The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-11-28

had worns,itself out. The; rain blew in
her face,Sand the vino; ybut she did not
heed. Someone approached, and she sat
down in the door behind the necktie case
A cman, bent-shouldered, and hesitating
stopped at the window and he also
looked in; some one in the room over.
head was singing "My Old Cabin Home.
He made queer noise in his throat and
moved on: and the woman behind the
neck:tie case lifted her head and fol-
lowed.
= tits the funniest thing" Andrew said
to Lottie next morning. "There don't
seem to- be ything to get up fort"
weeks more" she answered. They cele-
brated that day by going to vaudeville.
"Wc're together, isn't that enough ~
Lottie asked herself, somewhat sharply,
when she caught a sigh on her lips, dur
ing the Finished Acrobat's performance.
Then her mind wandered, and she told
Andrew the condolences skirts were
about the shade of the tarlatan she had
SO long on her side. They were silent for
q space; when Lottie whispered that
sometimes she thought if they had gone
out more Tuesday and Friday evenings,
perhaps she would have done better. II
didn't always select the very: - latest
things in ruches, did l, Andy" And An
drew told her, mo such thing" and
moved nearer.
"No. IL" was "The Bell Boys Return"
in which an emancipated bell boy chose
to go back to the slavery of the tinkle,
and serve for a poor wage, rather than
accept citizens clothes and dwarfing
life of ease. Andrew lived it all keenly,
along with the boy, and as the curtain
went down there was born in his eyes
something akin to resolve, indomitable.
He stalked home in a way most unusual,
and Lottie battered at his side, striving
to meet his mood.
Next day he went out without her, and
Lottie had never been so lonely. At
night she got out her basket and asked
Andrew to read. Twas an old story he
had read many times before: Glow the
Stars Sent Thanksgiving" but she cried
over it, and Andrew could not comfort
her.
By-and-by she dried her tears and sug-
gested that they would have an awful
funny Thanksgiving this -"'Twill
be odd not to keep open late the night
before, so the larry street customers can
get new wells and things. We had to
reckon up, after that, you know, and by
the time we got home we were so tired
we just had to Sleep"
Andrew replied by asking her if she
were not glad to have a chance to rest,
and she told him, eyes, if you are"
After that they stood at the window and
said to each other it was just shutting
up time. Then he drew down the shade
and they turned to the small, unpeopled
room.
Next day she was alone again, but
then Andrew came home at night in
great spirits, and she remarked admir-
ingly that his cheeks were as red as they
used to be after sale. He kissed her
gayly and sat all the evening, with his
feet high, smoking. Later they went out
and had some oysters-"Brain-w workers
food" Andrew said, and he was so bright
and happy that Lottie quite forgot
everything else.
Next day was Thanksgiving; at, noon
Andrew came in to take her to dinner.
Once outside, he put her arm in his, and
made her promise she would shut her
eyes and not once peep until he said,
"Now!" ''Play fair?" he asked. And
she replied, "Honest Injun," and so they
walked on, Lottie never once opening her
eyes, and the bells ringing everywhere.
Occasionally he patted her little black
mitten and laughed happily. She was
sure they made a half-dozen turns and
walked several miles when he told her to
"step up" Then he unlocked door and
lead her through. An odor- something
almost stopped her heart-almost
brought tears, and she felt for Andrews
hand. It was there waiting hers.
Now" he said, and she Enclosed her
eyes. Before her was her dear old hus-
band, and all round were the things,
their things, the old store, and the smell
of chalk and cambria.
''Ours AGAIN." she guessed aloud.
"Every pin," he answered. "She gave
up the keys at IL o'clock. Wen keep
it this time, dear; money isn't every
thing" he added wistfully, "and if we
can keep square and have each other, I
guess that's about all life has for u.s.. -
Her arms were round his neck by this
time, she kept repeating, eyes Andy,
that's enough
"e1o W nave Jul thanksgiving uln"
ner right here" he told her as soon as his
mouth was free; then he produced from
under the counter a basket and together
they unpacked the things; turkey and
all.
"Isn't it nice!" was about all Lottie
said, but that she repeated very often.
"The things are coda little" she &C.
knowledged, but "the best dinner we ever
ate," they shouted in chorus above the
roar of the Elevated.-Boston Transcript.