The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-05-16

Mrs. O'Brien, went through the lancers
with his fair namesake, and ended IN
with a vigorous washington Post''
with the same lady, who then wished
off to her mothers room
Curtis did not dance any more, but
solaced his unwonted activity with a
long whisky and soda. and then retired.
1t was. not late, and the moon looked
SO tempting that he opened the window
Of his room and stepped onto the vcran-
matc]y decided that it would be desecra-
ton to pollute such an atmosphere.
Then he smiled at his mood. no Eng
lish night had ever influenced him like
this before.
. There were voices on the veranda. He
rather resented them at first but after
wards they seemed to harmonize.
Il must go in now. Maud" said one:
its getting chilly
Ill follow soon, mother" 1t was his
cousins voice.
Waiting until his unsuspecting aunt
had retired. he approached her. 1t was
an an eNGeiient 9ppS'Etunity he reflected
ing his identitYMand his de ens snpls she
seemed pleased to see him, and quite
naturally motioned him to the vacant
chair, But he preferred to stand and
look down on her.
why did they call you Maud?' he
asked
She answered. laughing: There are
other Mauds besides Tennyson's.'
Still. am sure You liked grapes as
a child Some of his lor>lship's COM
pliments had been treasured as bons
mots.
She frowned prettily. as though re-
flushed slightly.
One is named so young!"'
You have certainly not yet reached
tine the. Jelly regular or the spiendidly
Nor yet the faulty fauitless y
Come Mr.. Curtis, | think I have you
fnefe a our s GG~piments are not 50
He acknowledged himself beaten. and
then the conversation took an abrupt
turn.
Il let You off lightly at dinner.' said
| the GIRL; but you must not escape me
altogether. From what YOU said, we
it H =; 0e Fe'a'eo' II IS 'n'ere&''ns-'sn't
Relations are always interesting. es-
peclally when one discovers them acct
dentally." Here was his chance; but d.
| rectly he attempted to seize it there came
| one OF those moral twists that always
| gave his character a semblance of in
consistency; Instead of explaining, he
! waited for her to speak
DO you know Lord Curtis?"
mo one knows him better, though
many think they do
Really
II mean I am his best friend. though
some say am his worst enemy
You speak in riddles, I don't think. I
you are rather insincere.' She seemed
annoyed, and half rose as if to go in.
Pray: STOP" he cried in alarm. really
afraid that he had vexed her Tell me
why You have never met him.
My 4ather and his were never friends.
And my father is obstinate.''
breach?'
Ion. yes! And so would my mother.
But my father will not hear Of any ad-
vance on our side'''
Nov, I WONDER thought Curtis.
'why he wrote that he must see me this
week. Rather inconsistent with his prin-
ciples."
You said he had retired from the
navy?' he said aloud.
"Some years ago, and now he is al
ways in the city,
what you men do when you get into
the the city city, j, cannot. imagine. Are you in
"a pretty habit of asking pointblank
questions" thought her cousin; probably
inherits it from the sea-
.'Er-yes,'' he replied; 81 have GER
talnly dined at the Mansion house."
That Tune she rose decidedly and held
out her hand. - -
.'You are almost epigrammatic,'' she
said somewhat coldly. "Good night, Mr..
Curtis
He saw there was no keeping her: but
that little touch Of temper completed the
conquest. -. =. :. Z
He took her hand, and detained it only
the fraction Of second longer than was
polite. ,.~ =. s. +. ~ -, -
:Good night, Miss Curtis,' he said.
The unwonted sincerity in his voice made
her look up At him in establishment. 4
Believe me, your cousin is very anx-
ions to o., know sn you better mean. to
Her annoyance vanished like magic. zstz
Goodnight, again. she said IN her
EsWeets c0ntralto. on must, really meet
my mother tomorrow; she will be SO IN
lterested. @.s.
His lordship found Mrs. Curtis q re-
lined aRreeahle lady OF (lplica 4 r. Aanfpar-