The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-09-30

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Her next partner was tbs cynical
bachelor. and he looked at her with 1
curiosity slightly grim.
"Too bad about Danvers, isn't it p
he inquired. innocently.
what is it? have not heard"
~"Oh, indeed! Why, people are just
finding out that a message came. over
the wire for him early this evening,
saying that there had been an awful
slump in Wall street, and his father
has gone clean to the wall. It seems
hard on fellow who has been brought
up in the expectation of millions"
Il am sorry to hear it,. she said.
slowly, and then to his surprise she &C.
tually smiled. Il thank you for tell
ing me-
The cynical bachelor did some grim
musing. "The same old story, I am
sorry It was the gliding that made
poor Billy glittering catch, and now
that it has been rubbed off, she thanks
me for telling her-in time. I didn't
exactly think it of her."
1t was early to be leaving, but DAN
vers had no heart for gaiety tonight
He was going home to break the news
as gently as he might, granting they
had not heard already, and he would
take the first morning train to New
York to see what he could do for the
poor old governor. Perhaps together
they might put up fair fight for life.
1t struck him that the support of his
strong young shoulders would mean
more to his father now than it ever
Lad before, and he squared them in
voluntarily.
Of course, he would go to work at
something right away, either with his
father or for some one else. He did
not mind the work, but there was a
more sordidly pinching side to it..
Doubtless things would have to be
sold. How he would miss his automo-
biles, for instance. He loved the big,
handsome things like babies. There
were his hunters, too, who knew his
very footsteps.
There was something else, but he
would not think Of it. 1t had formed
his chief reason for getting away from
the vision of lights and flowers and
floating gowns, and for having his ma
chine brought around to the end of the
hotel farthest from the ballroom, that
no one might hear his departure. AL
ready he was ready to start. The
heavy "ker-chug! ker-chug!" spoke OF
tremendous power held in leash and
ready for touch to loose it. 1t
drowned out the distant Intoxicating
strains of waltz, and he was glad of
it. Neither could he hear the soft
swish of skirts until Miss Tiverton
stood beside him.
"Oh, Mr.. Danvers, I have just de-
cided. You need not wait until Mon
day, you know"
For a moment Danvers thought the
world was standing on it's venerable
head. Then thought came that hurt,
and he pushed the gate of paradise
shut.
Don't say that" he begged. 1T is
only from pity, because am down, and
that is not what want"
Miss Tiverton laughed, half cried,
and laughed again. Her cheeks
famed, but she went on, valiantly,
ooh, no, you do not understand. They
threw you at my head so because you
were rich. and it turned me. That
great, ridiculous dollar-mark rose up
every time I saw you, and I felt that
there must be huge for sale written
across me for everybody to read. Oh,
stupid, must I brazenly come out and
tell you that I'd rather take you poor
than anybody else rolling in-Billy!
Billy! Somebody will see you!"
Two hours later the automobile still
stood there alone. Its explosive voice
was mute, but from far down the river
came the "kee-chuck! kee-chuck!" of
a naphtha launch, carrying Mr.. Stan
ton Selby, artist, back to camp and a
suddenly recalled engagement in New
York city.-Reprinted by Permission
of Woman's Home Companion.