The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-06-10

overheard the remarks, and there was
q little smile Of appre ciation on his
clear-cut lips. Rss ..t.s 81 .s..5. ~ MI
'.Phe carpenters made It dissgreeable
for you, did they?" There was quiet
reserve in his manner that convinced
me immediately that he was gentle
man. Otherwise should not have en-
couraged him to continue, on the girls
account, though was burning with an
old mans curiosity to know what kind
Of a sign it was to be.
looked at the girl, and thanked
heaven that he was a gentleman, for
I saw in her face the dawn of 4
healthy interest in the proposed adver-
tisement. did not at the time imagine
for moment that the interest ex-
tended to the painter, and still do not
think SO, though realize only too well
that am old and that love moves with
unrelenting swiftness in these days. At
least she was well-bred miss and
not flirtatiously inclined.
Eyes, the carpenters were a noisy
lot," I admitted, after mature rcflec-
ton. Then ! launched out to satisfy
my-perhaps l should say our-crav-
ing for knowledge. what is the sign
to be?" queried, endeavoring to sup
press any suspicion of rudeness in my
tone. The question had the double ef-
feet of securing the somewhat unin-
teresting information, and of letting
the painter forever into our good
graces. You see have adopted the
plural now without excuse, and the
girls wide-eyed interest and seeming
dependence on my good judgment was
beginning to justify it.
"A cigar sign" he announced pleas
antly, pausing in his preparations and
glancing upward, as if to see how the
intelligence was received. fatter my
self that I have now reached an age
when l can assume a stoical cast of
cOuntenance under stress of deep and
lasting disappointment. It was not so
with the girl, however. Her face not
only gave evidence of displeasure, but
she voiced the feeling in words. The
Words~Were:
HOW perfectly hOrrld!"
The painter laughed immoderately.
was certain now that he was no boor,
for it takes brave and courageous
man to stand a woman's scorn of his
work. He was not without reason for
his courage, though, and I must not
over-rate his good nature.
But this is not going to be a horrid
sign," he said. cts going to be hand
some and attractive" Here's young
American assurance. l thought.
Il am commissioned by the manu-
features of the Dorothy cigar" he
continued, Ito illumine this sign with
the head of charming woman. She
must be beautiful and alluring in the
extreme. If l succeed my future is
assured, and my fortune ALSO"
|And do you feel certain that you
will be able to paint such face?"
asked she.
He looked at her intently for a mo-
ment. II was somewhat doubtful of
it when took the contract" he said,
"but am beginning to feel that possibly
may be able to accomplish something
that will help to sell the Dorothy
cigar"
That ended our first conversation.
OF course we could not see the work he
was doing, as the sign-board was i'm
mediately below us and against the
building. l was, moreover, unable to
go down stairs that evening, being con-
fined to my room by painful attack
of rheumatism, although was haunted
by a strange suspicion, and was more
than anxious to have a glance at the
rough outline on the sign-board Nor
was l able to move about much the
following day.
The painter arrived bright and early,
and l was awakened by combination
OF harmonious melody, which emanated
from a masculine whistle below and
girls voice from the next room. The
three of us exchanged salutations and
discussed weather conditions without
variance. Presently l found intent
watching from the window more pain
full than pleasant, and sank back from
sight into my rocker. Then it was
became an unwilling, and at first I'M
willing eavesdropper. The first re-
mark that reached my ear was the fol-
lowing from the girl:
SIS this beautiful woman you are
painting to be blonde or a-bru-
nette?' She hesitated slightly on the
last, word. :
(Which do you consider adyisable?"
The slap of his brush had ceased, and
| knew he was losing valuable time.
I could also guess that his eyes were
elsewhere than on his work.
why q blonde, of course. Every
body thinks blondes are more attract
i've than brunettes." The girl spoke
in a manner that brought to my mind
a number of impressions, chief among
them being that she did not mean
what she said. Realizing that she was
probably conscious, or should be, of her
own dark beauty, could not bring
myself to censure her.
"A blonde it will be, then," was his