The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-14
INTERFERENCE.

S>PSSu AACS AAN L HAUL lAC CuCCA " Say
that I had never asked her. When
didn't say it at first I couldn't say it
afterward. How she was got into be-
lieving that l had made a proposal Pm
sure 1 can't imagine. She's u reticent
creature, and l hate shy woman. We
have exchanged no condolences, yet here
we are, booked
Il smoked a few moments in silence,
and then said, abruptly, Why don't YOU
break it OFF,
impossible he said; my honor is
pledged. And besides,' he added, sheep
ishly, she's dreadfully in love with me.
with Are bery you sure you are not in love
81 like her a good deal. Id be in
love with her if l hadn't got to marry
her. She's too much of person for me
to take about with me always
She's as young as YOU
But she's twice as sensible, and So
awfully rich. People are always talking
to me of her gold Mines
said ut last, Would you really like t"
have this matter ended-say, it the
breaking off were to come from the
lady?'
''It is useless to put such case
She wouldn't do it,
'Humph,' l said. Will You allow me
to try if l can manage it?'
The wedding cake is bought, the
trousseau is on view. the wedding guests
are invited and she has given me ring
made of a nugget he said morosely.
THE next day l transferred my partic-
ular attention from Jack to the lady who
was known among her friends as Mime
sofa I had to approach her with great
cunning, for she was, as he said, a shy,
reticent creature; clear shining eyes I'M
der a broad brow. which seemed capable
of saying a great deal move than her
tongue, and yet maintained also GER
tain reserve; n child Of Drairies, mines,
rocky mountains; while Jack, you know,
is product Of Bond street and the ante
room to the House of Lords. I began
to understand how it might be that,
her too much of person to take about
with him.
Il had ascertaincd Jacks state Of feel
ing; my efforts were now directed to-
ward discovering hers, which was not
half so easy. I began by praising Jack,
and she remained unmoved. For two or
three days I devoted myself to her as
gan to thaw and her silence to melt
away: At last l progressed so far as
to tell her what an awfully lucky fell
low | believed my friend to be.
"'Of course know he thinks it him
self she said bluntly, but it does puz-
zle ME to understand how he could fall
IN love with me so terribly i'll twenty-four
hours
"'Half the time would be enough I
said CALAMITY; but she only gave me u
cool, disappearing look from under her
level eyebrows.
"'And you?' ventured to say, if 1
may dare to ask-how long?
They hurried me too much. They
ought not to have told him l consented
But if they had given you time,
what then?'
"'I shouldn't have accepted him.
You are not happy in the engage
ment? Why not break it Off
''Her eyes flashed. An altogether
different Minnesota sat before mo- For
Il moment the light Of liberty was in her
eyes. 1t was but the lightning from
heaven, there and gone.
81 couldn't hurt him. she said. eHc
loves me too much. And 1 couldn't ruin
him, for he wants the mines. I don't
want anything, and it doesn't matter
what becomes of me-
1.-The quiet despair in her manner, ris-
ing. to a touch of desperation, surprised
and alarmed me.
Isl can imagine Jack very ardent
lONfis ouAu NdACluiS.
"rhey say he feels it too much to
put it into words, and I suppose he does.
Some who put it into words don't feel it
much
''Then she suddenly colored all over her
face, as if conscious Of having made
some involuntary admission.
IF you will allow me to advise l
would say. think of your own happiness
ard let other matters take their course.
~ can't. It's not my way; 1 never
could treat another person badly
"She stood up and moved away with
an air of determi nation that reminded me
that she was the daughter Of an indie
pendent race.
I know what you've been doing said
Jack. with the air of martyr. I told
YOU from the beginning that she would
not give it up
",I suppose it must go on them said,
but it anyone deserves a piece of. we'd
ding cake it is your humble servant
There was nothing to be done now
put to watch the play played out.
-, The wedding was to take place from
the, house where we We're staying, for
Minnesota had no nearer relative.
The days slid past, and as the fateful
hour drew near the young pair snAin-
tanned their attitude of aloofness toward
each other. I watched Ter narrowly,
and believed I observed that her face had
grown much paler than it used to be.
and that her eyes looked dark and
strained, as if with lying awake at night
and bordering difficult problems. One
m3?orni9g-it was the. day before the wed.
d1ng-l was sitting on garden seat read
ing q review Of my new book when she
came across the lawn and sat quietly
down at the other end of the bench.
AT that moment a servant came
across the grass with the white square
Of letter distinct Oh u little silver tray
WHICH glistened i'll the SUM- Even from
distance the sight of that letter af.
fected Minnesota strangely. She rose
up. and stood expectant, her: face red as
a rose one moment and white as a moon.
cloud the next. Her eyes were very wide
open as she. took her letter mechanically
and opened it. She could only have
read n few lines when she dropped on
the seat and let the paper fall in he,
lap. She raised her eyes and met mine
fixed on her inquiringly. l felt that
there was crisis. In her eyes l saw
an appeal.
"'Well?' L said.
1T has al been such bad mistake,
she said. This is from Kenneth
Indeed! May I know who is Ken
nethg What does he say?'
He says, What can you think OF
my long silence? I have had a strange
adventure, but have got hack nv iii
erty at last, and shall leaye for homo h,