The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-02-10

SOPHIE stopped her 1mpatlently.
Don't go, MOTHER" she said, with
the jmpcriousness of the spoiled child
that she was.
David was big, rosy checked fellow
with plenty of confidence. The last
was made evident by the deliberate
way in which he put his hat on chair
and then lifted a couple Of brown pa
per parcels on the table. With quiet
good evening" addressed to Sophie,
he proceeded to deliberately unite the
string of one of the parcels.
The knot was a little hard and as
no one spoke, the embarrassing silence
was becoming intolerable. Finally,
David looked up.
''You sent back the few little pres
ents 'ad give you," he said, gazing
directly in front of him and addressing
the opposite wall straight in the eye,
IAN so, of course, I'm bringin' back
those what you gave me-
''You could ha' sent 'em back"
snapped Sophie. There wasn't no
need for to bring 'em yourself"
well, you see," said David, address,
ing the wall, "a man amt some'ow so
careful as what woman is. Least
ways, s'pose that's what it is. Now,
the things you sent back to me, they
was all spick and span, just like new,
and"
do for Faith Duker, p'raps," COM
mented Sophie, rather bitterly.
David affected not to be conscious Of
the interruption.
There ere slippers, for instance"
he said, (which you worked for me.
'adn't 'ad 'em long before my little fox
terrier got at one of 'em, and before
could get it away from i'm, he'd eaten
one of the pink roses and couple of
the forget-me-nots."
Mrs. Meadows was surprised into RI
diculous guffaw. Then, conscious ap-
parently of the IMPROPERLY of her con-
duct, she evaded her daugh ter's eye
and became absorbed in contemplation
of the ceiling.
David could hardly help echoing this
little outburst Of encouragement with
a grin of his own; and Sophie set her
teeth together and felt that she was
fighting the whole world single-handed
and alone.
Then" continued David, there's
these ERE braces"
Sophie turned her head away sharp
ly. 1t was doubtful whether, in her
altered relationship with Mr.. Trotter,
braces were things that could be dis
cussed with propriety.
The articles in question were lurid-
ly embroidered in red and blue upon a
green background, and in anything
like sustained silence they might have
been relied upon to speak for them
selves.
1t was evident, however, from their
present condition that they had been
more decorative than useful; and
Davids attempt to strengthen the
weaker parts by the addition of a
piece of stout string had done nothing
to enhance their artistic beauties.
David, remar]1ing Sophie's attitude
out of the corner Of his eye, placed the
poor, mangled remains Of the braces
reverently on the table, and gazed at
them with sigh, as If h. regarded
them as still beautiful, even in death.
Then he produced a pair of wooden
socks from his parcel.
These ERE" he said, 90 course
they've bin in wear good deal and
Il didn't give EN- to you for to keep
under G. glass case" protested Sophie,
her bitter feelings softened little by
the fact that he had been glad to make
use of her present.
mo: quite so," said David, turning
and addressing her for the first time.
"Only. you see, when you've got to
give things back again"
II don't want them back" said
Sophie.
well. there don't seem to be no
choice about 1t, as far as I can see"
replied David. "And as I couldn't give
'em back with 'oles in 'em, and I
didn't like to let no one else touch 'em
now, tried to mend 'em up q bit my
self. You'll see"
Mrs. Meadows guffawed again. And
AAOlIE AC1 LII III AOL ~ easy " SlACCh
on this occasion. she fled precipitately
into the shop, and left the young peo-
pie alone.
Sophie frowned at the interruption,
but the next moment she found her.
self half smiling at David's dilemma.
This big. rough fellows confession Of
his helrlessness was not displeasing to
her. It showed her at least that there
were times when she would be missed,
and the reflection softened her little.
''Show me-" she said, holding out her
hand.
David passed the socks along, and
Indicated with his finger the spot
where his handiwork was to be seen.
A huge, lumpy botch of red wool that
had been laboriously grated onto a
gray background, 1t did not need to be
pointed out.
It caught the eye at once, and abso-
lutely riveted the attention. Sophie
! felt the corners of her mouth break
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