The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-11-25

Tiff
On small, stool by his side, IN the
sunlight which streamed pleasantly
through the shattered window, sat .
child whose bright face, surrounded
by cleaning waves Of hair, upturned
to his, was OF singular attractiveness
and beauty.
She spoke to him in the language Of
the song he sang, and Hendricks an
swer, as he looked down with a soften
ing Of the grave lines of his face into
look of love and devotion, was clear
ly what she wanted.
Jumping up she threw her arms
around his neck and gave him an i'm
pulsive hug and kiss, and ran off down
the path to the cottage under the trees,
coming back with kitten, doll and
a variety of playthings, which hence
forth remained in the corner of the
workshop.
From that day on Hendrick and Yo-
larde were inseparable.
To keep her near him while he
worked Hendrick built small adjoin-
ing room where Miss Stevens, the min
listers elderly sister, who gave private
lessons in q few families scattered
within walking distance of the viii
lage, came to teach Yolande. finding
an amazingly apt scholar in the cabi-
net-maker's niece.
At least the villagers supposed she
was his niece, although Hendrick never
said she was, because Yolande called
him Uncle Carl" besides many terms
of endearment in the language Miss
Stevens could not understand.
Yolande grew in vigor of body and
mind, owing to the free open-air life
she led. and to the long tramps and
rides she took, regardless Of weather
conditions; everywhere in the noun
tains, with "Don," her handsome shep-
herd dog; for Hendrick, prospecting
greatly, bought her sure-footed
mountain pony and let her roam to her
hearts content when her tasks were
done and her books closed. Hendrick
and constantly urged Miss Stevens to
give her more studies and to push
her ON.
When, in her seventeenth year, Yo-
lande had learned all that Miss Ste
vens could possibly teach her, and
had picked up an astonishing knowl-
edge of French from professor of
languages who came to the mountains
for rest and recuperation every sum-
mer, she had also acquired much mis-
| cellaneOus knowledge from the minis
ter's library, beside practical and do
mestic training in the management of
their small household.
Yolande, in her joyous and untram-
! meled youth, rode and drove with dash
and recklessness over the dangerous
mountain roads. securing the country
far and wide with perfect fearlessness,
in spite of Carl Hendricks anxious re-
| monstrances.
that she agreed to take with her when
on some particularly long excursion
Ben Cumming, small, bright-eyed
lad, who worshiped her as an idol and
divinity and something not Of this
world.
so timorous?" Yolande would ask Carl
teasingly. what would your COM
rades, the men Of your regiment, say
if they were told that Carl Hendrick,
who carried their flag in a certain
charge, was nervous and afraid be-
cause his foolish niece did not come
home at the setting of the SUM-"
them all, these honest, big-heartad
mountain folk, and we trust and love
each other am safe among them
Carl Hendrick, you need not frown
and put on that ugly look, and as for
an accident, as if Don and can't take
care of ourselves!"
So Yolande coaxed and laughed Hen
| bricks fears away, but looking with
a faithful, loving gaze at the fine,
frank face of the girl standing in the
doorway and laughing back at him,
| Hendrick saw farther than the horizon
| shut in by the mountain peaks and the
simple life led by Yolande, and great
fear fell over him.
"Is this the place where furniture is
nader" asked a young man who
stopped as Yolande turned to look at
him, then made way for him to pass in
| the shop.
Godfrey Brennan had come up to the
| mountains for two weeks of golf, and
trout fishing, in disregard Of the invi-
tation Of an adoring aunt, who insist
ed On his spending his vacation in her
comfortable and weu-appointed cot
tage at Bar Harbor.
| 81 have Ameline Carter with me:
you have no ieda how Paris has i'm
proved her and she is really anxious
to renew that old-time friendship Of
yours" his aunt wrote, at which God
frey smiled grimly and returned a
prompt answer pleading previous
! and solemn contract with an old col
lege chum to 60 on camping expedi-
ton to the Blue Ridge.
Aunt Sophie is the most incorrigible
and constituencies matchmaker in the