The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-05-20

and told the maid to put more coal on
the fire. She decided to postpone her
preparations of her illness until after
her, visitor had gone. She would only
have time now to prepare herself for
the scene she must go through with
him. Il .'..< - =.
After she had some tea she went to
her room. The frock she had chosen
to wear was lying on the bed. 1t was
a sole blue silk, and was very simply
made. Quickly she put it back into
the wardrobe and took down one that
was just sufficiently old-fashioned to
be dowdy.
molly said looked 20 in blue and
IS in black" she whispered, as she laid
1t on the bed \
Then she unfastened her ha.r. She
remembered some one once saying,
ITO part the hair in the center either
makes a woman look much older or
much younger than she actually is. l
think. Elizabeth, that it makes you
look much older" Taking up the
comb, she carefully made parting
down the center of her head and twist
ed her hair into tight knob at the
back.
The reflection that the mirror sent
back to her made her shudder.
Then she put on the dowdy black
frock. Ugh! she did look plain and old
and commonplace. No man could
make love to woman who looked like
that. And Of all men, not David Moore,
for she knew so we'll that he liked a
woman to- be good to look at
Having finished her strange toilette,
she went down to her sitting room and
waited. Fifteen minutes later her Wis
itor came
Elizabeth saw him start and the sur
prised look in his eyes as she held out
her hand to him and asked coolly how
he had enjoyed his trip.
Are you i'll, Elizabeth" he said,
quickly, without answering her, and
looking anxiously at the face that had
changed almost beyond recognition
since he last saw it.
mo, no! Why should be ill?"
"You look so white and
"Old,' she finished. well, I am
six months older you must remember
since you went away, and I am not the
type of woman who wears WE'LL"
lis anything the matter? Are you
in trouble?"
What should there be to trouble
me? never do anything but have
good time. l love excitement, and
all that sort of thing"
The man looked as if he was not
sure he had heard Alright.
NO." Elizabeth continued. II an
not really different, but you have beer
accustomed to fresh young faces late
ly, and SO poor mine seems old anG
withered in comparison. But please
don't waste the :ime in discussing my
appearance. Tell me how you enjoyed
your VISIT
Fairly; but was so anxious to gel
back to London to see you again thai
did not think much about it. Yot
know why wished to be here by thu
15th, Elizabeth o. r. 4
She looked as though she was try
ing to remember.
Darling" he went on, coming close
to her, you have not forgotten thai
you said you would listen to me wher
| returned. You know, without any
words, that you are the dearest WON
an in the world to me, and that wist
you for my wife,"
"Your wife," she echoed, with Z
sneering laugh. Thank you, no.
must decline the honor
"Elizabeth!" and his face wen
white as he held her hands tightly
what do you mean?"
Just that" she said. 81 decline tn,
honor"
'Then," and he dropped her hand:
and turned away, II had better go.
was conceited fool. Forgive me. M,
love for you has carried me too far"
Even in the half-lit room, Eliza
beth's face looked strangely white a!
she put her hand to her side ant
leaned back in the cushions.
But she laughed again.
"Ah, it does not matter. You viii
forget it as readily as I will. An,
perhaps, after all, it was my own fault
But you must always allow for WON
an changing her affections. 1t is
woman's way, you know"
mo, did not know" coldly.
"Why not? She may vary he
! frocks-why not her affections?'
For heavens sake, don't talk lik'
that. You might be a heartless flirt b!
your Tone"
Il hardly think I am that, for you,
sex does not interest me sufficiently
But am woman Of the world, an,
not silly, love-sick girl
II never imagined you to be silly
love-sick girl, any more than
thought you as woman of the world
as you put it. Perhaps it will anus
you to hear that I was foolish enough
to think you were-well, altogethe
different
Eyes, it is rather absurd she an
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