The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-05-04
SIX YEARS LOST

"What would we live on, MAXI"
laughed Sydney Vernon, glancing down
at her elegant morning dress, with the
pretty slipper just peeping from beneath
its hem. Its all very we'll to cschew
the practicalities of life, but they are
somewhat necessary, for all that. and l
have never seen any great evidence of
economy on your part, and | am quite
sure you have not on mine.'
Max Bayard tusgcd impatiently at his
moustache as the girl; whom Il moment
answered him.
He had known her long enough to
learn to love her with all the strength of
his great heart; to worship her beauty; to
follow her constantly with his eyes,
Knowing but one wish, one hope, that she
might be his.
And he fancied, not altogether wrong
~. that his love had met some return.
Her eyes had frightened at his coming,
her voice had learned to welcome him.
until he felt he must end suspense and
gam some certain assurance: the more so
the scene-a rich and childless widower,
who evidently looked with favor upon the
belle Of the watering place, and whom
her aunt under whose care she waS), if
not the young lady herself, looked upon
with favor in return.
Il have never had an incentive to econ
omy.' Max said, in answer. Il have
though my tailor's bill does trouble me
now and then. l confess: but, Sydney,
will change all that. dear. l can't, per
hal%. give you all the luxuries to which
YOU ale accustomed. but you shan't lack
for comforts, that promise YOU"
I'VE should be miserable, Max, miser-
able. both You and ~ the girl answered
hiftnrV hnv Of TIC haon
reared i'll a school of poverty. would
cry for cake while you could only give me
bread, and you for ale, while l could give
YOU only kisses. Come, be sensible, and
let us be good friends"
''Friends? Never" he exclaimed. II
Look into my eyes, Sydney, straight and
true, and say you do not love me, and |
will go away and trouble you no more
The long lashes dropped low Oh her
cheek.
Il cannot quite say that" she an
swered: but l will say more. l prom
Used last night to become Mr.. Clayton's
| wife within six months
Max Bayard'S handsome face grew
! white to the very tips-a look Of deadly
anger, mingled with something like loath-
ing, crept into it. Sydney shrank from it
as from a blow.
Don't: Max-don't!'' she cried: Il
cO(luu uelp III all very SOllN.
You could not help it-you are very
sorry" he repeated, very slowly. Gould
not help what? Toying with me for your
amuSement-playing fast and loose with
your victim. or selling yourself to the
highest bidder? Which? You are very
sorry-for whom? For the man you led
step by step to the brink of the flower
strewn precipice: only, to smile as ne
plunged to the chasm below, or for him
who wins the prize in the lotery-the
prize for which ne has paid the price OF
all his fortune? Pardon me. Miss YER
non. but he. think. is more deserving OF
your Sorrow than the man whom YOU
hurl to the lowest depths of the abyss. -,
With these words he turned and LEFT
her *ittins on the sands u.s. the me ocean max
"Oh. if it would come on and on ana
swallow me up.' she walled in echo.
Il love hinl-I love him! Max, you are
right: the man | propose to marry does
deserve the pity. But you-oh, my love.
you might have spared me your hate! |
did it for the best-I did it for the best:'
Six years had passed-six years,
fraught indeed with change.
If she had been but true to herself
and me-" Max Bayard had thought,
when. but few months after the event
which had driven him from his native
land to find forgetfulness in travel. let
ter had been put into his hand, which
had followed him from port to port an
nouncing that he had fallen heir to a
f1rtn1s which might have challenged
Mr.. ClaytOn's in its magnitude.
He had always known there was a
bare chance of his inheritance, but the
then-preSent possessor had been young
and strong and vigorous, with a seem
| ingly equal lease of life with himself. UNI
til accident had done the work of dis
ease, and fortunes wheel had come
round to him.
If only she had trusted me-" he said
bitterly again and again in the lonely
hours of the night. despising himself
| that he could not learn to hate her.
\ year afterward he married. His
wife was very young and very lovely:
but there were depths in his nature that
her hand never stirred, and even as she
| lay with her head pillowed on his breast
another haunted face would come be-
| tween and mid the caressing murnlur
of her words would sound the echo of
| the might have been
But he loved her very dearly, and
mourned her very truly when. one short
year after their marriage, he laid her
away in her grave and took up the bur.
sibility Of the tiny infant daughter she
had left him.
|
"Wanted-A lady to superintend the
education of little girl. Apply between
the hours of and 6, at -
1t was in answer to this advertise
mcnt that, six years after that memora.
BILE afternoon upon the beach, lady
stood waiting in the elegant drawing
room Of the house to which she had been
directed.
Her veil was down, and the room was
half IN shadow from the heavy curtains
which draped the window; but, for all
that, she started when step crossed
the hall and a gentleman. his hair slight
ly tinged with gray, entered.
She had sunk back OH the sofa, and
hci frame quivered with emotion.
| You have come, madam, in answer tc
my advertisements he asked cautiously
| NO, no. she answered. "There are
| reasons why it will now be impossible fO,