The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-01-20

derment, but Minnie Kelley intercepted
him hotlr. Didn't mamma make It
perfectly clear to you that we don't
intend to sell the place, Miss War
rington?' she asked insultingly. :'The
place is as good as homestead to us,
and we wouldn't think of parting with
1t Ut der any circumstances. I suppose
you understand the case now, don't
you?" "
II understand your version of It.
yes" Neva answered sweetly, 'but as
Jim is the only person concerned in the
matter, I don't understand why you
should interfere. Come, Jim, name
your price, please, for want it very
badly. You would rather OLE friends
| should have it than strangers, wouldn':
you?"
eyes," said Jim in a very clear.
steady voice, which nevertheless hurt
Neya poignantly, for as he spoke he
looked at his graceful, handsome rival,
and there was that in his good, honest
eyes which betrayed his deep secret
| unerringly. II had much rather YOU
would have the house than anyone else
in the world, because"
because I will take the very best
care Of 1t in the world!" Neva finished
kindly.
But, Jim, you don't mean to part
with it," his stepmother cried. Are
You crazy, to think Of such a thing?
What would your father think if he
knew?"
"shall I tell you he or any hon.
est man would think?" said Neva, sud-
denly turning to Mrs. Prescott with a
flash of rosy scorn. THAT Jim has been
shamefully imposed upon by you and
your children since the hour that his
good father died. Perhaps you don't
believe that any one knows the full
extent Of your rapacity-that you
nagged and wheedled Jim into mort
gaging the pasture field in order to
raise required amount of money to
cover your sons discrepancies, and so
worked On Jim's sympathies that you
induced him to finally sacrifice his
property. I know all about that cute
deal-not through Jim, but through
my brother, who filed the mortgage.
| mean to take pains to let other peo-
pie know as we'll as myself, You can
hereafter support your children on the
money that Jim's father left you, for
Jim is going to sell this place to me-
and keep every dollar of the purchase
money. Come, Jim, show us through
the house, please"
At last Jim had revolted In spite Of
the bitter pain of disappointed love, he
felt himself suddenly transformed to a
new, dominant manhood which gave
him fine, simple dignity that I'M
pressed and awed his old oppressors.
Neva's loyal defense of his motives
and her denunciation of the usurpers
filed him with somber, quiet citation
which never could quite fade from his
memory of that triumphant hour. AZ
ter all, it would seem good to know of
Neva's joyous presence in the house
that had sheltered his own happiest
hours.
'You can have the place, Neva," he
i
will show you both through at once"
Neva followed him, chatting gaily,
with Elverson beside her, smiling and
radiant Now and then he whistled q
snatch from LoEengrin, seemingly
quite unconscious of Jim's suffering
presence, because of the latter's heroic
calmDess, which never wavered
throughout the long, trying ordeal,
while the lovers applauded this and
that quaint turn or nook of their fu-
ture home BY and by that was over.
and Neva asked Jim to accompany her
to her lawyers Office.
Il want the deed signed and every
thing legally transferred at once, to
make sure that it is really mine," she
explained briskly, as she ran down the
veranda steps between her two COM
panions.
Jim had nothing at all to say during
the short drive to the village court
room. He signed the deed of transfer
without word and handed it to Neva,
who drew up check to the amount
$4,000. She was long while doing it,,
and in the meanwhile Will Elverson
had occasion to call the lawyer out
on urgent business, which left Neva
AMI Jim alone. AS Neva handed him
the check, finally, her hand touched
his. He started violently and thrust
back the crisp bit of paper.
"Neva," he began in husky voice,
eff you didn't know just how it is with
me wouldn't have the courage to ask
what am going to. want you to
keep the money-to take the place as a
wedding gift from me. hope with all
my heart that you will be rery happy
"Jim!"
Her voice made him catch his breath
in a gasp of surprise. ''I'l1 take your
gift on one condition." she stipulated,
''and that is that you will accept q
wedding present from me-"
"A wedding PRESENT." Jim faltered.
"You don't understand"
She interrupted his embarrassment
with sweet imper.ousness which he
had grown to associ.'te with his con-
slant dreams of her. This IS my we'd