The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-12-12
TRIXlE DAVENPORT'S WOOlNG
By GEORGE DAY.

INIAtE DAVENfUkl , WUOlNU
By GEORGE DAY.
did you notice how we'll and happy
Mrs. Major looked:"
That question rose to the lips of many
OF the people of the village of Saxton
as they wended their way homeward
from the church after the morning selv-
ice.
"Mrs. MAORI" queried relative from
another part of the country, turning to
his sister-in-law, who had made the re-
mark. DO you mean that lady who has
just passed us in the carriage? Tic cir!
II mean the young woman-who sat in
The pew by the side of that elderly, mill
tary looking gentleman with the gray
hair? Why do you call her that? She
isn't"
eyes, she Isl" interrupted the other.
"She is his wife, and a happier courl,
you couldn't find all over the Eastern
counties, OF anywhere else. That's us
true as the gospel you've heard preached
his very morning. They say it's curious
how they came to be married, and I'll tell
YOU what they say when we're having
dinner"
The good woman's brother was not
the only person who was surprised, in
tercsted and moved by the story of the
marriage Of Beatrice Davenport and Maj.
Hatley, the distinguished officer, now on
the retired list.
Maj. Hatley and Mr.. and Mrs. Da-
venport had been friends together be-
fore the marriage of the Davenports, SO
the ma jor was a welcome visitor to their
house whenever ne CHANGED to be in Eng
land. During the first two years of their
married lite they saw very little of him,
as the young lieutenant was away OH
active service, but he came to see them
Immediately on his return. Little Trixie
was then about year old, and surprised
every one by holding out her baby arms
to the officer after short scrutiny
From that time they were good friends,
and as she grew older her liking for the
officer appeared to increase. So confidcn-
tial did they become that Trixie, at the
age of 8, informed him that she would
marry him when she was old enough,
which sent the young officer into a fit of
laughter.
1rixie looked little hurt, 80 Lieut..
Hatley smoothed his face and said grave
~: VERY well, little woman! I'll marry
you. Make haste and grow up!"
came captain and ma jor, and returned
with his regiment to the old country. He
had not heard much of the Davenports
during his stay in tine East, and he was
unable to trace them at first, but he 1T
length met Mr.. and Mrs. Davenport by
accident on T. Rhine steamer during a
tour on the Continent.
The meeting was pleasant one for
both sides, and when cordial greetings
had been exchanged the major asked:
"And what about my little friend
Trixie? She is getting to be quite u
woman now, and has forgotten me, 1 ex-
pcct:"
'She is studying at German high
school for girls, and she will 90 to a
Partisan school to <fnish," replied her
mother, with a touch of pride. "She is
turned fifteen now, you know, major"
They spent day or two together, Sec
ing some of the sights of the Rhine dis
trict, and then the major returned to
England. A week later he was off to
Egypt, to remain there for four years.
Those four years made a great change
in Trixie. She was 10, and charming
specimen of budding womanhood She
had been presented and was "out," and
her father and mother were anticipating
with that pleasant fear peculiar to sucl,
circumstances that their lovely daughter
would be demanded of them by some
eligible member of the highest society.
Il shall not leave father and you, dear
mammal" declared Trixie, softly. II
shall not marry at all, believe"
"Ah!" exclaimed her father, who had
entered in time to overhear the last re-
mark. "Wait till Mr.. Right comes, ami
then we shall see! l say, what do You
Think" he continued, addressing both
ladies. "I've had a letter from Hatlev.
He is giving up his appointment and is
coming back to take up his residence at
Hat]ey Manor
So Maj. Hatley came home, the Manor
having been set in order for him and
servants engaged. His first visit was to
the Davenports, where he saw his former
small friend and companion in the form
of j beautiful young woman, tall, grace.
full, charming.
"You ought to marry, Dick" said Mr..
o~'~ApoAo VIZ Ooys ""ic uASCuSSluS u
cigar. "That's fine old place of yours,
and it wants mistress to complete it.
l consider that you are not keeping up
the reputation of the Manor, and are de-
priving some woman of a good husband
by remaining single. Why don't you
look about for one?"
Maj Hatley was silent for a while.
When he spoke his voice had just triAc
of sadness in its Tone
II daresay you are right" he said,
"but the difficulty would be to find \
woman who would take me and whom
Hked.''
"Wen, w~ll;n laughed Mr.. Davenport,
"there is a wide field for selection, and
You have time enough to look about!" !
The Davenports and the major went to
London for the winter. but the Daven-
ports returned to the country before the
major went back to the Manor. It was
during this extra sojomn in London that
an incident occurred which had the effect
Of changing the course of two lives. The
major met old Col. Wallis, who had been;
his superior officer at one time in India,
and the latter asked a favor
cts like this, old fellow" said the