The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-08-04

est pride and Affection but the uncOn-
ventional youth read into her words the
whole-souled home meaning. He not
only removed his overcoat, but also the
shorter coat beneath it. Mrs. ellison
crimsoned at the maids irrepressible
glance at his shirt sleeves, but said
nothing. Simon had directed her to be
good to Mr.. Brankin; she would make
no halfway sacrifice.
When Mr.. Brankin, after much nerv-
Gus perspiration and many strange
grimaces, confessed that his new patent
leather shoes were fair murderin' his
feet she offered the relief of a pair
of her husbands slippers. They went
up to Mr.. Gilson's room to procure
these and Mrs. ellison, innocently turn
ing into the second floor 'den," sacred
to similar uses, hoped the visitor would
remain there. But no, indeed!
II think it's more cheerful-like down.
stairs" he presently announced, look.
ing wistfully from the window. Il
sorter like to see the street."
And in the parlor window, coatless
but delighted, he sat all Afternoon,
while Mrs. Gibson, entertaining group
after group of the fashionable callers,
who never before had elected to appear
on other than her recognized days,
suffered mental agonies with the calm
smile of a stole. Her only relief lay in
sweetly explaining that Mr.. Brankin
was the son of an old friend Mr.. ellison
had known as a boy in the country.
Mr.. Brankin, with a: desperate desire to
be agreeable and to shine in society,
added intimate details and particulars
with an ungrammatical vim that great
ly amused the other guests. Mrs. Gil
son sought in vain an opportunity
quietly to deny herself to visitors for
the rest of the day. When Mr.. ellison
at last made his appearance his exhaust
ed wife retired to her own room and
dropped fiat on the sofa utterly regard
less of the fine new gown
I'D rather clean house for a week
than go through siege like that again" "
she remarked, reproachfully, when Mr.
Gibson, hastily changing into his dinner
coat, explained that he had been COM
PEELED to invite Mr. Brankin to remain
over night. Its enough to kill one to
live through an afternoon such as I've
had"
Never mind" consoled Mr.. Gibson,
with one of the rare caresses that in
variably reduce Mrs Gilson's proudest
anger to delighted compliance and salts
faction. you're a sweet little woman
to help out your old hubby no nobly, and
I'll take care of him all evening. You
can tell the girl you're not at home and
rest"
But he reckoned without Mr. Brankin.
That impressionable young man, more
than charmed with: Mrs. Gilson's grace
and beauty, insisted upon spending the
entire evening in the parlor, where he
committed fresh social enormities with
easy, unruffled freedom.
"Your slippers amt none too easy, Mr..
Gilson,' he remarked, after declining to
go to the theater or to the club on &C
count of his blistered feet, $50 l guess
I'll just slip 'em off little. An Mrs.
ellison said could take off my coat"
The hours dragged terribly, and Mr..
ellison suggested an early retirement
as soon as he could decently do So But
Mr.. Brankin, evidently with some idea
of conventionality or politeness, insist
ed and reiterated that he was not weary,
even while his heavy eyelids closed 1t
was nearly morning before he could be
lured to bed, and the first streak of dawn
found him creeping about the house in
the conspicuously quiet manner that
never fails to arouse the ordinary
sleeper. Mrs. ellison herself prepared
for him an early breakfast, since the
maid would not rise until nearly seven.
Then she insisted that Mr.. Gibson take
him for walk.
The fates were kind to Mr.. Gibson in
that the unhappy youths feet were still
so tenderly resentful of the new, tight
patent feathers that much walking was
impossible. They were unkind to Mrs.
Gibson in that Mr. Brankin, while more
than willing to attend a matinee with
Mr.. ellison in the afternoon, could not
be persuaded to go downtown with him
in the morning. He hung about the
house, still coatless and in stocking feet.
until Mr.. ellison came for him after
luncheon. Mrs. Gibson, solemnly thank
full that he felt he must leave town
that evening, babe him good-by with a
cordially she endeavored to render at
least partly sincere. Mr.. ellison, also
solemnly thankful to conclude the al
fair for the time being, saw MIR. Bran
kin off, after a downtown dinner, and
returned to Mrs. Gibson with sense OF
temporary relief but coming disaster.
well, what is it?" inquired the
astute lady, convinced that her weary
husband concealed some guilty secret
beneath his ostentatiously calm de-
meanor. Hasn't the man gone, after
all, or did you invite him to Spend
Thanksgiving with us? Let me know
the worst at once"
:'He-he said he'd had such a gool
time, and he admires you so much
confessed Mr.. Gibson, that really
couldn't help it, Mary-I did say wee
be glad to entertain him for a week
some time this summer. know you L