The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-01-25
WHEN THE BOYS CONE HOME
THE PAST.

- Ns1' sa'1 Nv " Will llOluL .
THE PAST.
! Inc season was young then. The ball
room was deliciously cool, the band was
playing the most seductive of long Sc
rles of dreamy waltzes, there was no lack
of dancing men, and yet Marjorie Dalzicl,
the acknowledged belle of her set, was
sitting alone in a palm-screened alcove,
her little feet tucked resolutely under her
satin skirts and her pretty hands clasped
with the nervous tension that is indica-
tive of deeply-stirred feelings.
Unfortunately lthat is, if the temporary
and unusual solitude was of her own
seeking) anger only added to her charms
and rendered her still more. attractive.
Her great, dark eyes srarkled with a
hundred fires. Her fair cheek was tinted
with delicate rose. All these things
were mentally noted by a young man
person. threw himself into the vacant
chair at her side.
..1 mot dancing, Marjorie?" he said.
Marjorie launched an unexpected bomb
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Mallet," she
returned, in the chilling tones reserved
usually for an unwelcOme intruder.
The newcomer looked taken aback.
Then he recovered himself and laughed
nervously.
"Oh, is that the way of it?' he in
quired. II merely venrured, most hum
bly,, to ask Miss Dalziel why she was not
dancing"
is one bound to give reasons?"
Not necessarily to give them, perhaps;
but it is usual to have somc.'
"Oh. have plenty. l am tired. I have
no partner, 1 nate dancing, | hate every
thing and everybody, and 1 want to be
alone"
The last is convincing. Shall I go?"
IF you like"
But don't like I await orders"
II am not your commanding officer"
"No. I wish you were. NY only OBJ
lection to going to South Africa would be
swept away"
what objection is that?"
Leaving YOU"
Miss Dalziel responded by a curl of her
"Marjorie, your heart is hard.''
And yours is too elastic
What do you mean?'
ooh, nothing"
"That answer will not do. insist on
knowing your meaning
"Insist?'
Yes, insist. In my right as your at
famed husband"
oh, that is all over
"Marjoriev'
"Mr. Mallctr'
you mean what You say?"
Il mean what 1 say"
There was white strained look about
his mouth, but he spoke calmly.
you have weighed your words wcll?'
g! have weighed my words only too
WE'LL
You remember that tomorrow morn
ing l sail with my company? This may
be our last meeting on EARTH"
II remember"
A slight catch might have been detect
ed in her voice, but no other sign Of re-
lenting was apparent.
"And knowing that am going POSI-
bly, to my death. you can, at this, per-
haps the most solemn, moment Of our
lives, dismiss me with a few cold words
and not the slightest explanation Of your
conduct"
Your own conscience will doubtless
supply the explanation"
Her voice trembled ominously, and the
bright eyes were momentarily suffused
with tears.
marjorie" he pleaded, 'this is foolish.
Let us make it up. Give me kiss, dar-
ling, and be friends"
about to draw her to him. She shrunk
quickly away and her eyes blazed.
Your lips shall never touch mine
again. she exclaimed in a low voice,
with anger. Your arm shall never more
foolish, but oh, so happy! For 1 loved
you, and believed that you loved me.
Now my eyes are opened, and I know
You as you really are-false, faithless
They were standing now, face to face,
looking into each others eyes.
II will not stoop to ask again for an
explanation Of your extraordinary con-
duct" he returned Enough to saw thai
I accept my dismissal at your hands.
Perhaps it might, under existing circum-
stances. have been more gently given.
But it is possible that the memory Of the
think less harshly Of me when 5000 miles
Of sea divide us. Goodby, Miss Dalziel.
If l should not come back, you will know
that nothing can alter my love, and that
my last thought ON earth will be of YOU
He paused on the threshold as though
half expecting recall. But Marjorie
| made no sign, and the next moment she
was alone.
The day was just breaking when a de-
tachment of khaki-clad soldiers departed
from Southampton.
THE PRESENT.
Eastgate-on-the-Sea was much ]ut-
tered at the announcement in the local
journals of the arrival Of Mrs. De Courcy
Brown and Miss DalZiel. 1t was we'll
known that, besides being a fashionable
beauty, Marjorie Dalziel was reported to
possess considerable fortune. That she
should e1ct to hide herself from the gaze
of admiring society in a red-brick villa
at remarkably quiet watering place
puzzled the brains of the curious popula-
ton, and gave food for considerable
speculation. But wonder increased ten
fold at the advent of Mrs. De Courcy
Brown. who, in her constant efforts to
avoid dizziness and stagnation, flew from
one European capital to another, filling
up the awkward intervals between the
baths and the southern gambling tables.
To select few before leaving town sh..
had explained the apparent eccentricity
of her conduct. .sE.. :.- +. -
Il know shall be horribly bored. =
she had observed, resignedly, and ex-
and relieve nv boredom Rmf ronIi..