The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-01-23
DORIS CONQUEST.

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- OCULAR? No, aunty, that is
IL not the word. Ridiculous, call
-; it.; perfectly ridiculous! Why
should every mamma with marriage
able son choose to snub meY'
Doris HOLSTER was a widow, and
with her aunt and trim maid servant
had lived in the vine-covered cottage
about year.
The male portion of the populace
unanimously pronounced her charm
ing, but the ladies could see nothing to
admire. In their opinion the rose-col-
cred cheeks were rouged, and as for
the hair, 1t surely had been bleached,
which was utterly false, for Doris was
nothing if not natural.
A carriage rumbled past and Doris
Remarked: ''There, aunty, is a man
whom l may say thoroughly respect,
DR.. Thornton. He came here an or
phan boy from Canada, believe. He
Is what 1 call a self-made man, there
fore I respect him.
IF Isabel Lee, that fashion plate
he so admires, should discover it, I
fear he would be Tilted. l have heard
her say she would never marry a man
who had low relatives. BY low, I pre-
sumo she meant poor. I cannot mag
inc how we happen to have invitations
for his lawn party tonight. I am
convinced he utterly detests me. There
is one man, at least, who is not slave
to my charms" and Doris laughed a
merry, blithesome laugh that did one
good to hear.
AS Doris had said DR.. Thornton was
q man who claimed respect from all.
! True, also admiration for her was not
one of his failings.
He had assured himself, many times,
that GOODNESS and composure were ex-
cellent qualities in a nurse, but in a
wife-well. that was different, and Isa-
bel Lee, the aristocratic beauty who
was besieging his heart and fortune,
was: all impulse, animation and good
ness-at least so thought the doctor,
as he stood inspecting the grounds
before the guests arrived.
The velvety lawn, the spreading trees
just touched with gold and crimson,
the many-colored lights, fountains and
flowers, made the place modern
fairyland.
The evening was a success. Sweet
music came floating over the tiny lake,
in the center Of which the orchestra
was stationed.
Suddenly a servant hurried across
the lawn and addressed the doctor in a
low tone. Hastily excusing himself,
DR.. Thornton started toward the house,
but had not proceeded three steps
when a grotcsQue old couple appeared
before him.
The doctor was encircled by two
pairs of feeble arms, while a quaver-
ing, shrill voice attracted the attention
Of every nearby guest.
''Hermie! Hermie! Don't you know
your Uncle Hi and Aunt Tildie? I'm
that upset! We had the wust time
gettin' here
''Tildie's right" interrupted Uncle
Hi. 'We got in one O. them COLL darn
trolley cars up on stills, and the fust
thing we knew we landed in a tunnel
underground; then they called out:
Change cars for everywhere! so me
and Tildie buttoned on to one of them
fellers with brass buttons, and"
But by this time DR.. Thornton had
regained his breath, and managed to
gasp: Eyes, yes, uncle, you must be
completely exhausted
DR.. ThOrntOn's face was crimson. for
he beheld the scornful eyes of Isabel
Lee and pictured the general aston
ishment.
"What be ye heving, Hermie, a par
ty?" and the old lady in the faded
black bonnet and shawl glanced
around. Then the lovely gowns and
cold, critical faces Of the crowd ar
rested her attention, and she shrunk
nearer to Herman and glanced at her
shabby clothes.
Suddenly the cruel thought that
Herman was ashamed Of them flashed
upon her, and the faded eyes filed
with tears.
- DR.. Thornton's first impulse had been
to hurry them into the house, but as
i the quivering lips Of the poor old lady
caught his eyes his stately figure stiff
= ened.
/, Clasping hand Of each, he pressed
his lips to his aunt's wrinkled cheek,
4 then in a naughty, clear voice an
l nounced: MY friends, it affords me
Il deepest pleasure to introduce to you
my aunt and uncle, Mr.. and Mrs. Bis
a by. Nothing could give me greater
pleasure than to have this couple. the
dearest friends of my. boyhood, under
ri my own roof" ~~: .Es. : s.. i Viii 55sl