The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-02-26

writing a learned thesis. With flushed
cheeks and hair charmingly disheveled,
she eagerly studied the pieces of paper
with which the table was strewn. Some
contained mining terms and statistics,
while others were finely written with
phrases and even sentences cribbed
from various mems letters.
The girl felt repaid, however, when
the next note arrived from the post
mistress. The writer wondered how
She had ever doubted that her CORES
pondent was man. "You must have
laughed heartily over my mistake" she
continued, 'but your knowledge of min
ing and your ownership in a Dawson
claim have convinced me that you are
a broad-shouldered, bronze-faced
miner"
Eleanor showed this letter with great
pride to her brother, and informed him
that she preferred chocolate creams,
while he reminded her that the Yukon
was not yet frozen.
frequent letters passed between the
San Francisco girl and the postmis-
tress of Circle City during the succeed
ing months. At times Eleanors con-
science gave uncomfortable twinges,
for her enjoyment in this practical joke
had gradually been merged in a keen.
interest in this fearless frontier woman.
If it weren't for losing the wager"
she confessed to her brother on their
way to a dinner three months after the
sending Of the first letter, Il would
write to her that l am only a mere
slip OF girl and not the six-footer
she imagines me. The postmistress is
coming out this winter, and"
my gloves are rather shabby" re-
marked the man, but l guess they'll
last until
''Oh, don't count on my giving up at
this eleventh hour interrupted his~sis-
ter, and there is no chance of the post
mistress discovering my identity. for
she is convinced that am a young
Hercules, calls me her big Califor-
man, and fear she is becoming very
fond of me, Harold
Take care" warned her brother, cor
you VIII have ,e breeph of promise suit
At the dinner table Eleanor found
herself seated beside her hostess
nephew, a. sturdy Alaskan miner, who
had recently returned from the Klon-
dixie. In the hurried introduction she
had not understood his name. OF
course he should have devoted him
self to the young woman on his right.
but the light in Eleanor's eyes as she
spoke OF the beauty of his fosterland.
together with her sweetness, held him,
and the girl herself found it difficult
to turn her attention from this face,
In which were welded physical courage
and intellectual ability. Besides she
had discovered that the young man
had spent much time at Circle City,
and thought he might know the post
mistress. Here was her opportunity
to discover more about her delightful
correspondent. Salad had been served
before the girl managed to turn the
conversation to the subject. The man
glanced up quickly. "What do you
know about the postmistress of Circle
City?' he asked, watching her mar
rowly.
"Oh, know great deal about her.
At ]east-I mean-I-I have never met
her, but" Eleanor was becoming
hopelessly entangled in the meshes of
her own deception. II have seen some
letters that she has written to an &C.
quaintance Of mine," she declared, des-
perately, land think she is the most
remarkable woman I have ever heard
OF. She has endured the perils and
hardships of that northern life with the
courage OF man, and her description
of the trip over the Chilcoot pass and
through the White Horse rapids fills
one with admiration for her braveryJp
"You are a bold champion to espousA
the cause of one whom you have never
met" declared the man.
But l know her very we'll, through
the letters she has written toto my
friend. Her moral courage is equal to
her physical. Not an atom of bitter
ness or discomfort has entered into her
description of the months she has spent
on her mining claim, and yet I can
read between the lines that it was a
desolate life. hope some day 1 shall
meet this woman, and yet am almost
afraid to, because-I can't explain
but"
You may we'll pity any one obliged
to live on an Alaskan claim" said the
man. 1T is an isolated life, and the
only glimpse one has of the outside
world is through letters. These are
read and reread until they are worn
in shreds.'' ~
Eieauors practical joke assumed q
d1neren' appearance. She had crept
into this woman's life in the dress Of
masquers der. How would the post
mistress feel when she discovered she
had been dured? To be sure. the IN