The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-10-09

then glanced anxiously down the table
in Jimmie's direction. She then gave.
somewhat recipitately, the signal for
rising. 4: $52
& AS Mrs. Vanderveer passed down the
room she paused long enough to MIR
muir to Jimmie: make an excuse to
come to the drawing room in ten min
utes. wish to see you particularly
When the ladies had gone George
Nesbitt asked, as he lit cigarette by
the candle flame: "Well, Garretson.
what do you think of Mrs. LIE Clair?"
Il don't know which is she. I was
just going to ask YOU 2 ..s: !. :ss ::
ITO ask me-what do you mean !?
You've been sitting beside her all the
evening"" !. <ss.s. :: .. ,-s5. =
.'Nesbitt- can't mean Jim
mic felt himself turning green.
certainly I do. A pretty young
woman, don't you think? OF course,
it was an ordeal, but everybody is very
considerate. Mrs. Vanderveer's q
trump"
'.Nesbitt, for Heavens sake don't
say another word! You don't know
what I've done-what I've said to
her!" $500: .:..>>-
"Why, you seemed to be chatting
most amicably when looked around. :"
Jimmie sat motionless for few min
utes*while he went over in his mind
the story he had told the dark lady.
His cheeks~burned as he remembered
it. How dense he had been. Mrs.
Vanderveer had, Of course, returned
to her original idea regarding whom
he was to take out, and he had never
considered even the possibility Of his
companion being Mrs. LIE Clair.
He sprang up and fed to the draw
ing room. He looked in vain among
the ladies for Mrs. Vanderveer. She
was not there, but near the piano. at
which the second Miss Nesbitt was
playing softly, stood the dark lady
with the diamond in her hair. She
smiled brightly at Jimmie.
The young man walked straight up
to her. Before he could speak she
said: 'The ending is at hand-aren't
you wild to know what it is?'
II know my own ending" he re-
piled; that is, my finish is apparent.
1 am overwhelmed with shame at hav-
ing spoken as did. My only excuse
is did not know
make no apologies" she said, still
smiling, "for did not listen all
through?'
"You did, indeed-you might. have
stopped me at once" said Jimmie,
feeling real resentment.
Therefore I am as bad as your"
she asked, gaily. We'll, l admit it,
for I profess openly to hate gossip,
while you, perhaps, do not. In that
case l am worse. Ny excuse Is that
the story was interesting
Jimmie could not make her out. II
cannot believe you found it other than
revolving. 1t is most delicate Of you
to spare me-"
"But the ending-you do not know it
YETI" -'a.;.@>
mo; may it be for the best happi-
ness of SO noble and beautiful a sVom-
an-an ending only of the chaptfr of
her. sorrows, the beginning Of the
book of Joys" =
'That was very well said. Yols4re
quite forgiven for being a colporteur
de medisances. You will think me
horribly straight-laced. All, here is
Mrs. Vanderveer"
The hostess drew Jimmie aside, 81
shall want your help" she said; "a
strange thing has happened. Mrs. Ii!
Glars husband is here; he arrived
from San Francisco tonight. He had
read the story in the Day He went
to the Nesbitts, found where she was,
and came straight to my house. He
is in the little red room now, and so is
she-in his arms. 1t is all very beau
tiful, of course, but somewhat upset.
ting, and I find it in my heart to wish
that it had occurred somewhere else
Good heavens, Mrs. Vanderveer,
what are you saying! Mrs. LIE Clair
in the red room in one of her hus-
bands arms-I mean in the arms of
one Of her husbands-why, look over
there!"
"Where?"
"There by the piano, there is Mrs.
LIE Clair"
'That? Why that is Mrs. Trench,
my cousin, the widow from Bermuda;
you took her in, surely you know"
'But which was Mrs. LIE Clair?"
"She sat on your left: the little
blonde woman. Jimmie, please pay
attention; I want you to- There
was something about Mrs. LIE Clair's
carriage, and wouldn't he meet Mr.. LIE
Clair, and see them safely out of the
house; but Jimmie excused himself
abruptly and dashed across the room
to Mrs. Trench. A great load was lift
ed from his heart. She seemed to him
then the most beautiful women he had
ever beheld.