The Virginia enterprise., 1905-07-14


alone in the world" ! S ! y
Beautiful creature-money-
tionase-alone in the world! Percy's
heart began to warm toward the poor
girl SO basely deserted by the object
of her affections. He longed to have
the fellow there before him. He felt
that garroting, hanging, guillotining.
or any of the other well-known
methods of shortening human life
would be too good for such a wretch.
He conceived a great pity for the
plaintiff; and he began to realize that
pity was akin to a much more emo
tional passion. '>' =:
Ssh" said the lawyer raising q
warning finger.
There was the sound of a light foot
step and sharp rustling of feminine
garments. Percy gasped and looked
around. A slight girl who answered
the description recently given stood
in the doorway. Her full, clear eyes
were turned upon him with a look OF
sweetness and reproach that made
him keenly aware of the absurd lack of
taste in the defendant whom he evil
IDENTIFY was representing.
"Sh!" said the lawyer again; and
with that tact for which his profess
sion is noted, he tiptoed to the door
and closed it behind him, leaving the
two alone. -.
That something must be done was
evident. What it should be was an
other question. The fair plaintiff
stood still, not venturing to advance,
and not willing to retreat Her eyes
were downcast. and her breast was
heaving tremulously. Percy, in still
more perplexing situation, stood gaz-
ing at her until their eyes met. Then
she spoke:
"Oh, Fred!" she cried, "how could
you!"
Not being sufficiently acquainted
with the facts in the case Percy
couldn't have answered if his life de-
pended on it; but he saw that the
time had come to dispel the illusion in
regard to his character.
There seems to be some-some ter
rible misunderstanding" he stam-
mered." H."
Dear Fred!"
mo, no." he cried, mot that! You
seem to have made the mistake Of
thinking-thinking-
Il know it," she cried generously,
1T was all my fault"
Unconsciously he took her extended
hand, and thrill passed up his arm
and lodged somewhere beneath his
left shoulder; but presently he re-
gained his self-possession and released
his grasp.
"You don't understand met" he ex-
planned hoarsely. you don't love me
you love anothef'
She placed her head between her
hands and sank into the chair, Sob
bing. 1T was all that cruel letter."
she cried. Il only wrote it-in-in
fun; -besides-didn't you know
Arthur was my consin?"
Excuse me- said Percy, laying his
hand tenderly upon her shoulder, "you
are still laboring under a wrong i'm
preston. 1 don't know Arthur, and
never saw any letter."
She arose and brushed the hair from
her forehead with a pathetic motion.
Then" she cried despairingly, 1T was
something else. Oh, Fred, tell me-tell
me-what was it,"
Percy drew himself up resolutely.
"The fact is." he said, that l am not
the man you think am"
Don't say that" she cried. II have
forgiven the past long, long ago. You
are the man have always loved, and
that is enough for me-"
You are still wrong" said Percy
brutally. Il mean that am not the
defendant in this case"
She looked at him quickly, and as
she sazed the humor of the situation
forced itself upon her face. Then in
hysterical sort of way she laughed,
and pressed tiny handkerchief to her
eyes. "You look very much like him, "
she stammered.
Il hope" he replied with some gall
lantry, that l am not like him.
Mr.. Bowden, of Bowden & Johnson.
hustled in at this juncture "Your
counsel" he said significantly to Percy,
has asked that the case be held over
until the next term of court. I am
happy to hear it, SIR
so far as am concerned" returned
| that young man, and it is a note
worthy fact that he smiled at the
young lady as he spoke. "the case may
ho qhsOlufalv dismissed
Mr.. Bowden beamed upon the de-
fendant. and then beamed upon the
plaintiff. and then ended all by reso-
lutely turning his back to them both
and beaming out of the window while
he wiped the moisture from his heavx
spectacles.
"Mr. Bowden," said the plaintiff.
softly.
cat your service" replied that gen.
tleman, whirling sharply around and
still beaming.
II think you may-you may"
Drop the case altogether" suggest
Cd Percy.
ho sotd - h> o,,~r