The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-03-17

Annie stood there with the empty dish
pan in her hands straining her eyes after
the vanishing buggy.
"Ill tell her," whispered Mrs. Bradley
to her husband, as Annie rejoined them
in the dinin-room.
annie" She began. bravely, 'your pa
and me hav, been .allzin' things over
the mortgage and al! that you know
we've been tryin' hard to make the ends
meet, and we've decided that you've
think it's best for you to drive the new
milk wagon, and save hirin' a new boy"
For a moment the girl stood as one
dumb. Then the full import of the
words rushed over her: with a flood OK
sickening thoughts. To give up her
school; to appear before her smart
friends she had made in town in such
plight! She thought of the pretty
homes Of her girl friends; the soft car
pets and shaded lights, the low voices
and music and the natural refinement
and taste which had somehow found
their way into her life, ard then her
blood rose up in revolt.
"Oh, mammy!' she cried, s'you can
not intend for me TOTO peGdle milk"
The words stung Bradley. Perhaps you
think yourself above workin'," he
sneered You DON'T belong to the CON-
mon people, I suppose. You're better
than your pa and ma, eho''
DO belong to the common people?'
Annie repeated, slowly, locking straight
before her a. one in trance; Il do not
believe l do, lor l delight in things un-
common. beautiful thiaSs, music ami
pictures. and, Oh, everything l shall
never enjoy" Size stifled d sob, but the
storm burst despite her efforts. Il tell
you hate the common people"
1t was the wrong arsumer: to use
with Farmer Bradley
"Your idees will be ;our DOWNFALL -
he cried; i've told you there's nothin'
but vice and corruption in the class
you're dreamin' about and wantin' to be
like" Bradley shook his head like q
wild animal THE common people, God
bless ''em-they are My people and your
people'-he paused for the lack OF
up by five in the mcrning-Jim'u help
YOU load up" Jim was the hired man.
Before five in the morning Annis:s
slight figure again swayed before the
wind along the sandy rcati. Her face
was pale and determined, and one small.
purse in the pocket of her shabby gown.
The great prairies spread about her were
arrayed in shimmering glory Of moon
light and the white sand catching and
rejecting the light sparkle like precious
gems. Only the restless wind crept
and moaned and bitterly laughed at the
weary little pedestrian.
THE world is WIDE" she thought,
vaguely There must he a place for
me- but the wan smile suddenly died
as her hand closed anew over the little
purse.
1t was broad daylight before she
reached the railway station and bought
ticket for Kansas City, though tbs
train was not due for an hour About
this time her absence was discovered al
the farm.
You must go to town for her. quick,
quick urged the frantic mother.
The buggy's broke"
Take the wagon
"It's already started out with the
MELONS" -
Then, my God! what shall We do?"
THE new milk wagons left. Iguess
she'll be glad enough to come back Ii
that after her little walk"
And SO it was that as Anime stood or
the depot platform undetermined at the
last moment whether to board the in
coming train or return to drudgery anit
humiliation. She caught sight in the
! distance of the milk wagon, hideously
red in the morning sun. The train
rumbled in at her side. Nearer and near
er came the wagon. 'All aboard"
shouted the conductor. Annie's eyes
seemed riveted on the approaching
wagon, with a half Iazed half fascinat-
ed expression. The loafers STANDING
about regarded her with curiosity and
amusement which broke into audible
laughter as she half screamed: Its
the wagon In a frenzy of terror she
sprang toward the nearest train coach
The train was juggling and putting and
ponderously moving out. but. clutcnine
the platform railing convulsively, she
swung herself free of the ground. A
warning cry went up from the crowd
The train lurched forward with increas-
ing speed. With a last despairing glance
| the girl looked back A doctors buggy
passed vaguely before her vision, then
blurred patch of red. That was all.
An hour later with bowed head and 8
heart as crushed and bleeding as the
burden he bore, Bradley drove home.
ward with the body of his daughter in
her strange hearse. In an opposite di.
rection DR.. Hayward drove RAPIDLY Il
his Office.
| Poor little broken spirit" moanet
the father. in an agony of bitterness ane
remorse. why were you ever born
why-why Is anything?"
"She was a bright little creature,
murmured the doctor: too bad. to.
l 1rS Van