The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-07-05
ing Of pity: The boy, was in such earnest.

-
1T is quite true"
Dawnay staggered to his feet.
For few terrible minutes he looked
at her in silence-a silence which fright
ened her.
Then Heaven help the man who loves
YOU! he said, and turned and left her.
Terence Dawnay sat in his quarters
with his head buried IN his arms; the
cool dawn crept in through the windows
on the motionless figure; for hours after
his return from the ball he had not
moved.
Presently he raised his head and looked
about him with haggard eyes; he got up
stltt1y ard drew a long breath.
His infatuation was dead. He had
called it love in his youthful ignorance.
but the bewildering light: Of truth had
Fdispelled@ that idea forever What a fool
he had been He stood for a moment
looking. out on the still, gray morning,
and, with a sudden flood of remorse, re
membered the letter to which there had
moment of his blind infatuation he had
written to his dear little girl. He loved
her-loved her. Dear heaven! had he
thrown away the substance only to find
himself striving to grasp a shadow?
Why had she never written to him ?
Had she given him up without a word,
without even struggle?
The thought paralyzed him.
Truly he was to be sorely punished for
his madness.
His eyes fell on a revolver hanging
against the wall. But he turned away
with grim smile; he was not the sort
to run away from trouble when he found
himself face to face with it. He was
no coward. at least.
Then, with an exclamation, he seized
letter which was. stuck up on the man
tie shelf-possibly put there by his serv-
ant on the previous evening.
1t was letter from his dear little girl
after all. For minute or two he hardly
dared open it; then he tore it open, and
read its short contents with eager eyes.
II should have written to you before
that-only l have been very ill, and am
only now up on the sofa, and can only
write you these few lines to say that I
love you-dear; love you so much that
must do what seems to me the only
thing left for me to do, and that is to
give you your freedom. ! don't blame
you, dear1 shall never think badly of
you. Always believe that I love YOU bet
ter than anything: on earth. 1 sign my
Girl"
Twice he read the little heart-broken
letter. A knock at the door awoke him
from his miserable thoughts with start.
flight, O'Clock, SIR said the servants
voice.
Gene in. Stevens" he shouted, as a
sudden idea flashed upon him. Put
some things up in my bag. l may be
away for day or two, and just get my
serge out. will you?''
He was still in his mess dress, but his
man paid no attention to that; in a few
minutes he was in his usual undress uni
form, and striding over 10 the colonel's
quarters.
Obtaining three-days' leave be was
able to catch the night mail from Kings
town to Holyhead and the next after
noon saw his arrival at the little house
where his dear little girl had struggled
back to all the pain of life, which at
present seemed shorn of all its gladness.
He walked straight in: there was no
one to be seen, and opening the door
gently he stole into the room where his
dear little girl was lying looking out at
the distant blue sea, with such sad tired
eyes.
She looked round as she heard the door
shut. and cry burst from her lips-a
cry which brought Terence to her side,
and tn next minute he was down on his
knees, holding her to his heart, and kiss
ing the cheeks which had grown 50 thin
and white
MY sweet" he cried, "only tell me
that you forgive me! Oh, darling, I have
been nearly mad since l wrote that let
ter to you! Can you ever forget me and
take i: back? You shall know all, dear
est, only tell me that you love me, first ~
That is such very stale story" she
whispered faulty, with smile which
told him that the gates Of Eden had
opened to him once again.-Woman's