The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-09-26
REFORM FOR TWO.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY

dill dHAhc, Sd1u Iuc Iduy.
The burglar wheeled around and con-
fronted the gaze of the unfrightened
eyes. Then his hand went to his hip
pocket.
care you coward as we'll as thief %
she asked scornfully. He dropped his
hand to his side and stood undecided.
"Put them back!" She pointed an I'M
perious finger at the dressing table.
Out of capacious pocket the burglar
drew rope of pearls and threw it down
amid the confusion of brushes and
combs and powder putfs and laces and
ribbons.
AS he did 80 he caught sight of card
on the top of the jewel case. "To my
bride o-be'' was written on it above the
name of a we'll known man of millions
an old man.
els that all?" asked the lady. She sat
up on the couch. Her pale blue gown
fell about her in straight folds, the red
gold braids of her hair touched the floor.
A photograph slid from her lap and lay
face upward on the rug photograph
worn WITH mucn nanQiIng.
The burglar reached inside his coat
and fished out a strip of blue ribbon on
which glittcred five diamond butterflies.
The lady drew a long breath. ooh,
thosc!" she said, and snatched them from
him eagerly.
"Is there nothing else?" she again de-
mandcd.
'That's ALL" said the burglar.
The lady went over to the dressing
table and looked through the contents of
the white velvet case.
'That's all" repeated the burglar
But the lady continued her search.
Presently she turned around and faced
him.
"Where is the ring?" she questioned
sharply.
The burglar was embarrassed. ooh,
that" he said nervously, chat cheap lit
tie thing?'
'It's worth more to me than all the
rcst!" she cried, and the pearls dropped
at her feet unuheeded as she crossed the
room and came to where he stood on the
hearth rug.
"Give it to mel"
He opened his hand and it lay in the
palma little thin gold ring set with a
half-dozen cheap blue stones.
She took it from him and slipped it on
her finger, where it fitted tightly.
motioned him to another. He seated
himself on the extreme edge and looked
at her uncomfortably.
'Why did you keep that ring when
there were others more valuable?"
II wanted to give it away" he blurted
out. Il didn't think you would hunt for
tit was so cheap!"
''To girl?" she asked softly.
He nodded, and then they both looked
into the fire.
"You love her?'' said the lady at last.
His face blazed. "Yes," he answered
stoutly.
"Does she know that you are thief %
Her clear eyes were searching.
He moved restlessly and his face hard
ened.
eyes," he said again.
"And yet she loves your"
Another nod, as frown settled darkly
over his visage.
Into her eyes there came look of con-
tempt.
'She must be strange woman" she
said coldly.
'To love thief?'' There was danger
in the controlled voice and danger in his
sombre eyes. ''And yet men have loved
you!" Her eyes looked straight into his,
surprised, wrathful.
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
He laughed recklessly.
What do you give for those?" His
arm swept out toward the jewel covered
table. "When I steal your pearls and
diamonds L get something for nothing
When you take them from that old man
what do you give him in return?"
"How dare you! How dare you!" she
cried. She sprang to her feet and paced
Her foot touched the photograph and
she picked it up.
Il can't be poor!" She spoke to the
burglar, but ner eyes appealed to the
face in the picture face of a young
man.
Neither can IT, said the burglar; eve
are two of kind.'
The lady drew herself up with dignity.
"You forget yourself"
The burglar laughed insolently, II for.
got nothing"
"But would rather die than be DOOR,"
again she appealed to the picture.
Then she tossed it on the couch and
went swiftly to the dressing table. She
threw the rope of pearls over her head
and the long strands fell down over her
blue gown. Then she pinned the butter
flies in her hair coronet fashion and
turned to the burglar.
"She," she cried, 'they make me a
queen!"
The burglars breath was quickened at
her wonderful fairness. "You don't need
them," he said hoarsely, and the words
seemed forced from him. Then he point
ed TO- the picture on the couch. HE. don't
think you do, does he?"
Her face was white and her eyes