The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-07-26
A HUSBAND WORTH HAVING

Mr.. Wilkes fixed his spectacles firmly
on the tip of his ample nose, cleared his
throat and settled himself in his arm
chair with an air Of supreme self-satis-
faction.
He rarely cleared his throat unless
something important was coming-and
Mrs. Wilkes waited in suspense.
MY DEAR he began at last, II shall
want breakfast little carrier tomorrow,
as l am going to the coronation, and l
must be in good time
Mrs. Wilkes eyes opened wide with
establishment.
How lovely" she exclaimed excitedly.
Have you got. good seats?"
Seats! Who mentioned seats?".
snapped Mr.. Wilkes Indignantly. Use
less extravaganza when you can see the,
sh " from +, the road like other economical
but, John, you would get crushed to
death i'm a crowd like there will be to-
morrow. You must remember you are
not so young as you used to be, and "a
London crowd, especially on a coronation
day. is terrible thing"
If there was one thing Mr. Wilkes dis
liked more than another it was any ref
erence to his advancing years.
lou seem 10 Imagine am IHcdpaOle
of taking care of myself he exclaimed
with considerable heat. Il never heard
such nonsense. OF course, it would hard
ly do for ladies or delicate people to 60,
but for newell! l should like to see
the crowd that would keep me from wit
Messing an event Of a lifetime"
And Mr.. Wilkes gave a sniff of SUI
preme scorn and expanded an ample
waistcoat. the lower part of which was
somewhat more rotund than the upper.
If you only treat crowd in the prop
er way" he continued, warming to his
subject. land take care not to push or
hustle anyone, no one will push or hustle
you, and you will be able to see the
show quite as we'll as the extravagant
idiots WHO pay three and four guineas
Mrs. Wilkes knew differently, but she
also knew her husband too well to argue
the point.
'Gh. very web, John-1 hope you will
enjoy it" she answered resisnedly, but
with a quiet smile chat was no doubt
caused by the thought OF a stout little
man of 5 feet 3, with temper, in a
London crowd on a coronation day. {.
| That smile was not lost on Mr.. Wilkes
and he inwardly determined that, while
! breath remained in his body, be would
show his misguided wife that she had a
| man for a husband. and not a child-a
! fact she had SO far apparently been I'M
conscious Of.
The next morning. after an early
breakfast and a somewhat cold and dis
dainful parting from his wife, Mr..
Wilkes wendell his way to the station in
high spirits, the most immaculate of
frock coats; and shiniest of hats, Just
to show her whether l can take care of
myself or not,' as he put it to himself.
! Co.
be arrived upon the scene, and it certain
ly did look more formidable at close
quarters than he had Anticipated.
Il wish hadn't brought this hat" he
might have been heard to murmur, as it
brushed up against tie shoulder of a
burly policeman who, with the gentle
ness Of his kind. was edging his way
1t was not long before Mr.. Wilkes
found himself being carried along, gently
but firmly, he knew MT WHITTIER and a
| few more moments served more: than
| ever to convince him that it would have
been advisable to leave that hat at home.
Ih1s time it was a 'toster's elbow that
did the damage, and Mr.. Wilkes felt
that 1t was time he made some remOn-
! STRANGE. '''.'i: ji';i!''' -
j., Are you aware yo1 brushed my hat
the wrong way with your elbow? he
inquired, in biting accents: 5''''t'
! &c on! Did I?'' exclaimed the IN
conscious aggrcssor, good-naturedly
"Cricky: an 'ow it do slime, too! What
er pity! Ere. let's stroke it right for
YER, and. to Mr.. Wilkes consternation,
MS nat was suddenly seized from his
head. leaving bald patch exposed to
the vulgar gaze of the public-and bit
| ing east wind. -.. :
In vain he expostulated. Slowly the
cFowd surged on, carrying the, unwilling
NJ Mt: Wilkes further and further from his
neloved hat, which was being polished BY
better cause. To-. .-S '.,..,s$ {,
At last the crowd ome to istandstill.
while the police, I fbur abreast; rode
through the :writhinei mass to clear the
way for the procession which was 3 1t
last approaching. IL s5sTT5 E.1ss::fi5 - re.
or two plumed helmes above the heads