The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-10-30

On might ~ sufl q sye 81
much tho ypulsesf IS thu an q h1
wrote. ~ sconclus ion, Il fear that "
fail to realize how thoroughly he 81
spoiled doubt you win ind this
out very 1oon. The moment you do.
kindly return him to Mr.. Barclay, to be
left until called for =
Miss Laura 0arman briefly acknowl-
edged Brother Jim's letters, promising
to faithfully abide by all its conditions
and thanking Jim for acceding to her
request. ]: : 81. sS 81 $50 -
So Brother Tom was ensconcedaa II
the Garmans household, and, as his
many letters set forth, was having the
time Of his life. At least half Of each
epist1e was given up to this theme,
while the other half was devoted to tho
charms Of Miss Laura. 4 Is=z
''She's just the one girl for you,
jimmie wrote in one Of his daily
screeds, for Tom had become quite a
letter writer. It may. have been
brought about by his weakened health
and possibly took the place of some
more ,boyish occupation, but 1t was
true that he had Brother Jim hustling
In the endeavor to keep up with his
busy correspondent You'd make q
stunin couple: Don't think line. fool
in. Laura likes me so we'll that line
pretty sure she would like you too. On
my account, of corse. Cant you come
down for day or two?"
And Brother Jim, greatly amused,
would thank Brother Tom for his kind
wishes for his matrimonial welfare,
and assure him that it would be quite
impossible for him to get away just
at present.
And then one day the letter with the
familiar handwriting was little bulk
Ter than usual. When he opened the
envelope photograph dropped out.
It was q portrait of an unusually
pretty girl. OF course, this must be
Laura Garman. Brother Jim looked
at the portrait long and earnestly.
Brother Tom wasn't so far wrong
when he praised this gentle-faoed girl.
Brother Jim placed the photograph on
the desk where he could use 1t as a con-
firmation Of Brother Toms. praises.
and then picked up the letter. >~ -
1--WE been fishing for bullheads in
the pool" Brother Tom began, "and
cot two-and one cot me. It didn't
hurt mulch and Laura tied it up with
her handkerchief. Ide know about
bullheads horns next time. I am send
ing you Laura's picthure. She don't
know it. I begged it from her yester-
day. I want you to get it framed up
nice and charge it to pa. Then when
she says, What did you do with my
picthoor, Tommy lie say line getin'
1t framed. Can't you come up and see
a fellow. Brother Jim? N. b. it don't
f1ater her,
But Brother Jim seemed in no hurry
to have the framing contract carried
out. The picture fingered on his desk
just where he could catch sight Of it
whenever he chose to look up.
Dear Brother Tom," he wrote
in reply, II am sorry the bullhead
horned you. No doubt IL you were a
bullhead you would have. done the
same. I remember having some ex-
perience with bullheads myself, but
there was no charming young woman's
handkerchief to bind my wounds. By
the way, that portrait you sent to
have framed reflects credit on your
taste. Miss Laura deserves all your
praise. She is a beautiful girl-and I
am sure she is as good~as she is BEAU
tiful."
Two days later Brother Toms re-
ply was received. It was unusually
brief, but to the point.
Brother Jim," he wrote. II showed
your letter to Miss Laura. My, how
she blushed. Say, capt you come up
next week. There's going to be a big
church picnic. Come sure"
Brother Jim scowled darkly. Then
he chuckled. What boy! The idea
of his showing the letter. What must
the girl think of the liberty he took
Still, there wasn't anything really
rude about it. But he must be more
careful when he wrote hereafter.
Then he sent Tom short note, in
which he said itWOuld be impossible
for him to attend the church picnic.
A few days later Brother Tom wrote
in a somewhat melancholy tone. He
wasn't feeling quite so we'll, he guessed
he missed his mother-and his father,
too, and maybe he was homesick He
wanted to see Brother Jim so much.
But If Brother Jim couldn't come,
would he send his : photograph. 1t
would be some comfort, anyway.
Brother Jim was considerably
alarmed over this epistle. This pre-
cious young brother mustn't have a
relapse. That would never do. So he
hastily wrote an encouraging note to
Brother Tom, in which Brother Tom
was advised to cheer up and be man
and with the note he forwarded his
photograph. -.
The answer came back promptly, and
1t was again to the point.
II shode your picthoor to Miss Laura