The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-09-02
"a MIST I.Il. D
THE D CIJMENT..
By MILFORD ". FosHAY,

BY MILFORD y. FosHAx. y !:
please remain seated for mo-
ment. l wish to say something to
you" j., ). ~. = J, It'll. >,E i y L. Ext
.s% Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbert were about
Z to rise from the table, when their
son, Harvey, made this request.
They gave him attention, and he
continued: II am going.to be mar
ried, and l wish to know whether
to bring my wife here, or whether
l shall fit up the Harris house and
live there"
A slightly panied expression
crossed the mothers face and min
gled with the surprise caused by
this piece of news. She at once
looked to see what effect the an
nOuncement made on her husband;
but no indication was given in his
calm countenance, and she
dropped her eyes while her mind
ran swiftly back over the past.
For rs years she had loved and at
tended to the needs of her only
son, and now saw him grown up
into a fine-looking, energetic man,
but with self-will that too often
, obscured his sense of justice and
taxed his father to the utmost to
keep that harmony between them
which the parent so much desired,
not only because of the love the
quiet, shrewd old gentleman bore
to his heir, but also because he
wished soon to be relieved of the
care of the large farm. With the
statement just made and question
asked, a new problem was intro
duced, and the troubled look on
the mothers face did not mean
that she resented the entrance of
another into the affections of her
child, but the thought forced itself
on her that the wife who could be a
comfort to her might not be happy
with her son.
''This, of course, quite unex-
pected to me-" Mr.. Gilbert replied,
after slight delay, "since you
have in no way intimated that yon
intended to take such step.'
Harvey flushed and answered:
"You know l seldom speak of my
plans. If it is not going to be
agreeable for her to come here, I
can fit up the other place; only l
suppose this house is large
enough, with it's six or seven unoc-
cupied rooms, and the expense Of
another establishment could be
avoided"
The matter of small expense
had been subject of difference
of opinion between father and
son for several years. They usu-
ally agreed on any investment in
;volving large sums, but when it
came to minor OUTLAWS Harvey
showed a spirit of parsimonious-
ness that was trying to the freer-
minded, albeit carefully calculat-
ing parent, and this was accentu-
ated by the fact that liberal in
come afforded no pretext for it.
II suppose we are already ac-
quainted with her who is to be the
future Mrs. Gilbert, Jr.?" his
mother now asked, gently.
"Why, yes, think So" Harvey
responded, with trace of humor
which he frequently showed, espe-
cially when the advantage of the
situation was with him. II think
/ have heard you speak of her once
or twice, as if you knew her. Her
name at present is Nellie McIn-
tire"
The darling girl" his mother
exclaimed. II don't think We'll
need two establishments, do you,
il father?"
"Probably not" Mr.. Gilbert re.
piled cautiously, but we'll pleased.
"You have been pretty sly about
it, Harvey, and 1 suppose one rea-
son was that you knew you could
not bring anyon" here who would
please us better"
=. And so, 1.-The dearest, sweetest,
most sensible girl in town and the
one above all others l wish Har-
:vey would fall in love WITH" as
: Mrs. Gilbert had frequently said
to her husband in, the last two