. His sword
had been ready enough few weeks ago,
his pen just now seemed somewhat use
less implement. He scrubbed few lines
on several sheets of notepaper, only to
tear each sheet up in turn.
| He became very conscious of the fact
that he was not hero, more conscious
ment to Edith Trevanyon.
Before he had left England there had
been two farewells: One calm, matter
of-fact, in a luxurious roonl-a godspeed
which had much friendship in it, but
which could smile at the suggestion that
loving and fearful, a sweet white face
| hidden upon his breast, trembling wom-
ans form in his arms, and background
! of small room simply furnished. Yet
it was this picture which lived in his
memory more than the other.
| 81 cant uvritoi no ovcIo;noo1 tbror-
cruel, too yillainous' then he sml ed con- on
temptooussIl y-"and l wearcr of the
| Victoria Crossr'
He tore up the last sheet he had writ
| ten upon and rang the bell.
''Only 8 o'clock! I'll go tonight. Park
er, just call me cab.
| Yes, sir"
He opened a drawer and took out his
checkbook.
49,, Money, will heal most wounds, but
He paused, and mechanically slipped
the book into his pocket. Then with a
muttered oath-indeed, was it an oath or
q prayer?-he went out.
| The hanson ratified along Piccadilly,
and ID, down Sloane street to Chelsea.
me journey was too soon. accom-
Stanton got out and dismissed the cab.
He walked slowly, even passed his des-
tlnatlon once, twice. then in a half kind
OF desperation assembled the half-dozen
steps which led to the front door, and let
himself in with latch key.
There was the sound Of an opening door
and then little cry of joy as girlish
figure, clad in white, ran down the stairs
| to welcome him.
"Oh! it is week. Cuthbert-a long,
long week since l saw you"
MY dear little woman: told you it
Would pc at least week before you saw
Il know, but didn't think you meant
| it-quite.'
She was pretty woman. At the first
glance she seemed little more than a child
an innocent child. Her figure had
scarcely yet put on the roundness of a
opened wide, with look of establishment
almost as though the Kaleidoscope world
were new to her. But q second longer
glance revealed things which were not on
the neutrality-suspicious., which in the best
sense were deep and true: a woman's ca
Pacity for loving. and shielding with her
Ject of such love were worthy or not.
She had given her heart and soul to Il
man who was her hero, and nothing in
the world beside mattered at ALL
She took his hand and led him into her
s sitting ROOM 4io She pushed the easiest
|
of cigars, which he had left when he
was last there, on the table by his side.
| and then seated herself ON a -fOOtstoOl
and nestled her head against his knee.
suppose your friends have been say
ing al sorts Of nice things to you," she
sald, making you eat more dinners than
you want, and drink more than is good
| for you, perhaps"
-''Bertha.'
THAT IS an Englishman's way of
showing his respect and admiration, isn't
..What a worldly-wise little woman t.
is!.' he said, gently. ,
And he remembered the checkbook and
what he had come that night to say.
and hated himself. '"'
Cuthbert," she answered. IF / were were
you would perhaps be less to me than
you are = - -
What do you mean?'
my dearest: q mans love and wom-
ans are so different. You have been
1 HAPPY , you saw me last; have been
why, dear, why?' And he forgot the
checkbook, and the luxuriously furnished
seasons. why, dearest?'' - wv '
wonder if you will understand, Cuth-
BERT, she said, slowly, rising from the
stool and seating herself on the arm of
his chair. You do love me?'' + -
Yes i 49, 5x:s-...s i: q, - -
S more $. re than any other woman in the
u Yes" He meant it. = =: . .z.: : + +
"Cuthbert, I don't want to be like. 9TH
er women who & ss 4ss. ~
She paused and a little sob came strue-
Cling ont. , -, @.''e - 't 9
TEL me the trouble, darling. = .s. .*.s y
- heard two. men talking today. T