The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-05-31

that. Ethel will pass the summer with
my sister in the country, and I'll man
age it for you to spend few weeks with
tnem. You can very soon tell whether
What do you say?'
Il vii! do as you advise, thank you.
ST., replied Hugh, who had now cooled
OH, and was trying to take q business
view of the, strange situation
Four weeks later Hugh Colewood was
speeding away from Greenville on the
among the blue hills of Virginia. When
he: stepped from the train he was d:sap-
pointed 10 find no one waiting to con
yey him to the country home of Mr.
Cranston's sister. a distance OF eight
miles. He was in the act of asking the
way to the best hotel, when buggy
came rapidly up to the station and halt
ed.
The stationmaster hurried forward to
greet the driver, who was slender
young girl, with bright, dark eyes. and
hair as golden as the June sunbeams
touching those hills.
"1s Mr.. Colewood of Greenville wait
ing here to ride, out to Mrs. Thurston's ~
inquired the fair driver in a sweet voice,
Il am here and waiting, thank YOU"
returned Hugh for himself, smiling
pleasantly as he came forward on the
station platform.
I came to drive you to Mrs. Thurs
tons" she answered, simply.
Shall l take the re:ns?" he asked as
80, thank YOU; 1 like to drive" she
answered.
1T was too bad for you to take so long
a. drive fora stranger he remarked, as
he: stole aside glance Of admiration at
the girlish form in dainty blue.
.:5z5''Oh, I don't mind the distance at all;
besides, | rather had to Gomez she re-
piled. II did wish to go with the young
ing over on Laurel Hill, but Uncle Jerry
was sick, and of course he couldn't come
for you. Then Mrs. Thurston and Miss
Wayne never drive, so they made a vir-
tue OF necessity and sent the last resort
of the place."
''It is too bad my coming prevented
YOU, joining the picnickers,' he said. Il
That's nothing l am enjoying myself
now too we'll to think of Laurel Hill"
''rhank you, and at the same time let
me assure you that I, too. am enjoying
myself excellently WE'LL" and Hugh
bowed to the young girl. whose eyes
dropped beneath the warm light of admi-
ration in his blue ones.
y
Colewood:' she said, 20 change the sub
ject. Il know Mrs. Thurston and Ethel
Will do all they can to make your stay
pleasant"
Thank you; I've no doubt shall find
1t pleasant, returned Hugh. You, too,
are one of Mrs. Thurston's summer
household, I SUPPOSED"
distant relative of Mrs. Thurston: then
Miss Wayne is my cousin. and exercises
a KIND OF couslnly guardianship over me,
which, no doubt, is very necessary
80 you are Miss Wayne's cousin?
do not remember hearing Mr.. Cranston
mention you. I did not expect to have
How unkind of Mr.. Cranston not to
prepare you for this meeting. l had, up
to date, regarded Mr.. Crarston as one Of
my very best friends, but to ignore me 80
utterly looks like downright, intentional
neglect"
You have not given me the pleasure
OF knowing your namc,S said Hugh, both
amused and pleased with his pretty
driver.
''Oh, I'm Wayne too," she answered,
]aughingly.. Ethel Esrelle Wayne, va
riously nicknamed, as you will observe
later on
Two Ethel Waynes! Here was a real
surprise Tor COlewoOd. Why had Grams
ton not mentioned that strange fact to
him? II the Ethel Wayne referred to in
the will was only half as animated and
generally captivating as the one by his
side, Hugh thought it might be an easy
matter after all to obey that condition
which had so vexed him.
Colewood received a cordial welcome at
Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. He
found Miss Wayne to be tell. digniied
girl OF about %, with coal-black hair and
deep gray eyes, but was as unlike her
little. merry-hearted cousin as it was
possible to be. Yes, Hugh decided, she
was just such woman as his eccentric
aunt would be likely to select as the wife
of her heir. ~. J. HI.
In the weeks which followed Hugh's
arrival ne le.I saw great deal OF Miss
Wayne, although much of her time was
/ divided between her taste. for literature
and in demonstrating against. the inno-
cent pranks Of her cousin. - =.
It did not require long time for the
young man to realize that he could never
love Miss Wayne as the man should love
the girl whom he intends to marry. He
made another important disc0very-that
his life would be failure without the
little cousin to furnish daily sunshine
and wifely cheer for his own home. He
OF his annt's estates and the orphan
asylum the ether.
Having SO decided, Hugh set out for a
stroll along the river, feeling more manly
!! for his resolve. He came suddenly upon
q little figure in white. reading. in 1T
I tie whey nook BY the river side.
| ~ nit. Estelle, = he called. for she had
started to run away. II shall leave To-
| morrow. and have something to say 20