The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-05-24

went on. ''You know, of course, that I
am woman with no friends-1 mean ac-
Quaintances."
Bill inclined his head.
My father and mother died when I
was a baby. My grandmother, who
brought me up: when l was just Is; since
which time l have had to make my own
way in the world-fght all my own bat
ties. l thank God l have been able to
90 $3.50 far: but l am the victim just
now nov1, OF an awkward experience. As some
people are born notorious. and some
achieve notoriety, SO it has been thrust
upon me. You will wonder to what
allude."
1t was lucky for Bill she went straight
OIL without pausing for his reply, for he
was fast losing his reason.
"A po:trait-Mrs. Sufield and several
peop.e who have seen i, say lifelike por-
tralt-of me is now posted all over Lon
don. l passed at least a dozen on NV
way here. 1t is also on the cover of a
magazine called the ''Bystander," which
ME-: Suftield brought in last ni,~bt."
On, perfdious friend!
Il wondered who could help me to un-
rayel this mystery" Miss Glade went on.
"Plenty of people have offered comments
mostly unkind or nnjust-but l thought
that you. h":ng a lawyer and friend
might tell me how to go about it,
"Certainly,' answered Bill. weakly.
GU have been so often 10 our house.
and know so much of Mrs. Suffield. that
need not tell you how straitlaced and
"Narrow-minded," suggested Bill
We'll, perhaps so. How narrow
minded she is-how easily swayed by any
and every ones opinion. Knowing this,
you can understand that she is exceed
mgly put out over this matter. and looks
to me for an explanation. l have never
had my portrait taken in my life; 1 have
never worn that gray dress in public
Now, I ask you, how could that picture
have got about? II Mrs. Suffield gives
me notice to leave her, l may have some
difficulty difficulty hd in getting ian another place
am so alone"
She would never do thing like that!'
cried Bill, Indignantly.
'7She. says 1 have made a disgraceful
exhibition Of myself, and holds me respOn-
sible andsto blame. How am to prove
she is wrong and l am blameless? -
All Bills indecision fed like chaff be-
fore the wind. He drew himself togeth-
er and met her appealing gaze.
Il will prove that she is wrong and that
no one is to blame but myself." he said
firmly. Miss Glade, apologize most
humbly: most earnestly"
YOU in some surprise.
Yes. l made that sketch Of you and
so'u ~ ~ Vduless, tue puOlSner. re-
greet it deeply"
You made sketch of me?''
Zone night when had dined at your
place You came into the billiard room to
show Archie and me some chrysanthe-
NUNS that had come from show
oh, yes, l remember. How could
your tears coming into her eyes.
No reproach, no opprobrium, no dis
grace could have touched Bill as this did,
He felt himself to be. the greatest scoun-
drel in creation. but with the feeling
there came another and A deeper, and
he knew that he loved the woman before
him. Love alone could have made that
lifelike sketch from memory-only love
could atone for the wrong.
Miss Glade,' he said. "can you ever
forgive me-ever bear to think Of me
again.
Il am sure You did not mean to harm
me-" she replied. softly.
Harm you! I would rather die hun
dred times than harm should come to
YOU"
She was crying in real earnest now.
You shall never have it to say again
that you are all alone. darling. l will
atone for my folly all my iife-if you
will let me-
+. =
Il Think said the clerk to Archie Suf-
field some half hour later, that Mr..
Searle is engaged
And he was right.-The Free Lance.