The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-01-25

with dear old Hector wearing out his
soul in the dreary nlonotony of keeping
open communicate in South Africa. I
could not find it in my heart to plunge
into the frivolous gaieties Of Continental
watering Places
Il hope you will come out of it alive
sighed one of her sympathetic hearers.
but do not ask us, who are not slaves
to our complexlons to tempt Providence
as you are bent on dong.
marjorie Dalziel is heroic enough to
throw her lot with mine" observed Mrs.
De Courcy Brown. ''She is coming to
Eastgate, too"
A running fire Of incredulous ejacula-
tons greeted this announcement.
Fact, l assure you," said Mrs. Brown.
''She says she IS weary of the hollowness
Of society, and longs for communion with
the sad sea waves"
The sad sea waves are hollow. too,
sometimes murmured a beardless
youth.
But nobody needed him. All We're
eagerly discussing the possibility of a
descent in force upon Eastgate.
How do you get there? Whereabouts
is it? DO you go by rail, Or boat, or
balloon. or on camels, or how! were
some of the questions showered broad
cast upon Mrs. De Courcy Brown.
1T is about sixty mics from town.
and we are going in motor-car," she
replied. ~ ;,
cried the chorus, I'VE, also in motor
cars, will scout for you and act as body
guard
Mrs. Brown thanked them for their
heroic devotion; nevertheless she and
Miss Dalziel managed to slip away I'M
known dangers of the road and even Il
possible breakdown to mourning the GER
tainty of public ridicule.
The motor-car contingent arrived short
ly after the two ladies, and their pres
ence at Eastgate made things livelier
pated. Indeed, the running for what she
called the millionaircss stakes became SO
severely competitive that she found her.
self comparatively neglected, and the sit
uation being move! and intolerable to her,
she felt constrained to call Miss Dalziel
to account and ask her which of the ar
dent hearts, glowing with love and admi-
ration, laid SO humbly ut her feet, she in
tended to condescend to pick up.
Are you serious, Gcrtrude:' inquired
Marjorie.
Quite" returned Mrs. Brown II
s lt begin s; TO think that you are hard
Instead of returning the scofting an
swer Mrs. Brown expected, Marjorie
burst into tears.
Gertrude was all sympathy in a mo-
ment. My dear girl. what have / said ?
Do not, for mercy's sake. cry SO violent
ly! was only in JEST
But it must be true" sobbed Mario
rie. He said the same thing, and he
was not in jest
He? Who?'
"Cecil Mallet''
"What. is there yet another?'
"0h, Gertrude, do not say another
He is the only one.''
'"rhen why is he not here?'
Because he is in South Africa"
"WeIl. there is nothing to cry about.
The fighting is nearly over"
Il know; but our engagement is quite
over"
'Whose fault-yours
"Indeed, no; His entirely
what did he do?'
Il saw his arm around Laura Strange
ways waist. They were in the conserva.
tory at the Plantagenet house Dance"
'And is that all?'
"All? Is it not enough?'
"My dear Marjorie, do you really ex-
pect to marry man who has never
had his Is arm around another woman's
II do. Ny husband must not only he
sans peur, but absolutely sans reproche. -
'"Then, my dearest child, you must
make up your mind to die an old maid.''
care ali men triflers?'
"No. Some Of them are milksops. You
wouldn't, J! ! am sure consent to marry
"But it does not signify now; 1 have
dismissed him forever"
HIN! That is a long time Write
and say that you have reconsidered the
matter"
Impossible! 1 vowed that his arm
should never more encircle my waist"
you can add postscript to the effect
that you only meant till he came home
ssShall I write. Gertie? Really?"
II should if / were you"
And so she did.
It CHANGED that Cecil Mallet received
the letter just as he was ordered out on
a reconnaissance. He thrust it into his
till he was lying behind an anthill wait
ing for the hidden enemy to make some
sign. In his joy at the contents he
laughed aloud and imprudently raised his
head an inch or SO above the safety level,
thereby disclosing his whereabouts. Five
shots whlstled through the air, and the
letter fell from his hand. Every shot
had found its, mark and he rolled over
in helpless agony, biting the dust that
was crimsoned with his blood
THE FUTURE. .. -.
big liner was expected at Southamp-
ton with a consignment of heroes from
the front Among the privileged spec
fators awaiting her arrival at the docks
were Mrs. De Courcy Brown and Mar
siiorie Dalziel. .&..s55 i II !.
aCheer up, Marjorie! What is the use
of anticipa ting the worst p
Gertrude, cannot bear the suspense
Only think, he may be dying! He may
even be dead at this very m0mentr'
was reported convalescent at Cape
| Town. 4