The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-06-01
MONICA.

green Of early spring, down here by the
cove all was gray, sands. rocks, sky, even
the water had the same dreary tint. Not
CLEAN of other color, except that of the
crimson shawl. which the girl sitting on
a ledge of rock had wrapped around her.
Laurence Dare. coming along the road
which ran along above the beach, saw the
patch Of red and paused. He stood still
few minutes, watching the slender figure
leaning back against a high range of
rock, her gaze fixed on the gray water
at sight of her. Dare's heart had given a
great throb of joy. He made few long
strides and stood beside her.
Monica he said softly.
The girl turned her head with quick
movement
"Oh, Laurence
There was a displeased tone in her
voice, and her brows came together in 4
frown as she regarded him.
Are you not going to shake hands with
seen you?'
The girl gave him her hand with re-
luctant air. withdrawing it quickly from
MS warm clasp, and turning her face
again seward
Monica, you are cruel; YOU have not
1et me see you once all this long winter.
nave been down from the city so often,
and tried again and again to see you, but
each time that called you mad Just gone
out: feel sure that you saw me coming
and went away purposely. Last night it
was the same thing. But chance has
morning. and so l have caught you; you
mad no opportunity to avoid me-
The girl made no answer
tie went on: Last summer you gave
me faint hope that in time you would
listen to me. What have YOU to say to
me now: Have you not thought of me
all these long months:''
She turned around to him, her eyes full
Of tears.
Il was wrong to let you think you
might hope, Laurence, for l can't do as
you wish. Don't you understand? It
seems wrong for me to listen to YOU
Think. l belong to Allen; was to have
been his wife. He was always talking
OF Cousin Laurence; you seemed Cousin
Laurence to me, too. Don't you see?
belong :.%g to , Allen; can't marry you.''
She interrupted him quickly.
hush; we don't know; he must be liv-
ing"
Monica he said, with great gentle
ness of voice, think, it is four years; he
was to have returned in ten months"
II must be faithful to him.
Dare flushed. This is nonsense. Moni-
ca. he said half angrily. If Allen is
living,' he went on, why have we not
heard from him all these years? Are
you gong to waste your life in this little
village and give up all chance of happi-
ness for fanciful idea of being bound
to him? And think of me; have loved
you so long: Come to me, l shall love
YOU so much that you must love me in
return; come, l swear that you shall new
er regret it, Monica
Il can't, laurence
will you spoil both our lives?''
Il must not listen, Laurence. I wish
that you did not care for me-
II can't help caring for you. l think
| have loved you since the first day l
saw you, and now that you are free"
Il am not free
Monica, listen"
She stood up. II must not, Laurence.
Try to forget me. am going home; do
not come
And before he could stop her she had
darted away.
that she was out of view from the cove.
should she not yield? She knew that
her happiness would be secure with this
strong, tender man. How little he
guessed her struggle to resist his plead
ing.
When Allen had gone West on the
ten months. she had promised to be ready
to marry him upon his return. But the
ten months had passed and other months
had grown into years and he had not re-
turned. They had had no news from
him after that last letter, written seven
months after his departure.
Laurence had employed every means at
but in vain. He appeared to have van
ished utterly. The only reasonable solu-
ton of tho mystery was that he was
dead. His mother believed it, but Moni-
ca did not. She could not She had
promised to wait for him: she dared not
break that promise. Allen had loved her
she must, she would be faithful. She
would not yield to Laurence
One day in June Monica was returning
home from walk down to the cove. Her
way was in the neighborhood of Aliens
mother. AS it was still early in the aft
ernoon she decided to 20 and pay her a
call. She had not gone to see her often
of late, through fear of meeting Lau-
renee.
She felt that she would run no risk CT
meeting him this afternoon, he hav,.g
visited his aunt the previous week. On
reaching the house she found the hall
door open. She knocked lightly, and
without waiting for a response walked
into the little parlor, where she knew
Mrs. Dare was in the habit of sitting.
But at the threshold Monica paused.
for there stood Laurence by the window
with an open letter in his hand. His
aunt sat near him. apparently in state
of great excitement.
AS she saw Monica she cried out:
"He lives. Monica, he lives! My own
Allen is living. Come in and hear the
letter."
Then she fell to weeping and repeating
over and over: MY boy is living
She had turned very
white. Laurence. went up to her and
drew her to chair. Hc. too, was pale.
rs il. true?" gasped Monica
Yes" but he did not look at her.
II received the letter this morning and
came down ny the first train"
''He is well?"
eyes, - ~-''~@> -"
. where is he- )! don't understandy''
".Why-why haven't: but I have
been out all afternoon. suppose that
I shall find letter at home.''
Dare did not reply. His aunt was still
crying. She now looked up at Laurence.
Finish the letter, Laurence. Listen.
Monica; our Allen is still living.''
Dare had folded the letter and was
putting it into his. pocket - :
There is little more Of Importance.
dear aunt. &c., " - -
Monica was puzzled by Dare's evident
desire not to read the letter to her. She
went over to Mrs. Dare and embraced
her. go .t :. IS ~ 5azE 81. =:
-Ss4I shall GO homo now, rn.:lTaSG
6 Perhaps there is a letter for nle.'' -.
i Laurence had left the room and stood
ut the entrance door. .sz E
7 am coming with you, he said as
Monica came out. ~,
Dare regarded the. girl stealthily as